''The Dropper'' is the 2000 sixth studio album by
avant
Avant can refer to:
People
* Avant, part of music production team Bloodshy & Avant
* Avant (singer), Myron Avant, an American singer
* Clarence Avant, a music executive
* Jason Avant, is a US American football player
Places
* Avant, Oklahoma, ...
-
jazz-funk
Jazz-funk is a subgenre of jazz music characterized by a strong back beat, electrified sounds, and analog synthesizers. The integration of funk, soul, and R&B music and styles into jazz resulted in the creation of a genre that ranges from ...
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.
The album peaked at No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' Jazz Albums chart.
Critical reception
''
The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'' wrote: "In many ways the chaotic and funk-soul soundscapes on MMW's ''The Dropper'' are not avant-garde but downright conservative, coming 40 years after the advent of organ jazz and 30 after free jazz." ''
Exclaim!
''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly ''Exclaim!'' print magazine publishes seven ...
'' called ''The Dropper'' "their crankiest, most difficult album to date, as they wade into pointy-headed jazz-funk realms, but that's only because they've burrowed more deeply still into the funk."
The ''
Riverfront Times
The ''Riverfront Times'' (''RFT'') was a free progressive weekly newspaper in St. Louis, Missouri, that consisted of local politics, music, arts, and dining news in the print edition, and daily updates to blogs and photo galleries on its websit ...
'' thought that "Medeski's particularly compelling in his style, banging on keyboards with a precise recklessness, and he expands his keyboard army by, it seems, dozens of instruments."
Track listing
#"We Are Rolling" – 7:04
#"Big Time" – 3:23
#"Fèlic" – 3:21
#"Partido Alto" – 5:42
#"Illinization" – 2:31
#"Bone Digger" – 2:22
#"Note Bleu" – 3:01
#"The Dropper" – 3:29
#"Philly Cheese Blunt" – 4:49
#"Sun Sleigh" – 2:23
#"Tsukemono" – 3:23
#"Shacklyn Knights" – 4:44
#"Norah 6" – 4:51
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 ...
– keyboards
*
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin Jr. (May 16, 1928 – December 25, 1989) 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 Yankees. First known ...
– drums, percussion
*
Chris Wood – basses
*
Marshall Allen
Marshall Belford Allen (born May 25, 1924) is an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz alto saxophone player. He also performs on flute, oboe, piccolo, and the EWI.
Allen is best known for his work with Sun Ra, having recorded and performed ...
– alto sax
*
Marc Ribot
Marc Ribot (;
born May 21, 1954) is an American guitarist and composer.
His work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, Rock music, rock, and Cuban music. Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notab ...
– guitars
*Eddie Bobe – congas
*Paula Potocki – surdo
*
Charlie Burnham – violin
*
Joan Wasser
Joan Wasser (born July 26, 1970) is an American musician, singer-songwriter and producer who releases music as Joan As Police Woman. She began her career playing violin with the Dambuilders and played with Black Beetle, Anohni and the Johnsons, ...
– violin
*
Jane Scarpantoni
Jane Scarpantoni (born 1960) is an American classically trained cello player, who has played on a number of alternative rock albums.
She was a member of Hoboken, New Jersey's Tiny Lights in the mid-1980s, then went on to play with other musicians ...
– cello
Credits
*Engineered and mixed by
Scotty Hard
Scott Harding, sometimes credited as Scotty Hard, is a Canadian producer and musician who is based in New York City and who has worked in underground hip-hop and jazz.
He came to prominence as a producer for the WordSound label, which released his ...
(except "Illinization", mixed by David Baker)
*Assisted at Shacklyn by Phillip Harvey
*Assisted at Greene Street Studios by Phil Painson
*Mastered by
Howie Weinberg
Howie Weinberg is an American audio mastering engineer. Over the course of his career, he has received over 2,257 mastering credits, three TEC Awards, 21 Grammy Awards, two Juno Awards, and one Mercury Prize.
Career
Weinberg mastered Herbie Ha ...
at
Masterdisk
Masterdisk is an American multimedia company in New York, located at 8 John Walsh Boulevard in Peekskill. They provide production services such as audio mastering, vinyl cutting and enhanced CD and DVD production.
Their clients include such n ...
(
NYC)
*Assisted at Masterdisk by Andy Van Dette
*Photography:
Danny Clinch
Danny Clinch (born 1964) is an American photographer and film director.
Early life and education
Born in Toms River, New Jersey, Clinch graduated from Toms River High School East in 1982. After attending Ocean County College, he attended the New ...
*Art direction and design: Chippy
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dropper, The
2000 albums
Blue Note Records albums
Jazz fusion albums by American artists
Medeski Martin & Wood albums