The Dropper

The Washington Post 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."[8] Exclaim! 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."[2] The Riverfront Times 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."[9]

1. "We Are Rolling" – 7:04
2. "Big Time" – 3:23
3. "Fèlic" – 3:21
4. "Partido Alto" – 5:42
5. "Illinization" – 2:31
6. "Bone Digger" – 2:22
7. "Note Bleu" – 3:01
8. "The Dropper" – 3:29
9. "Philly Cheese Blunt" – 4:49
10. "Sun Sleigh" – 2:23
11. "Tsukemono" – 3:23
12. "Shacklyn Knights" – 4:44
13. "Norah 6" – 4:51

• John Medeski – keyboards
• Billy Martin – drums, percussion
• Chris Wood – basses
• Marshall Allen – alto sax
• Marc Ribot – guitars
• Eddie Bobe – congas
• Paula Potocki – surdo
• Charlie Burnham – violin
• Joan Wasser – violin
• Jane Scarpantoni – cello

• Engineered and mixed by Scotty Hard (except "Illinization", mixed by David Baker)
• Assisted at Shacklyn by Phillip Harvey
• Assisted at Greene Street Studios by Phil Painson
• Mastered by Howie Weinberg at Masterdisk (NYC)
• Assisted at Masterdisk by Andy Van Dette
• Photography: Danny Clinch
• Art direction and design: Chippy