Friday Afternoon in the Universe

Friday Afternoon in the Universe
Studio album by Medeski Martin & Wood
Released	January 24, 1995
Recorded	July 24–26, 1994
Studio	Sear Sound (New York City, New York) The Shack (Puna, Hawaii)
Genre	Jazz
Length	56:55
Label	Gramavision [1]
Producer	Medeski Martin & Wood David Baker Jim Payne
Medeski Martin & Wood chronology
It's a Jungle in Here (1993) Friday Afternoon in the Universe (1995) Shack-man (1996)

Friday Afternoon in the Universe is the third album by the experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood. ^{[2] [3]} The album title is taken from the opening sentence of "Old Angel Midnight", by Jack Kerouac.

The album's lead-off track "The Lover" was sampled by Bulgarian rap group Upsurt in their 2001 song "Sveteshti zhiletki".

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Robert Christgau	B− [5]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide	[6]

Trouser Press wrote: "Short, rough-hewn vignettes like 'Paper Bass' and 'Tea' are pure improvisation, instantaneous explorations building into massive, irresistible grooves." ^[7] The Washington Post stated that "the three players move as one through impressionistic, atmospheric patches into driving funk grooves and then off onto spacey tangents." ^[1]

Track listing

All music by Medeski Martin & Wood except where noted in parentheses.

1. "The Lover" – 6:19
2. "Paper Bass" – 0:56
3. "House Mop" – 3:46
4. "Last Chance to Dance Trance (Perhaps)" – 7:32
5. "Baby Clams" – 1:14
6. "We're So Happy" – 8:17
7. "Shack" – 3:02
8. "Tea" – 1:12
9. "Chinoiserie" (Duke Ellington) – 5:44
10. "Between Two Limbs" – 1:04
11. "Sequel" – 5:24
12. "Friday Afternoon in the Universe" – 6:01
13. "Billy's Tool Box" – 0:35
14. "Chubb Sub" – 5:02
15. "Khob Khun Krub" (Carl Green) – 0:47

Performers

Medeski Martin & Wood

• John Medeski – acoustic piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, clavinet, organs
• Chris Wood – acoustic bass, harmonica, wooden flute
• Billy Martin – drums, percussion

Guest musicians

• Danny Blume – guitars (6)
• Tonino Benson – raygun (6), vocals (6)
• Carl Green – Thai flute (15)

Production

• Medeski Martin & Wood – producers
• Jim Payne – producer
• David Baker – producer, recording
• Bob Ward – editing at Current Sounds (New York, NY)
• Dr. Toby Mountain – mastering at Northeastern Digital (Southborough, Massachusetts)
• Billy Martin – original artwork
• Martyn Gallina-Jones – band photography
• George Grall – photography (C. Bosquianus Eggs)

References

1. "MEDESKI JAZZ TRIO'S UNIVERSE' OF FUNK". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
2. "Medeski, Martin & Wood Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
3. Ciabatonni, Steve (April 1995). "Medeski Martin & Wood: Space is the Place". CMJ New Music Monthly (20): 10.
4. "Friday Afternoon in the Universe - Medeski, Martin & Wood | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
5. "Robert Christgau: CG: Medeski, Martin and Wood". www.robertchristgau.com.
6. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (May 13, 2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   9780743201698 – via Google Books.
7. "Medeski, Martin and Wood". Trouser Press. Retrieved May 13, 2022.