Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood Release “Juice”, Announce Tour Dates

Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood are together again, and hitting the road behind the four-man-lineup’s fourth album, Juice.

Guitarist Scofield, in a track-by-track assessment of the record for Relix Magazine, reveals not only the album’s origins in an effort to reflect the music of the African diaspora, but also talks about all the band members’ contributions, including pieces by bassist Chris Wood. He notes that Wood’s original, “Helium” sounds like it has a distinct Frank Zappa influence. He also mentions that Wood suggested the group play The Doors’ “Light My Fire,” which the jazz group quartet rocked out on, in its own unique way.

Other cover tunes on the album include “Sunshine of Your Love” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’ and “Sham Time,” which Medeski originally heard on a 1960s-era Latin jazz record. Here’s the quartet’s take on it:

Juice is available on CD, vinyl, and as digital download (iTunes and Amazon MP3).

Juice Track List:

1. Sham Time
2. North London
3. Louis the Shoplifter
4. Juicy Lucy
5. I Know You
6. Helium
7. Light My Fire
8. Sunshine of Your Love
9. Stovetop
10. The Times They Are A-Changin’
11. Brigas Nunca Mais (vinyl-only bonus track)
12. Timmy Bobbins (vinyl-only bonus track)

The European leg of the group’s tour begins Nov. 6 in Belgium and wraps up Nov. 20 in Italy. The foursome will then perform for North American audiences in a series of December dates: