Medeski Martin & Wood (or MMW) is an American jazz trio formed in 1991, con… Read Full Bio ↴Medeski Martin & Wood (or MMW) is an American jazz trio formed in 1991, consisting of John Medeski on keyboards and piano, Billy Martin on drums and percussion, and Chris Wood on double bass and bass guitar.
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

Reprise
Medeski Martin and Wood Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Give me today my daily bread
Help me to walk alone ahead
Though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no love
Oh my smile my mind reassure me I don't need no one

Woke up this morning with my mind set on loving me
With my mind set on loving me
Woke up this morning with my mind set on loving me

With my mind set on loving me
I'm not lonely, I'm alone
And I'm holy by my own
I'm not lonely, I'm alone
And I'm holy by my own (ooh na na na na oh)

Yeah, the bad days may come
The lover may leave
The winter may not
Hey, the map of your palms
The temple you be
You're all that you got (say "Amen")
Yeah, the bad days may come (to yourself)
The lover may leave
The winter may not (say "Amen")
Hey, the map of your palms (to yourself)
The temple you be
You're all that you got

Though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no love (say "Amen" to yourself)
Oh my smile my mind reassure me I don't need no one (say "Amen" to yourself)

Woke up this morning with my mind set on loving me
With my mind set on loving me
Woke up this morning with my mind set on loving me
With my mind set on loving me
I'm not lonely, I'm alone
And I'm holy by my own
I'm not lonely, I'm alone
And I'm holy by my own (ooh na na na na oh)

My cup is full up, what I got is enough
Nobody completes me, don't mess with my stuff
My cup is full up, what I got is enough
Nobody completes me, don't mess with my love
Surely, surely, surely, surely goodness and mercy
Shall follow me

Shall follow me
Shall follow me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Reprise" by Medeski Martin and Wood convey a message of self-love, independence, and resilience. The opening lines "Give me today my daily bread, help me to walk alone ahead" suggest a desire for self-sufficiency and the ability to navigate life's challenges on one's own. The reference to walking through the darkest valley without fear of love indicates a willingness to face difficulties without relying on others for support. The line "Oh my smile, my mind reassure me I don't need no one" further emphasizes the theme of self-assurance and the belief that one can find strength within themselves.

The next section of the song expresses the singer's awakening to the importance of self-love and self-acceptance. The repeated phrase "woke up this morning with my mind set on loving me" highlights the intention to prioritize caring for oneself emotionally. The chorus emphasizes the distinction between being alone and being lonely, suggesting that the singer embraces solitude as a source of personal growth and inner sanctity.

The latter part of the lyrics focuses on the idea that one's own well-being and self-fulfillment are ultimately enough. The lines "My cup is full up, what I got is enough, nobody completes me, don't mess with my stuff" convey a sense of contentment and self-sufficiency. The mention of "goodness and mercy shall follow me" suggests a belief in the inherent goodness and positive outcomes that come from prioritizing self-care and self-love.

Line by Line Meaning

Give me today my daily bread
Grant me the sustenance I need to thrive

Help me to walk alone ahead
Assist me in forging my own path without reliance on others

Though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no love
Even in times of hardship, I will not be afraid of vulnerability

Oh my smile my mind reassure me I don't need no one
My confidence and self-assurance remind me that I am self-sufficient

Woke up this morning with my mind set on loving me
I woke up with a mindset focused on self-love

I'm not lonely, I'm alone
I am content in my solitude

And I'm holy by my own
I am sacred and complete within myself

Yeah, the bad days may come
Adversity is a part of life

The lover may leave
Romantic relationships may end

The winter may not
Difficult times may linger

Hey, the map of your palms
The unique path you take in life