Jazz used to be a rebel music. But like so many revolutionary
movements, it has
grown regimented and rarefied, an art form based on precision rather
than
passion.
But Medeski, Martin & Wood, a New York-bred keyboards, drums, and
bass
trio, will have none of that. Consider their itinerary of Austin
appearances:
Last year, they played the Continental Club; this week, they appear
tonight
(Thursday 4) at Emo’s and on Friday (5) at the White Rabbit. Although
the
threesome are definitely (if not defiantly) a jazz band, you won’t find
them
playing America’s jazz rooms as they crisscross America in their RV.
“In fact, we try to avoid them,” explains bassist Chris Wood.
“There’s a
certain expectation you get at jazz clubs that’s a little limiting. So
rock
clubs and the alternative clubs are a lot more appropriate for us,
especially
with the type of audience we’re drawing. People actually like to dance
sometimes.”
If you were to ride along with Medeski, Martin & Wood during
their
travels, you would hear a mix of road tapes as diverse as they venues
they
play: from De La Soul to John Coltrane to African and Brazilian music
to
neo-classicist Charles Ives to James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic to
Sun Ra.
Wood feels that such musical openness harkens back to the spirit of the
last
great era of American jazz, the be-bop movement of the Fifties.
“Jazz was the pop music of the day a while back, and it was also a
dance
music. That’s kind of what we’re trying to do,” he explains. “We’re
taking the
pop music and the dance music of the day, and trying to be creative
with it
like they were, and do something new with it.”
They certainly do. From the base of awesome, unrelenting grooves,
they launch
their compositions into an interstellar realm, guided by John Medeski’s
cosmic
organ and (primitive) electronic keyboard swirls and blips, and powered
by Wood
and drummer Billy Martin’s ultra-rhythmic musicality. Since forming in
1992,
they’ve released three of the most critically acclaimed jazz albums in
recent
memory (Notes From the Underground, It’s a Jungle in
Here, and
now Friday Afternoon in the Universe), and developed a following
well
outside the usual jazz audience.
“At first it was kind of a surprise,” notes Wood. “We expected to
be like
normal New York jazz musicians or avant jazz bands and only tour
Europe. But we
tried touring the U.S. and it turned out great. We just started booking
our own
gigs around the States, and hopped in Billy’s van and did it rock band
style.
And I’m really glad we did that, not just for the fact that it’s
working out,
but for the music too. There’s not many people playing this kind of
music,
playing improvised music, and touring this way as a real committed
band.
“We’re attracting a real young crowd,” observes Wood. “Some are
Deadheads, the
people who really like to bootleg and are really into that whole scene,
as well
as the acid jazz scene. I was really surprised at the young,
enthusiastic
college audience we were getting. But in a way I understand it now
after doing
it. It’s more of a psychedelic groove thing. They seem to be more of an
open-minded crowd, too. So we just do what we do and they seem to enjoy
it.”
Plans call for Medeski, Martin & Wood to hook up with their
Rykodisc
labelmates Morphine for a touring double bill later this year.
Meanwhile, the
trio has a shared commitment to keeping their music honest and
sincere.
“Doing this every night is like therapy,” laughs Wood. “You know when
you’re
cheating yourself, and you know when you’re being honest and going for
it. So
it’s a challenge, but it’s great, and we’re lucky to have the
opportunity to do
it.”
This article appears in May 5 • 1995 and May 5 • 1995 (Cover).