Medeski, Martin & Wood

Medeski Martin & Wood
Medeski Martin & Wood at the 2006 Jazzfest, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Background information
Origin	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, jazz-funk, jazz fusion, acid jazz, soul jazz, jam band
Years active	1991–present
Labels	Blue Note, Gramavision, Indirecto, Ropeadope
Associated acts	John Scofield
Website	www.mmw.net
Members	John Medeski Billy Martin Chris Wood

Medeski Martin & Wood (or MMW) is an American avant-jazz-funk band formed in 1991, consisting of John Medeski on keyboards, Billy Martin on drums, and Chris Wood on bass. The band is influenced by musical traditions including funk and 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.

The band members were introduced to each other by jazz drummer Bob Moses, 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.