A group that effortlessly straddles the gap between avant-garde improvisation and accessible groove-based jazz, Medeski, Martin & Wood have simultaneously earned standing as relentlessly innovative musicians and as an enormously popular act. Emerging out of the New York downtown scene in the early ’90s, MMW soon set out on endless cross-country tours before returning home to Manhattan to further refine their sound through myriad influential experimentations. Each of the musicians — keyboardist John Medeski, drummer/percussionist Billy Martin, and bassist Chris Wood — had crossed paths throughout the ’80s, playing with the likes of John Lurie, John Zorn, and Martin mentor Bob Moses. In 1991, the trio officially convened for an engagement at New York’s Village Gate. Soon, the group was rehearsing in Martin’s loft, writing, and then recording 1992’s self-released Notes from the Underground. As the group began to tour, escaping the supportive though insular New York music community, Medeski — a former child prodigy — switched to a Hammond B-3 organ rather than a grand piano.

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Video Quality

Medeski, Martin & Wood: Not Not Jazz debuts on Blu-Ray with a fetching 1080p presentation that faithfully captures its aesthetic intentions. The documentary primarily features new material following the members during the recording of a new album, but the film introduces some clips and archival material to expand the history of the group. The new footage is crisp and clean even when transitioning to new locations. There are no instances of compression artifacts or other digital nuisances of the sort. There are detailed textures within the background such as clothing and furniture.

The color grading is natural with some nuanced hues in the environments visited. The picture likewise showcases some pretty strong black levels and stable highlights. The archival material is not always as crisp due to the condition of the source being utilized, but most of the material looks as strong as possible. The blending of the different sources is executed naturally for a smooth experience. Everything looks as good as the original material will allow. Oscilloscope Laboratories has treated this one quite well on Blu-Ray.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray arrives with a consistent DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that executes this material as it should. Since this is a documentary about a band, one would hope the music would come through with the highest fidelity. Thankfully, there are no deficiencies in this department as songs flow through without signs of strain or damage. There is a detailed sound design as the group creates new compositions in a remote locale. Ambient noises are rendered with precision within the sonic palette. Exchanges of dialogue come through clearly with nothing drowned out. The audio track accomplishes everything that is asked of it. Optional English SDH subtitles are included for those who desire them.

Special Features

Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Medeski, Martin & Wood: Not Not Jazz is a familiar yet undoubtedly rewarding look at a band that has continued to push boundaries over several decades. The backstory is not particularly dramatic, so the barrier to entry might be a bit high for those new to the band, but those who love them will appreciate getting a glimpse at the creative process along with a tidy summation of their journey thus far. If you are a fan of the band, you will love it. Oscilloscope Laboratories has provided this film with a Blu-Ray with a great A/V presentation but not much in the way of special features. If you are a fan of MMW or inventive jazz music, give it a shot. Recommended

Medeski, Martin & Wood: Not Not Jazz will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital on August 9, 2024.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Oscilloscope Laboratories has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.