''Omnisphere'' is an album by

avant AVANT, also known as AVANT street art guerrilla collective, was the artist group active in New York City from 1980 to 1984. By 1984 AVANT had produced thousands of acrylic on paper paintings and plastered them on walls, doors, bus-stops and gallerie ...

jazz-funk Jazz-funk is a subgenre of jazz music characterized by a strong back beat (groove), electrified sounds, and an early prevalence of analog synthesizers. The integration of funk, soul, and R&B music and styles into jazz resulted in the creatio ...

organ trio An organ trio is a form of jazz ensemble consisting of three musicians; a Hammond organ player, a drummer, and either a jazz guitarist or a saxophone player. In some cases the saxophonist will join a trio which consists of an organist, guitarist, ...

Medeski, Martin & Wood Medeski Martin & Wood (or MMW) is an American jazz fusion band formed in 1991, consisting of John Medeski on keyboards, Billy Martin on drums, and Chris Wood on bass. The band is influenced by musical traditions including funk and hip hop an ...

and the "

new music New music may refer to: Musical styles and movements Pre-20th century * Ars nova, musical style in 14th-century France and the Low Countries * '' Le nuove musiche'', collection of monody by Giulio Caccini * New German School, music style in late 1 ...

collective"

Alarm Will Sound Alarm Will Sound is a 20-member chamber orchestra that focuses on recordings and performances of contemporary classical music. Its performances have been described as "equal parts exuberance, nonchalance, and virtuosity" by the ''Financial Times' ...

orchestra recorded live at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts in Denver CO.

Reception

In his review for ''

DownBeat ' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chi ...

'', Michael Jackson stated, "Medeski Martin & Wood’s new album offers a summation of the group’s purpose three decades into its unconventional career. Omnisphere (Indirecto), recorded in 2015 with new-music ensemble Alarm Will Sound, provides evidence of the trio’s boundless creativity." Philip Boot of ''

JazzTimes ''JazzTimes'' is an American magazine devoted to jazz. Published 10 times a year, it was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1970 by Ira Sabin as the newsletter ''Radio Free Jazz'' to complement his record store. Coverage After a decade of growth ...

'' stated, "on the provocative ''Omnisphere'', recorded live in 2015, Medeski Martin & Wood venture into contemporary classical music, with the help of 20-piece chamber orchestra Alarm Will Sound." ''Spectrum Cultures Will Layman commented, "With ''Omnisphere'', MMW proves again that they are committed to surprises despite their popularity. Collaborating with Alarm Will Sound, a small orchestra from the “new music” side of the classical world, they have created yet another kind of hybrid creativity." Bill Milkowski of ''

The Absolute Sound ''The Absolute Sound'' (TAS) is an American audiophile magazine which reviews high-end audio equipment, along with recordings and comments on various music-related subjects. History ''The Absolute Sound'' was founded in 1973 by Harry Pearson, ...

'' commented, "...the direct hits far outweigh the misses throughout this intriguing double vinyl album."

Track listing

# Kid Tao Mammal (unworldliness weirdo) # Anonymous Skulls # Coral Sea # oh ye of little faith… (do you know where your children are?) # Northern Lights # Eye of Ra # End of the World Party

Performers

John Medeski Anthony John Medeski (born June 28, 1965) is an American jazz keyboard player and composer. Medeski is a veteran of New York's 1990s avant-garde jazz scene and is known popularly as a member of Medeski Martin & Wood. He plays the acoustic piano ...

, piano and keyboards *

Billy Martin Alfred Manuel Martin Jr. (May 16, 1928 – December 25, 1989), commonly called "Billy", was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager who, in addition to leading other teams, was five times the manager of the New York Yan ...

, percussion * Chris Wood, bass * Erin Lesser, flutes * Christa Robinson, oboe * Hideaki Aomori, clarinet * Elisabeth Stimpert, bass clarinets * Michael Harley, bassoon * Matt Marks, horn * Jason Price, trumpet * Michael Clayville, trombone * John Orfe, piano * Chris Thompson, percussion * Matt Smallcomb, percussion * Courtney Orlando, violin * Caleb Burhans, violin * Isabel Hagen, viola * Stefan Freund, cello * Miles Brown, bass * Alan Pierson, conductor and Artistic Director

References

{{Authority control 2018 albums Medeski Martin & Wood albums