Medicine Hat, the debut recording from
the Will Bernard 4-Tet, is an engagingly eclectic set of adventurous contemporary jazz. Much like
Medeski, Martin and Wood,
Bernard has a rootsy worldbeat groove that draws heavily from soul-jazz, but his solos are far more ambitious and risky than those of the trio. There are a few moments on
Medicine Hat where
Bernard and his mates meander instead of explore, but on the whole, it's a first-class debut. ~ Leo Stanley