Medeski Martin & Wood's story is - like most great stories - one of humble beginnings, friendship and a bright future.
The trio of keyboard/organ/piano player John Medeski, drummer/percussionist Billy Martin, and bassist Chris Wood formed not in some vastly creative alternative universe, but in Brooklyn, NY (DUMBO) in 1991. Medeski and Wood, both students at Boston's New England Conservatory of Music, decided to move to NYC, with the intent to explore the late-night underworld of the city's burgeoning jazz scene.
The trio began experimenting with contemporary hip-hop beats that could swing as hard as jazz rhythms, yet remained essentially simple and propulsive, giving the musicians ample room to create hypnotic texture and sounds that were brimming with both improvisation and harmony.
MMW garnered a loyal fan following through constant touring and eventually secured a record deal. Their debut album "Notes from the Underground" was released in 1991.
In 2008, with over a dozen albums credited to their name, MMW set upon to release an ingenious new experiment, The Radiolarians Series. Radiolarians I, II & III were released individually in a span of 1.5 years and the culmination of the series, Radiolarians: The Evolutionary Set (MMW's first box set) will be released November 24, 2009. The box set will include additional material including a remix album, a live album, bonus tracks PLUS a documentary DVD directed by Billy Martin.
For more information about Medeski Martin & Wood, visit www.mmw.net.
For information on the MMW children album,“Let’s Go Everywhere,” visit, www.myspace.com/letsgoeverywhere.
Great show friday in Milwaukee gentleman. Wish my friend and i could have met you by the merch table after the show but the security guys kicked everyone out soon after the encore. Anyways you guys are crazy live. keep it up and please come back to Milwaukee next year.
That Indianapolis show last night was outstanding! Hands down, best show I've ever seen in Indiana..quite possibly EVER...Thanks for doin' it right and I plan to fly out to Oregon in Feb..Safe Travels...
Y'all are one of my favorites for sure...just bought my Indy ticket and am pumped...thanks for the inspiration..here is some of my poetry, inspired by your music+ hip-hop music...
You wish you could get inside my head..& I wish I could make sense of all this..and go to bED…
