Tonic by Medeski, Martin, and Wood

This paper reviews a live jazz recording, “Tonic” by Medeski, Martin, and Wood.

This paper discusses the first live release, recorded in March, 1999, of Medeski, Martin, and Wood (MMW), “Tonic”, a small New York City club, on the lower east side of Manhattan popular with many well-known artists. The author states the post-modern jazz album used a single pair of strategic microphones. The paper reviews each track and describes how various elements such as walking bass, improvisation and syncopation.
“Bud Powell composed track 6, Buster Rides Again. The song is begun by a lightly played piano, which develops the theme. The rhythm section joins in followed by a bass solo accompanied by piano, mriba, and a cow bell. There is a return to the melody then a piano solo accompanied by a walking bass and drums emphasizing cymbal sounds. Bass and piano then go into a call and response until the drums begin a lone solo. Melody is restated and another piano solo initiates the end of the piece.”