Medeski Martin & Wood
Encyclopedia
Medeski Martin & Wood is an American
jazz
trio formed in 1991, consisting of John Medeski
on keyboards
and piano
, Billy Martin
on drums
and percussion
, and Chris Wood
on double bass
and bass guitar
.
The band draws on influences from a number of musical traditions, from funk
to hip hop
, and is known for an unconventional style sometimes described as "avant-groove".
MMW has found moderate mainstream success—often working with noted guitarist John Scofield
—and touring on the jam band
circuit.
, who had performed with Medeski and Wood, and was Martin's instructor.
Medeski Martin & Wood's first performances together were at the Village Gate, a popular New York jazz club. They were initially an acoustic jazz trio, but Medeski added a Hammond organ
when the difficulties of touring with a piano became apparent. Their first album, Notes from the Underground
, is a record of their entirely-acoustic era. All of their subsequent albums reveal Medeski's use of a wide variety of keyboards, including mellotron
, melodica
, and a clavinet
. Wood entirely eschewed the electric bass for MMW's first three albums, and still relies heavily on the acoustic upright bass in recordings and during live performances. Their earlier albums reveal a Hip Hop
influenced updating of classic soul jazz
sounds, which is the primary theme of their well-known 1996 album, Shack-man
.
The band received some of their first significant exposure outside of the New York City
jazz scene by performing with Phish
at their October 14, 1995 concert, which led to the association of the group as a jam band
. In addition, their performance on John Scofield
's 1997 album A Go Go
helped to further their exposure. The band collaborated further with Scofield again in 2006, releasing the album Out Louder
under the name Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood. This was the first album released on MMW's own Indirecto Records.
From 1998–2005, MMW were signed to leading jazz label Blue Note Records
, and showed them delving deeper into dense, electronic funk than their earlier albums, although the band continued to experiment with free jazz
and free improvisation
both on their albums and in concert. In 2001 MMW performed several songs for the Red Hot Organization
's compilation album Red Hot + Indigo
, a tribute to Duke Ellington
, which raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS
awareness and fighting the disease.
Medeski Martin & Wood's live performances are renowned for their exploratory nature. Their concerts usually involve extended improvisations, which may be both arrhythmic and atonal
, an aspect of their musicianship that is rarely documented in the studio. They occasionally tour using only acoustic instruments, reverting back to the instrumentation that they began their career with. Their album Tonic is an example of these more contemporary acoustic performances. They have also done short tours of entirely improvisatory performances. These shows usually consisted of two sets of improvisation, followed by an encore of a song from an album.
In 2001 John Medeski collaborated with the North Mississippi Allstars
and steel guitar
ist Robert Randolph; together, these five musicians formed The Word
, a bluesy gospel band. They released one self-titled album and toured extensively.
Beginning around 2005 Chris Wood formed The Wood Brothers
with his brother, blues guitarist Oliver Wood. They have released several albums to date and continue to tour and record together.
In 2007 John Medeski and Billy Martin released an album as a duo, called Mago
. They performed that material together at the 2007 Bonnaroo Music Festival
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trio formed in 1991, consisting of John Medeski
John Medeski
Anthony John Medeski is an American jazz keyboards 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...
on keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, Billy Martin
Billy Martin (percussionist)
Billy Martin is an American jazz drummer, best known as a member of jazz-funk trio Medeski Martin & Wood.-Biography:Before becoming part of Medeski, Martin & Wood, Martin was part of the New York City Brazilian scene in the 1980s. He performed regularly with Pe De Boi, Batucada and several Bob...
on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, and Chris Wood
Chris Wood (jazz musician)
Christopher Barry Wood is an American bass player, best known for playing with the avant-garde jazz-funk trio Medeski Martin & Wood .-Biography:...
on double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
and bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
.
The band draws on influences from a number of musical traditions, from funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
to hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, and is known for an unconventional style sometimes described as "avant-groove".
MMW has found moderate mainstream success—often working with noted guitarist John Scofield
John Scofield
John Scofield , often referred to as "Sco," is an American jazz guitarist and composer, who has played and collaborated with Miles Davis, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Joey Defrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Pat Martino, Mavis Staples, Phil Lesh, Billy Cobham,...
—and touring on the jam band
Jam band
-Ambiguity:By the late 1990s use of the term jam band also became ambiguous. An editorial at jamband.com suggested that any band of which a primary band such as Phish has done a cover of be included as jam band. The example was including New York post-punk band Talking Heads after Phish performed...
circuit.
History
The band members were introduced to each other by jazz drummer Bob MosesBob Moses (musician)
Rakalam Bob Moses is an American jazz drummer born in New York City.Moses played with Roland Kirk in 1964-65 while he was still a teenager. In 1966 he and Larry Coryell formed The Free Spirits, a jazz fusion ensemble, and from 1967 to 1969 he played in Gary Burton's quartet...
, who had performed with Medeski and Wood, and was Martin's instructor.
Medeski Martin & Wood's first performances together were at the Village Gate, a popular New York jazz club. They were initially an acoustic jazz trio, but Medeski added a Hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
when the difficulties of touring with a piano became apparent. Their first album, Notes from the Underground
Notes from the Underground (album)
Notes from the Underground is the debut album by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood.-Track listing:#"Hermeto's Daydream" – 7:11#"The Saint" – 6:58#"La Garonne" – 5:51#"Orbits" – 4:25...
, is a record of their entirely-acoustic era. All of their subsequent albums reveal Medeski's use of a wide variety of keyboards, including mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
, melodica
Melodica
The melodica, also known as the "blow-organ" or "key-flute", is a free-reed instrument similar to the melodeon and harmonica. It has a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. Pressing a key opens a hole,...
, and a clavinet
Clavinet
A Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...
. Wood entirely eschewed the electric bass for MMW's first three albums, and still relies heavily on the acoustic upright bass in recordings and during live performances. Their earlier albums reveal a Hip Hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
influenced updating of classic soul jazz
Soul jazz
Soul jazz is a development of jazz incorporating strong influences from blues, soul, gospel and rhythm and blues in music for small groups, often an organ trio featuring a Hammond organ.- Overview :Soul jazz is often associated with hard bop. Mark C...
sounds, which is the primary theme of their well-known 1996 album, Shack-man
Shack-man
Shack-man is an album released by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood in 1996.-Track listing:All music by Medeski Martin & Wood.#"Is There Anybody Here That Love My Jesus" – 4:27#"Think" – 5:16#"Dracula" – 4:16#"Bubblehouse" – 4:27...
.
The band received some of their first significant exposure outside of the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
jazz scene by performing with Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
at their October 14, 1995 concert, which led to the association of the group as a jam band
Jam band
-Ambiguity:By the late 1990s use of the term jam band also became ambiguous. An editorial at jamband.com suggested that any band of which a primary band such as Phish has done a cover of be included as jam band. The example was including New York post-punk band Talking Heads after Phish performed...
. In addition, their performance on John Scofield
John Scofield
John Scofield , often referred to as "Sco," is an American jazz guitarist and composer, who has played and collaborated with Miles Davis, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Joey Defrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Pat Martino, Mavis Staples, Phil Lesh, Billy Cobham,...
's 1997 album A Go Go
A Go Go (John Scofield album)
A Go Go, one of John Scofield's early funk/jazz endeavors was released on April 7, 1998. This album is also his first collaboration with avant garde jazz trio Medeski Martin & Wood.- Track listing :All compositions by John Scofield.#A Go Go#Chank...
helped to further their exposure. The band collaborated further with Scofield again in 2006, releasing the album Out Louder
Out Louder
Out Louder is an album produced as a collaboration between Medeski Martin & Wood and John Scofield. It is the first album released under the name "Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood," since 1998's A Go Go was released under Scofield's name alone...
under the name Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood. This was the first album released on MMW's own Indirecto Records.
From 1998–2005, MMW were signed to leading jazz label Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. At the end of the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, Blue Note headquarters...
, and showed them delving deeper into dense, electronic funk than their earlier albums, although the band continued to experiment with free jazz
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
and free improvisation
Free improvisation
Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
both on their albums and in concert. In 2001 MMW performed several songs for the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
's compilation album Red Hot + Indigo
Red Hot + Indigo
Red Hot + Indigo is the 13th entry from the Red Hot AIDS benefit series of compilation albums produced by Paul Heck. It marks the tenth anniversary of the Red Hot Organization , an international organization which uses mass media as a fundraising tool for its efforts at increasing public AIDS...
, a tribute to Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
, which raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
awareness and fighting the disease.
Medeski Martin & Wood's live performances are renowned for their exploratory nature. Their concerts usually involve extended improvisations, which may be both arrhythmic and atonal
Atonality
Atonality in its broadest sense describes music that lacks a tonal center, or key. Atonality in this sense usually describes compositions written from about 1908 to the present day where a hierarchy of pitches focusing on a single, central tone is not used, and the notes of the chromatic scale...
, an aspect of their musicianship that is rarely documented in the studio. They occasionally tour using only acoustic instruments, reverting back to the instrumentation that they began their career with. Their album Tonic is an example of these more contemporary acoustic performances. They have also done short tours of entirely improvisatory performances. These shows usually consisted of two sets of improvisation, followed by an encore of a song from an album.
Side projects
Each of the trio's three members are involved in a large music community, and have participated in numerous side projects over the years.In 2001 John Medeski collaborated with the North Mississippi Allstars
North Mississippi Allstars
North Mississippi Allstars is a Southern rock/blues jam band from Hernando, Mississippi, founded in 1996. The band is composed of brothers Luther Dickinson and Cody Dickinson , and Chris Chew...
and steel guitar
Steel guitar
Steel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
ist Robert Randolph; together, these five musicians formed The Word
The Word (band)
The Word is an instrumental jazz rock/Sacred steel/gospel blues/Southern rock jam band. The supergroup included well-known musicians: Robert Randolph , John Medeski , and all three members of North Mississippi Allstars - Luther Dickinson , Cody Dickinson , and Chris Chew .The Word developed from a...
, a bluesy gospel band. They released one self-titled album and toured extensively.
Beginning around 2005 Chris Wood formed The Wood Brothers
The Wood Brothers
The Wood Brothers are musician siblings Chris and Oliver Wood from Boulder, Colorado. Chris is a founding member of Medeski Martin & Wood, and Oliver played second guitar with Tinsley Ellis before forming King Johnson....
with his brother, blues guitarist Oliver Wood. They have released several albums to date and continue to tour and record together.
In 2007 John Medeski and Billy Martin released an album as a duo, called Mago
Mago (album)
Mago is a jazz album released by Billy Martin and John Medeski of the jazz trio Medeski Martin & Wood. Mago was recorded over two days in July 2006, and was produced by Martin...
. They performed that material together at the 2007 Bonnaroo Music Festival
Bonnaroo Music Festival
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is an annual four day music festival created and produced by Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment, held at Great Stage Park on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. It hosted its tenth annual event June 9–12, 2011...
.
Albums
- Notes from the UndergroundNotes from the Underground (album)Notes from the Underground is the debut album by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood.-Track listing:#"Hermeto's Daydream" – 7:11#"The Saint" – 6:58#"La Garonne" – 5:51#"Orbits" – 4:25...
(January 1, 1992) - It's a Jungle in HereIt's a Jungle in HereIt's a Jungle in Here is an album released by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood.-Track listing:All songs by Medeski Martin & Wood except where noted.#"Beeah" – 6:56#"Where's Sly?" – 5:22#"Shuck It Up" – 7:41#"Sand" – 2:23...
(October 18, 1993) - Friday Afternoon in the UniverseFriday Afternoon in the UniverseFriday Afternoon in the Universe is an album released by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood.-Track listing:All music by Medeski Martin & Wood except where noted in brackets.#"The Lover" – 6:19#"Paper Bass" – 0:56#"House Mop" – 3:46...
(January 24, 1995) - Shack-manShack-manShack-man is an album released by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood in 1996.-Track listing:All music by Medeski Martin & Wood.#"Is There Anybody Here That Love My Jesus" – 4:27#"Think" – 5:16#"Dracula" – 4:16#"Bubblehouse" – 4:27...
(October 15, 1996) - Farmer's ReserveFarmer's ReserveFarmer's Reserve is an album released by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood. It consists of one 40-minute minimalist improvisation followed by a 15-minute epilogue...
(February 11, 1997) – ambient improvisation album - CombusticationCombustication-Track listing:All music by Medeski Martin & Wood except where noted.#"Sugar Craft" – 3:22#"Just Like I Pictured It" – 3:27#"Start·Stop" – 6:39#"Nocturne" – 4:02#"Hey-Hee-Hi-Ho" – 3:15#"Whatever Happened to Gus" – 4:26#"Latin Shuffle" – 9:05...
(August 11, 1998) - Tonic (April 25, 2000) – acoustic live album recorded at Tonic in NYC
- The DropperThe DropperThe Dropper is an album by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood.-Track listing:#"We Are Rolling" – 7:04#"Big Time" – 3:23#"Fèlic" – 3:21#"Partido Alto" – 5:42#"Illinization" – 2:31#"Bone Digger" – 2:22#"Note Bleu" – 3:01...
(October 24, 2000) - Electric TonicElectric TonicElectric Tonic is a live album by Medeski Martin & Wood consisting of totally improvised material recorded at Tonic. It is only available through the band's online store or at their live shows...
(October 31, 2001) – electric live album, limited release - UninvisibleUninvisibleUninvisible is an album by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood.-Track listing:All tracks by Medeski Martin & Wood except where noted.#"Uninvisible" – 3:37#"I Wanna Ride You" – 3:28...
(April 9, 2002) - End of the World Party (Just in Case)End of the World Party (Just in Case)End of the World Party is an album released by Medeski Martin & Wood.The album made #1 on KTUH's charts on the week of November 8, 2004.-Track listing:# "Anonymous Skulls" – 4:24# "End of the World Party" – 5:11# "Reflector" – 4:11...
(September 7, 2004) - Let's Go EverywhereLet's Go EverywhereLet's Go Everywhere is an album of children's music released by Medeski Martin & Wood.-Track listing:All tracks by Medeski Martin & Wood.#"Waking Up" – 1:05#"Let's Go Everywhere" – 3:33#"Cat Creeps" – 2:46#"The Train Song" – 3:53...
(January 8, 2008) – children's album - Zaebos: Book of Angels Vol.11Zaebos (album)Zaebos: Book of Angels Volume 11 is an album of compositions by John Zorn released by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood in 2008....
(August, 19th 2008) - John ZornJohn ZornJohn Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
project album - The Radiolarian SeriesThe Radiolarian SeriesThe Radiolarian Series is an album project by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood released in three installments in 2008-2009....
(Three-album Project, 2008–2009)- Radiolarians 1 (September 30, 2008)
- Radiolarians 2 (April 14, 2009)
- Radiolarians 3 (August 4, 2009)
- Radiolarians: The Evolutionary Set (December 8, 2009)
- The Stone: Issue Four (November 2010) - cd to benefit The Stone; live in Japan
- 20 (March - December 2011) - Collection of tracks (released monthly) celebrating MMW's 20 year anniversary.
Albums with John Scofield
- A Go GoA Go Go (John Scofield album)A Go Go, one of John Scofield's early funk/jazz endeavors was released on April 7, 1998. This album is also his first collaboration with avant garde jazz trio Medeski Martin & Wood.- Track listing :All compositions by John Scofield.#A Go Go#Chank...
(John ScofieldJohn ScofieldJohn Scofield , often referred to as "Sco," is an American jazz guitarist and composer, who has played and collaborated with Miles Davis, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Joey Defrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Pat Martino, Mavis Staples, Phil Lesh, Billy Cobham,...
album with MMW) (April 7, 1998) - Out LouderOut LouderOut Louder is an album produced as a collaboration between Medeski Martin & Wood and John Scofield. It is the first album released under the name "Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood," since 1998's A Go Go was released under Scofield's name alone...
(as Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood) (September 26, 2006) - In Case the World Changes Its Mind (Live album as Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood) (November 8, 2011)
Collections
- Last Chance to Dance Trance (Perhaps)Last Chance to Dance Trance (Perhaps)Last Chance to Dance Trance : Best Of is a greatest hits compilation released by Medeski Martin & Wood.-Track listing:#"Chubb Subb" – 5:21#"Bubblehouse" – 4:28#"Last Chance to Dance Trance " – 7:38...
(Gramavision 1991-1996) (October 12, 1999) - Note Bleu: Best of the Blue Note Years 1998–2005Note Bleu: Best of the Blue Note Years 1998–2005Note Bleu: Best of the Blue Note Years 1998–2005 is a "best of" or "greatest hits" compilation from experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood, released in 2006 and featuring select songs from all of the band's albums released on Blue Note Records...
(April 4, 2006)
Remix Project EP's
- BubblehouseBubblehouseBubblehouse is an EP released by experimental jazz fusion trio Medeski Martin & Wood.- Track listing :All music by Medeski Martin & Wood.# "Bubblehouse" – 4:17# "Bubblehouse BBQ Mix" – 6:28# "Dracula" – 3:45# "Macha" – 3:19...
(April 8, 1997) - Combustication Remix EPCombustication Remix EPCombustication Remix EP, also called Combustication Remixes, is an EP released by Medeski Martin & Wood. It consists of various artists' remixes of songs from their album Combustication.- Track listing :# "Hey-Hee-Hi-Ho" – 3:54...
(April 20, 1999)
External links
- Medeski Martin & Wood official website
- MMW Setlists archive of live show setlists & information
- MMW Performance History frequently updated archive of live shows, including solo gigs, guest appearances and member side projects
- Interview with John Poirier for Aural States (Sept 2009)
- "Medeski, Martin & Wood: Twelve Essential Tracks" by Matt Leskovic
- MONEYPIT May 2005 Working on John Medeski's Mellotron
- Interview with Billy Martin Conducted with Citizen Dick, focusing on Radiolarians project and music in general
- Conversation with Chris Wood In-depth conversation with bassist Chris Wood