The band draws on influences from a number of musical traditions, from funk to 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.
The band received some of their first significant exposure outside of the New York City jazz scene by performing with Phish at their October 14, 1995 concert, which led to the association of the group as a jam band.[1] In addition, their performance on John Scofield's 1997 album A Go Go helped to further their exposure. The band collaborated further with Scofield again in 2006, releasing the album Out Louder under the name Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood. This was the first album released on MMW's own Indirecto Records.
From 1998–2005, MMW were signed to leading jazz label Blue Note Records, and showed them delving deeper into dense, electronic funk than their earlier albums, although the band continued to experiment with free jazz and free improvisation both on their albums and in concert.
Medeski Martin & Wood's live performances are renowned for their exploratory nature. Their concerts usually involve extended improvisations, which may be both arrhythmic and atonal, an aspect of their musicianship that is rarely documented in the studio. They occasionally tour using only acoustic instruments, reverting back to the instrumentation that they began their career with. Their album Tonic is an example of these more contemporary acoustic performances. They have also done short tours of entirely improvisatory performances. These shows usually consisted of two sets of improvisation, followed by an encore of a song from an album.
Their song "End of the World Party" was featured on the show Grey's Anatomy and can be found on the show's soundtrack.
Each of the trio's three members are involved in a large music community, and have participated in numerous side projects over the years.
In 2001 John Medeski collaborated with the North Mississippi Allstars and slide-guitarist Robert Randolph; together, these five musicians formed The Word, a bluesy gospel band. They released one self-titled album and toured extensively.
Beginning around 2005 Chris Wood formed The Wood Brothers with his brother, blues guitarist Oliver Wood. They have released several albums to date and continue to tour and record together.
In 2007 John Medeski and Billy Martin released an album as a duo, called Mago. They performed that material together at the 2007 Bonnaroo Music Festival
Ice
Medeski Martin and Wood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hibiscus flowers and some tea leaves
I feel golden
Riding round bumping kali uchis im chosen
She texting back i say who this i feel frozen
Ive been numb i aint feeling pain
I been going dumb
I just need them gains
She dont even come
I just run
I cant run nomore its getting old
I confront ive been wording shit
think im getting bold
Wait for me
I thought i said
Id tell you everything
You break my heart
And i just lose a dream
I know you love me but theres better things
Who you lose
And what you gain
And what you seen son
Im the king i reign supreme
I am the scenes sun
I do my thing and
Make it happen
When these dreams come
Sad nigga
With a heart of gold ive been rolling
Hibiscus flowers and some tea leaves
I feel golden
Riding round bumping kali uchis im chosen
She texting back i say who this i feel frozen
Ive been numb i aint feeling pain
I been going dumb
Throwing shows
I just need them gains
She dont even come
I just run
I cant run nomore its getting old
I confront ive been wording shit
Think im getting bold
The lyrics of Medeski Martin and Wood's song "Ice" paint a picture of a person in a state of self-discovery and emotional vulnerability. The phrase "With a heart of gold, I've been rolling" suggests that the singer possesses a kind and compassionate nature, but they have been on a journey, symbolized by rolling, searching for something more. The mention of hibiscus flowers and tea leaves evokes a sense of tranquility and introspection.
The lyrics also touch upon the singer's feeling of being chosen and having a sense of self-worth. They find solace in bumping music by Kali Uchis, which resonates with their own feelings and experiences. However, their emotional state is not entirely stable, as indicated by the line "I feel frozen." This suggests a temporary inability to process emotions or address the uncertainties in their life.
The second verse delves deeper into the singer's struggles. They express a sense of emotional numbness and detachment from pain, possibly as a coping mechanism. The repetition of "I just run" suggests a pattern of avoiding true emotional connection or confrontations. However, the lyrics also hint at a growing boldness and willingness to express themselves more honestly.
The chorus, with the lines "Wait for me, I thought I said, I'd tell you everything," reveals a deeper longing for connection and trust within a relationship. The singer feels their heart breaking and losing a dream due to a lack of understanding or communication. Although they acknowledge being loved, they believe that there are better things out there.
Overall, the lyrics of "Ice" convey the complex emotions of a person trying to find their place in the world, grappling with vulnerability, the search for connection, and the need to assert themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
With a heart of gold ive been rolling
I have a pure and kind heart, and I have been moving forward in my life with determination and positivity.
Hibiscus flowers and some tea leaves
I find comfort and relaxation in the beauty of nature, represented by hibiscus flowers and tea leaves.
I feel golden
I feel radiant, confident, and full of joy.
Riding round bumping kali uchis im chosen
As I drive around and listen to music by Kali Uchis, I feel like a special and selected individual.
She texting back i say who this i feel frozen
When she replies to my message, I feel startled and incapable of responding due to my surprise.
Ive been numb i aint feeling pain
I have been emotionally desensitized, and I don't experience the sensation of pain.
I been going dumb
I have been engaging in mindless actions and making thoughtless decisions.
Throwing shows
I am organizing and performing at concerts or events.
I just need them gains
I strive for personal growth and success, both in terms of physical strength and achievements.
She dont even come
She doesn't even attend or participate in the activities I am involved in.
I just run
I constantly keep moving, seeking progress and improvement.
I cant run nomore its getting old
I have reached a point where running away from my problems or challenges has become tiresome and ineffective.
I confront ive been wording shit
I bravely face and address the issues I encounter, expressing my thoughts and feelings effectively.
Think im getting bold
I believe that I am becoming more courageous and daring in my actions and decisions.
Wait for me
Please be patient and wait for me.
I thought i said
I believed that I had clearly communicated my intentions or thoughts.
Id tell you everything
I would willingly share all the details and information with you.
You break my heart
Your actions or words have caused me great emotional pain and sadness.
And i just lose a dream
As a result, I feel like I have lost a cherished aspiration or vision for the future.
I know you love me but theres better things
I am aware that you have feelings for me, but I believe that there are more fulfilling and meaningful experiences or relationships out there for both of us.
Who you lose
Who did you lose or let go of?
And what you gain
What did you gain or acquire instead?
And what you seen son
And what have you witnessed or experienced, my child?
Im the king i reign supreme
I consider myself to be the dominant and superior figure, holding authority and power.
I am the scenes sun
I play a vital and central role in the environment or community I belong to.
I do my thing and
I confidently pursue and accomplish my own endeavors or actions.
Make it happen
I take initiative and ensure that my goals or desires become a reality.
When these dreams come
At the moment when my aspirations or dreams are fulfilled.
Sad nigga
I am an individual with a deeply melancholic disposition.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Kwanell Woods
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind