Medeski, Martin and Wood

Posted by: john – Jun 01, 2009

I first heard of Medeski, Martin, and Wood a few years ago, and have loved their music and live performances ever since. A friend told me about this amazing jazz/jam band that played a late night set at the Bonnaroo Festival. Apparently they put on quite a show using various musicians including a Dj, all the while staying true to a interpretive form. They had gained a substantial following by opening for Phish, and from then on were associated with the jam band scene. I don't listen to jam bands, and have never really been into going to their shows. But after listening to the set live from Bonnaroo I was immediately hooked.

The first full album from MMW I owned was UnInvisible, and to this day it remains one of my favorite alt Jazz albums of all time. What really drew me into their sound was the fusion of Jazz funk with an element of hip hop beats and creative sound texturing. The group has worked exclusively with DJ Logic in the past, adding him as not just a texture provider, but incorporating the deejay as solo instrument. Its all about the live feel and elements within this group, each person feeding off the other. I am lucky to have the UnInvisible record on vinyl and have spun it into and out of everything from trip hop to funk in my own deejay sets.

But for me its all about the live show, and MMW delivers a powerful performance when they play. Its all about the music, and even if your familiar with their work you will find yourself wondering when one song ends and another starts. The band is massively talented, and their group dynamic is apparent in live performance. Martin explains this further:

"We have a certain chemistry between us, musically," says Martin, "and in addition to that we have a strong friendship that goes beyond the music. Even when we have ups and downs, the music and our friendship carries us through."

Chis Wood provides the bass and an underlying funky current, moving between stand up and electric. Billy Martin's percussion comes from a background of the Brazilian scene in the 1980's on the streets of New York. In live performance you will see various percussive instruments that help to transform and add to the improvisational elements of MMW. Then you have John Medeski who is a virtuoso on piano and keys, he rips into each song with underlying elements of classical and jazz. Most importantly, this band grooves, and the audience grooves with them. You will find people from all walks of life, dancing and moving to the sounds of MMW.

Last time they were in town, I saw them at Lewis Ginter's Grooving in the Garden for the first time. I had loved their music for years and watched videos of them live, but never been there in person. It ended up being one of my favorite nights of the summer last year. I distantly remember Medeski jamming on a toy piano with his feet, while playing one of the other pianos and leading the rest of the band. Most of the time I was dancing, and trying my best to keep my dropped jaw closed. I cant wait to see them again this year, and hope to make this an annual event. Time to put my flippy floppies on, and grab a beer in the warm summer night at Lewis Ginter while enjoying one of my favorite bands.

Hope to see you there....
-
John Reinhold

Medeski, Martin, and Wood plays at Groovin in the Garden
June 4th, 6pm at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

For more Info & tickets:
http://groovininthegarden.net/
http://www.lewisginter.org/

**Want to win free ticket to the show? RVA Magazine is giving away two tickets to Medeski, Martin, and Wood.

Just email RVA Magazine - john@rvamag.com with your contact info. We will draw two random people by Wed night the June 3rd.

*Or if your feeling adventuresome you can send me a compelling email/story, and win both these tickets for thursday night. Good luck on that! We love interesting stories, maybe we will put it online if its good.

Thanks..
RVA Magazine