It's a Jungle in Here

It's a Jungle in Here
Studio album by Medeski Martin & Wood
Released	1993
Recorded	August 2–4, 1993 (RPM Studio, New York City)
Genre	Jazz funk
Label	Gramavision[1]
Producer	Jim Payne
Medeski Martin & Wood chronology
Notes from the Underground (1992) It's a Jungle in Here (1993) Friday Afternoon in the Universe (1995)

It's a Jungle in Here is the second album by the experimental jazz funk trio Medeski Martin & Wood, released in 1993.^[2][3] The trio supported the album by playing shows with Bio Ritmo.^[4] "Bemsha Swing/Lively Up Yourself" is a medley of Thelonious Monk and Bob Marley.^[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide	[7]

Trouser Press wrote that "the trio transports King Sunny Ade's 'Moti Mo' into a languorous sprawl cleverly accented by Soweto Township-like horns, summons the spirit of the Meters on 'Wiggly's Way' and burns down the joint on the scorching 'Beeah'."^[8] The Washington Post noted that "Medeski is both the color and melody man, delighting in thickly layered organ blues lines and emphatic piano chords that add both texture and momentum to 'Shuck It Up' and the title track."^[4] The Austin American-Statesman called the album "creative and challenging music, pumped up with strong street sensibilities and performed with undeniable virtuosity."^[9]

Track listing

All songs by Medeski Martin & Wood except where noted.

1. "Beeah" – 6:56
2. "Where's Sly?" – 5:22
3. "Shuck It Up" – 7:41
4. "Sand" – 2:23
5. "Worms" – 5:04
6. "Bemsha Swing/Lively Up Yourself" (Thelonious Monk/Bob Marley) – 5:39
7. "Moti Mo" (King Sunny Adé) – 7:57
8. "It's a Jungle in Here" – 3:46
9. "Syeeda's Song Flute" (John Coltrane) – 5:53
10. "Wiggly's Way" – 4:09

Performers

• John Medeski – organ, piano, wurlitzer
• Billy Martin – drums, percussion
• Chris Wood – acoustic bass
• Steven Bernstein – trumpet, flugelhorn
• Josh Roseman – trombone
• Jay Rodriguez – tenor & alto saxophones
• Dave Binney – alto saxophone
• Marc Ribot – guitar

Credits

• Horn arrangements by John Medeski
• Recorded and mixed by Steven Miller
• Mixed at Live Wire Studio, NYC
• Photos: Alan Martin
• Logo artwork: Billy Martin
• Design: Adrienne Di Giovine
• Package coordinator: Andrea Pirrotti

References

1. "Medeski, Martin & Wood". Chicago Reader. June 9, 1994.
2. "Medeski, Martin & Wood Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
3. Milkowski, Bill. "Medeski, Martin and Wood: Uninvisible". JazzTimes.
4. Joyce, Mike (3 Dec 1993). "Trio's Blender Set on Pulse". The Washington Post. p. N28.
5. Andrews, Marke (26 Nov 1994). "Changing sounds beyond description". Vancouver Sun. p. B10.
6. Beatty, Brian. It's a Jungle in Here at AllMusic
7. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (October 11, 2004). "The New Rolling Stone Album Guide". Simon and Schuster – via Google Books.
8. "Medeski, Martin and Wood". Trouser Press. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
9. Point, Michael (9 June 1994). "The June Is Jazz Month calendar...". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. p. 13.