Medeski Martin and Wood, the jam band with funk-heavy beats, performs tonight at the 9:30 Club. With John Medeski on piano and organ, Billy Martin on drums and percussion, and Chris Wood on guitar, the trio has recorded more than 10 albums and appeared on various compilation albums.
Originally formed in 1991, the group toured cross-country for most of the decade promoting their brand of jazzy urban funk. Their first album, Notes From The Underground, was recorded a few months after the trio initially got together. MMW’s original sound was acoustic jazz until Medeski made the switch from grand piano to Hammond B-3 organ. Since then, the group has pushed the boundaries of traditional free jazz.
MMW’s funky sound and long improvisational songs appeal to fans of the jam-band scene and to those familiar with Phish and the Grateful Dead.
By 1996, the group had released two more albums, including Friday Afternoon in the Universe, believed by many to be their breakthrough record. Their fourth album, Shack-Man, was fittingly recorded in the group’s solar-powered practice shack in Hawaii. Farmer’s Reserve, which consists of a 40-minute improvisation session, also came out of the recording session at the shack.
To celebrate the release of Shack-Man, the group held a series of “Shack Parties” at New York’s Knitting Factory. The Shack Parties featured collaborations with artists such as Vernon Reid and DJ Logic, who ended up joining them on Combustication. Released in 1998, Combustication pushed toward a more urban sound with DJ Logic’s improvised scratching textures, but still held onto the group’s original free jazz form.
Since its 1991 debut, the trio has steadily released a new album almost every year, and in some years it has released two. In addition to its constant touring and recording, each of the members has side projects. Medeski helped discover slide-guitar virtuoso Robert Randolph, and recorded a gospel album with him and the North Mississippi Allstars. Martin splits his time between MMW and running his record label Amulet, dedicated to percussion and percussive instruments. Wood and his brother Oliver, The Wood Brothers, recently recorded their debut album with Blue Note Records, and it will be released in spring 2006.
Medeski Martin and Wood perform tonight at 9:00 at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. N.W. Tickets are $25. Call (202) 393-0930 for more information.
