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John Medeski
Jazz / Experimental

"John Medeski"

NEW YORK, New York
United States

Profile Views:  32911




Last Login:  11/7/2008
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   John Medeski: General Info
Member Since7/18/2006
Band Websitemmw.net
Band MembersJohn Medeski - piano, organs, keys
Record LabelIndirecto Records - US
Type of LabelIndie




   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Nov 20 2008 8:00P
The Fillmore San Francisco, California
Nov 21 2008 8:00P
El Rey Theatre Los Angeles, California
Nov 22 2008 8:00P
John Ascuaga’s Nugget, Celebrity Showroom Sparks, Nevada

John Medeski's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

The Word  (view more)

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   About John Medeski
John Medeski's mother taught him to read before he even started school, and his father taught him to play blues and jazz standards on the piano before he learned to walk. So it is only fitting that today John is completely dedicated to the piano, cross-pollinating diverse musical disciplines, and immersed in inventive musical conversation.

John may be best known as one-third of Medeski Martin & Wood, but his full body of work goes far beyond that ground-breaking trio.

As of late, John can be found performing solo piano recitals, where he explores classical music, lounge songs, and jazz standards in intimate concert venues such as the Chicago Symphony Center and New York City's Merkin Hall, in addition to select dates in Mexico City and Guadalajara.

He has also begun scoring films, and it is his score that plays throughout the acclaimed film Day on Fire, which recently screened at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and the 2006 Toronto Film Festival. Medeski also makes a cameo appearance in the film, playing a piano player and musical accompanist to one of the main characters.

John produced and played on the self-titled debut by The Word, a gospel-meets-rock collective with The North Mississippi All-Stars that introduced the secular world to pedal-steel guitar phenomenon Robert Randolph. He also lent his production skills to the New Orleans funk institution The Dirty Dozen Brass Band for their release 'Buck Jump', to gospel instrumentalists The Campbell Brothers' 'Can You Feel It,' and to folk/blues songwriter duo The Wood Brothers (featuring Medeski Martin & Wood bassist Chris Wood and his brother Oliver) on their debut album for the Blue Note label, 'Ways Not To Lose.'

A familiar face in New York's 'downtown' scene, John has performed alongside New York-based musicians such as saxophonist/composer John Zorn, guitarist Marc Ribot, Lounge Lizard John Lurie, and slide trombonist Steve Bernstein.

In addition, a diverse array of artists have sought out John to join them in the recording studio, amongst them songwriters T-Bone Burnett, Rufus Wainwright, Ray Lamontagne, and kd lang, guitarist John Scofield, punk godfather Iggy Pop, R&B innovator Chocolate Genius, D.J./producer Dan the Automator, jazz pianist Matthew Shipp, legendary funk/jazz saxophonist Maceo Parker, Peruvian singer Susanna Baca, gospel singers The Blind Boys of Alabama, and gospel/R&B vocalist Mavis Staples.

Over the past year John has delved deeply into the realm of improvised psychedelic funk with The Itch, a trio that he put together with Soulive guitarist Eric Krasno and hip-hop drummer Adam Deitch specifically to perform at the All Good Music Festival in Masontown, West Virginia. The group's two sets of sweaty, improvised workouts instantly became legend, so much so that The Itch plan to continue making music together.

There is also Medeski Scofield Martin and Wood, featuring guitarist John Scofield and Medeski's MMW mates Billy Martin and Chris Wood. The quartet's 'Out Louder' was the first release on Medeski Martin and Wood's own record label, Indirecto Records.

Hard to believe that at the age of nine, John nearly gave up the piano, thinking that the instrument was too 'girly' and looking to devote more time to other artistic mediums and a growing social life. Fortunately, John's parents convinced him to stick with the piano just a bit longer. By his early teen years, John enrolled in the prestigious Pinecrest School, a private institution where he began an intense study of classical music and theory while simultaneously studying jazz piano harmony. Of course, it is that very juxtaposition of classical discipline and jazz improvisation which informs Medeski's music to this very day.

In fact, John considers himself first and foremost a classical musician. "I was always into classical music," says Medeski. "What the great classical composers were doing at the time was a reflection of what was going on in their world, and I enjoy discovering my own relationships to what they were doing. At the same time, I try to do what the jazz greats always did they play music based on whatever sounds are popular at the time, and then they add something of their own to it." In 1991, while a student at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music, John Medeski met his future, in the persona of bassist and fellow student Chris Wood. The two moved to New York City, jammed with a drummer named Billy Martin, and a band, not to mention a lasting three-way friendship, was formed.

As with most visionaries, artists, and creative-types, Medeski has a multitude of dreams and plans yet to be realized. There will be more solo piano gigs, more musicians to be brought together, and there are ideas for duo projects and band experiments that have yet to be brought to fruition. There are musicians from Morocco and Peru who Medeski has played with, and hopes to play music alongside again. And there is a dream of one day putting together and scoring music for a big band.

"There is just an endless stream of stuff that I do," says Medeski. "I like to make music that comes from the most basic need to create. Hopefully, that desire to make music will create something that vibrates and resonates with people, and makes them want to come along for the ride. The whole point of making music is to do something that you really feel from deep inside.

"And if you feel it," he says, "other people will feel it too."



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   John Medeski's Friend Space (Top 8)
John Medeski has 2519 friends.
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John Medeski's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 202 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Christian Brantschen





Nov 4 2008 6:08 PM

John, thanks for th add. Will be in April in New York and hope to see ya playing somewhere. We listen a lot to your Trio in Switzerland. There are two great clubs, here, where you would fit, if you once drop over to Europe. Keep on your great work.
Le Bleu Band





Nov 1 2008 7:51 PM

hola desde MEXICO!

CHEERS JOHN!

LES BLEUS
Pascal





Oct 7 2008 3:15 PM

Bonjour John
thanks for the friendly add
so good sound in your music
I really like it
best wishes from France
pascal
AMULET RECORDS





Sep 27 2008 11:26 AM

RANDALLMAN





Sep 22 2008 11:53 PM

merci...
droppergrl





Sep 19 2008 7:36 PM

so lovin all the new recordings - hope to see you live again soon - safe travels!
TRZ





Sep 20 2008 2:11 AM

hey man, tomorrow i will be in your concert at sesc vila mariana aaahhh i cant..s believe i will see MMW live in brazil aahhhhhhhhhhhhh love you keyboardsss
Judson





Sep 16 2008 2:36 AM

what's up man? -I hope you are enjoying your travels.
Erik Solberg





Sep 12 2008 1:11 AM

Yes! The Medeski!
Mia





Sep 5 2008 5:22 PM

Thanks for the add... still remember getting shot in the leg with a bb gun at your house in Sea Ranch when we were about 9! I love your music!
JORGE CAMPOS PROJECT





Sep 5 2008 5:57 PM

John,
thanks for the add!
I hope to see the show here in Santiago.
all the best
Jorge
Jonny Fong™





Sep 7 2008 7:30 PM

Mr.Madeski!

How about Martin,Wood and Fong?

Hello There!

Are you Well?

Hope you Enjoy the New Fongsong!

Love,Peace and Happiness

Jonny Fong

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Mr. Potato Head





Sep 7 2008 8:31 PM

so... im going through a john medeski withdrawl over here in new jersey.
you should come pay us all a visit!
OVERLOW





Aug 28 2008 1:29 PM

Hi overthere.
Many thanks for the +.
Peace
Dave Arntsen





Aug 29 2008 3:47 AM

John

Meeting you and learning from you and Billy and Chris was a phenomenal experience...Thanks for the music and the memories
The Cause Of Itself





Aug 26 2008 8:26 AM

Billy The Kid was here
awfulldrummer





Aug 18 2008 6:57 PM

thanks for the friendship,mmw/msmw and everything you do is awesome!
Jeremy





Aug 18 2008 11:36 PM

Thank you so much for offering yours, Adam's, & John's time at All Good's workshop stage, accepting questions and the like. Despite the unlikely ending (Ross world!?!), it was great to be so close to one of my heroes in such an informal setting.
It's great to be challenged musically by artists that refuse to allow their music to become "stale". The harder I work to close the gap, it seems you are still working to keep it just that much further...thank you.
jason chumley





Aug 11 2008 4:51 AM

YOU ARE MY NEW HUMAN HERO....
jason chumley





Aug 12 2008 6:52 PM

YOUR LESSONS WERE VERY HELPFUL IN MY LIFE .... THANK YOU
Boston MassAppeal





Aug 7 2008 8:56 AM

Hello John,
Hope you are having a nice time at camp. Remember sunscreen and bug spray. Summer goes by fast so have fun. The family sends their love.
-Carmine
Luca Benedetti





Aug 7 2008 1:07 PM

you are the best!!hola!
Set All Lights





Aug 6 2008 2:37 PM

Thank you, come again!

WV
DJ Diplodocus





Jul 29 2008 8:29 AM

thanks for the add mate! ;D

Honestly, you're one of the most impressive musicians I've ever seen!! -Dave (DJD)
THANOULI JON ROTH





Jul 29 2008 1:13 PM

thanks for approving my friend request, really love your playing in medeski martin & wood and although i first listened to you only a couple of weeks ago, your style and music has influenced me as a musician already!
great music!
come to greece sometime, i'd like to see you live, especially with martin & wood! (awesome trio!)
Jahdub Stido





Jul 27 2008 10:05 AM

Sawasdee&Greetings u da best!!!
Cory Niday





Jul 18 2008 1:07 PM

love you brother.

ol co
Mike Rivard





Jul 18 2008 4:25 PM

They're using a giant one now! OH, THEY'RE USING A GIANT ONE NOW!!! Oh God...Ohhhh God...
droppergrl





Jul 21 2008 4:26 PM

iowa city was so awesome... still smiling :) you should have seen my son at Scofield the next night it was so proud - hope to see you soon again & thanks again for the tacos!
Paolo (CoKe) S.





Jul 9 2008 12:46 PM

at the best artist (for me) ..that i know..
Paolo
POSSESSED BY BUNNIEZ ? (cpj’s?)





Jun 23 2008 11:25 PM

thanks for the add mmw is one of our biggest influences , love that funky jazz
and now the bunny madnessPhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket
electric salmon





Jun 25 2008 7:12 PM

you have some magical fingers, mr. medeski.
droppergrl





Jun 19 2008 5:47 PM

can't wait for the Iowa City show -y'all's energy will be uplifting for the people who have suffered so much from the flooding there....
NikhöMëh





Jun 13 2008 11:33 AM

Hi John ! thank you so much for your music ! I hope to meet you oneday !
Come and check the mellotron solo on the first track of my myspace 's page (it's influenced!)! (and videos !)
best wishes
niko
Don@Online Drum Recording





Jun 12 2008 2:35 PM



Hello John,
Thanks for the add.

All the best,
Don
www. onlinedrumrecording. com
Downburst





Jun 10 2008 4:18 AM

Thank you add!

We are Pure Improvisation Band

from Downburst
Josselin Vautier





Jun 4 2008 10:15 PM

Hi

thx for the add, I love your music

Keep on groovin' !!!
Love.....the new crave





Jun 5 2008 12:59 AM

LOVE IS THE ANSWER..
THANK YOU..
LOVE.....THE NEW CRAVE
The Bees