The Word | |
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Studio album by | |
Released | July 31, 2001 |
Genre | Instrumental rock, Sacred steel, gospel blues, jam rock, blues rock, jazz fusion, Southern rock |
Length | 44:08 |
Label | Ropeadope Records |
Producer | Scotty Hard, John Medeski |
The Word is the debut album by an instrumental jam band supergroup The Word. The musicians: Robert Randolph (pedal steel guitar), John Medeski (keyboards), and the three members of North Mississippi Allstars - Luther Dickinson (electric guitar), Cody Dickinson (drums, washboard), and Chris Chew (bass guitar).
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | link |
The washboard and frottoir are used as a percussion instrument, employing the ribbed metal surface of the cleaning device as a rhythm instrument. As traditionally used in jazz, zydeco, skiffle, jug band, and old-time music, the washboard remained in its wooden frame and is played primarily by tapping, but also scraping the washboard with thimbles. Often the washboard has additional traps, such as a wood block, a cowbell, and even small cymbals. Conversely, the frottoir dispenses with the frame and consists simply of the metal ribbing hung around the neck. It is played primarily with spoon handles or bottle openers in a combination of strumming, scratching, tapping and rolling. The frottoir or vest frottoir is played as a stroked percussion instrument, often in a band with a drummer, while the washboard generally is a replacement for drums. In Zydeco bands, the frottoir is usually played with bottle openers, to make a louder sound. It tends to play counter-rhythms to the drummer. In a jug band, the washboard can also be stroked with a single whisk broom and functions as the drums for the band, playing only on the back-beat for most songs, a substitute for a snare drum. In a four-beat measure, the washboard will stroke on the 2-beat and the 4-beat. Its best sound is achieved using a single steel-wire snare-brush or whisk broom. However, in a jazz setting, the washboard can also be played with thimbles on all fingers, tapping out much more complex rhythms, as in The Washboard Rhythm Kings, a full-sized band, and Newman Taylor Baker.
Medeski Martin & Wood 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 and is known for an unconventional style sometimes described as "avant-groove".
James Luther Dickinson was an American record producer, pianist, and singer who fronted, among others, the band Mud Boy and the Neutrons, based in Memphis, Tennessee.
Anthony John Medeski 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 and an eclectic array of keyboards, including the Hammond B3 organ, melodica, mellotron, clavinet, ARP String Ensemble, Wurlitzer electric piano, Moog Voyager Synthesizer, Wurlitzer 7300 Combo Organ, Vox Continental Baroque organ, and Yamaha CS-1 Synthesizer, among others. When playing acoustic piano, Medeski usually plays the Steinway piano and is listed as a Steinway Artist.
Robert Randolph and the Family Band is an American gospel band led by pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph. NPR has described the band as one with an "irresistible rock 'n' roll swagger". Rolling Stone included Randolph upon their list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. The band has released six studio albums and has been Grammy nominated four times.
North Mississippi Allstars is an American blues and southern rock band from Hernando, Mississippi, founded in 1996. The band is currently composed of brothers Luther Dickinson and Cody Dickinson. Their most recent album Set Sail was released in 2022.
The Word is an American instrumental/sacred steel/gospel blues jam band. The supergroup includes well-known musicians: Robert Randolph, John Medeski (keyboards), both members of North Mississippi Allstars- Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, and ex-North Mississippi Allstars bassist Chris Chew.
Master of Disaster is an album by American singer-songwriter John Hiatt. It was released on June 21, 2005 via New West Records. Recording sessions took place at Ardent Studio "C" in Memphis, Tennessee. Production was handled by Jim Dickinson. It features contributions from the North Mississippi Allstars, David Hood, Jim Spake, Jeff Callaway, Scott Thompson, Joe Sallmanberger, "T-Bone" Tommy Burroughs and Jim Dickinson. The album peaked at number 126 on the Billboard 200 and number 10 on the Independent Albums in the United States.
Luther Andrews Dickinson is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the North Mississippi Allstars and the son of record producer Jim Dickinson. He is also known for being a guitarist for The Black Crowes. He hosts Guitar Xpress on the Video on Demand network Mag Rack.
Go Tell It on the Mountain is a Grammy Award winning Christmas album by The Blind Boys of Alabama, released in 2003.
Hernando is the fifth studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on January 22, 2008 through Songs of the South Records. Recording sessions took place at Zebra Ranch Studio in Coldwater, Mississippi. Production was handled by Jim Dickinson. It features contributions from Jimbo Mathus, Jimmy Davis, East Memphis Slim, Kurt "KC" Clayton and Amy LaVere. The band briefly toured the album across America in 2008.
The festival ran June 11, 2004 – June 13, 2004, and more than 90,000 people attended. It was marked by torrential rains, creating an incredibly large amount of mud. Many vehicles had to be towed out of the parking area.
The festival ran June 13–15, and 80,000 attended. In 2003, The Bonnaroo organizers planned a festival called Bonnaroo Northeast to take place in Riverhead, Long Island, New York. This festival, as well as the Field Day Festival, another festival to take place at the same site, were cancelled, however, in the weeks leading up to the event due to concern about securing permits in time.
Up and Rolling is the tenth studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on October 4, 2019, through New West Records, making it their first album for the label.
Shake Hands with Shorty is the debut studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on May 9, 2000, through Tone-Cool Records. It features contributions from Cedric and Garry Burnside, Othar Turner, Jim Dickinson, Jimmy Crosthwait, Richard "Hombre" Price, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Steve Selvidge, Jimbo Mathus, Tate County Singers, Stu Cole and Greg Humphreys. Recording sessions took place in 1999 at Zebra Ranch Studios in Tate County, Mississippi, except for Price's bass part on the song "K.C. Jones " was recorded at House of Bob. Production was handled by Cody and Luther Dickinson.
51 Phantom is the second studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on October 9, 2001 through Tone-Cool Records. Recording sessions took place at Zebra Ranch Complex in Tate County, Mississippi. Production was handled by Jim Dickinson. It features contributions from Ben Nichols and John C. Stubblefield of Lucero, Brenda Patterson, Jackie Johnson, Susan Marshall, Othar Turner and Jim Dickinson.
Prayer for Peace is the ninth studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on June 2, 2017 via Songs of the South Records, making it their final record for the label. Recording sessions took place at Royal Studios in Memphis, Brooklyn Studios in New York City, Harmony Hill in Nashville, Music Shed Studio in New Orleans, Zebra Ranch Studios in Independence, Sawhorse Studios in St. Louis, Weights and Measures in Kansas City, and Arly Studios in Austin. Production was handled by Cody and Luther Dickinson with co-producer Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell.
Electric Blue Watermelon is the fourth studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on September 6, 2005, through ATO Records. Recording sessions took place at Ardent Studios and at Sam Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis, Tennessee and at Zebra Ranch in Independence, Mississippi. Production was handled by Jim Dickinson. It features contributions from Lucinda Williams, Robert Randolph, Al Kapone, Othar Turner, Jimbo Mathus, Ben Nichols, Jimmy Davis, Jim Crosthwait, Jim Spake, Steve Selvidge, Susan Marshall, Mary Lindsay Dickinson, John C. Stubblefield, R.L. Boyce, Sharde Turner, Aubrey Turner, Rodney Evans, Otha Andre Evans, Whitney Jefferson, Robert "Tex" Wrightsil, Harold "Sundance" Thomas, Roger Lewis, Kevin Harris, Efrem Towns, Terence Higgins, Julius McKee, Revert Andrews, Jamie McLean and Jim Dickinson.
Keys to the Kingdom is the sixth studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released in 2011 through Songs of the South Records. It features contributions from Mavis Staples, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Spooner Oldham, Gordie Johnson, Ry Cooder, Jim Spake and Jack Ashford. The album peaked at number 175 on the US Current Album Sales, number 46 on the Top Rock Albums, number two on the Top Blues Albums, number 27 on the Independent Albums, number four on the Heatseekers Albums and number 14 on the Tastemakers.
Set Sail is the thirteenth studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on January 28, 2022, through New West Records, making it their second album for the label. Recording sessions took place at Applehead Recording Studios in Woodstock, New York, at Wilbe Studios in Atlanta, and at Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Production was handled entirely by Cody and Luther Dickinson, except for one song, "Never Want To Be Kissed" produced with William Bell. It features contributions from William Bell, John Medeski, Wizard Jones, Phyllislorena Smiley, Lucia and Isla Belle Dickinson. The album peaked at No. 51 on the Top Current Album Sales and No. 1 on the Top Blues Albums in the United States.