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
We're So Happy
Medeski Martin and Wood Lyrics
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Later
I wish
In that same far off kingdom
More than anything
Lived a young Princess
More than life
The lad Jack
I wish
And the baker with his family
No, I miss
I wish
More than anything
More than the moon
There, there
I wish to sponsor a festival
More than life
I miss
The time has come for a festival
More than riches
And a Ball
I miss my kingdom up in the sky
More than anything
I wish we had more room
Play, harp
Another room
But despite some minor inconveniences, they were all content
I never thought I'd wed a Prince
I never thought I'd find perfection
I never thought I could be so happy
Not an unhappy moment since
I didn't think we'd be this rich
Not a conceivable objection
I never thought we'd have a baby
I never thought I could be so happy
I'm so happy
Happy now
Happy hence
Happy ever after
We're so happy, you're so happy
Just as long as you stay happy
We'll stay happy
Not one row
Pots of pence
With my cow
Little gurgles
Darling, I must go now
We should really sell it
Where's the cheesecloth?
Wishes may bring problems
Such that you regret them
Better that, though
Than to never get them
I'm going to be a perfect wife
I'm going to be a perfect son
I'm going to be a perfect mother
I'm going to be a perfect father
I'm going to see that he (she)
Is so happy
I never thought I'd love my life
I would have settled for another
Then to become a wife
Then to be set for life
Then to beget a child
That fortune smiled
I'm so happy
If only this cottage were a little larger
I will expand our quarters in due time
Why would we expand when we can simply move to another cottage?
We will not move, this was my father's house, now it will be my son's
You would raise your child alongside a Witch?
Why does he always cry when I hold him?
Babies cry, he's fine, you needn't hold him as if he were so fragile
He wants his mother
Here
I can't take care of him all of the time
I'll care for him when he's older
We had to go through thick and thin
We had to lose a lot to win
I ventured out and saw within
I never thought
I'd be so much I hadn't been
I'm so happy
Oh, my goodness
Are you all right?
I think so
And the baby?
Yes, he's fine, are you all right?
You, have you done this to our house?
Always thinking of yourself, look at my garden
What of your garden?
Look
Destroyed
What has happened?
I was thrown to the ground, I saw nothing
What could do such a thing?
An earthquake
No earthquake, my garden has been trampled, those are footprints!
Who could do such a thing?
Anything that leaves a footprint that large is no "who"
Do you think it was a bear?
A bear? Bears are sweet
Besides, you ever see a bear with forty-foot feet?
A dragon?
No scorch marks
Usually they're linked
Manticore?
Imaginary
Griffin?
Extinct
Giant?
Possible
Very, very possible
More than possible, their fears would prove to be well founded
Into the woods
It's always when
You think at last
You're through and then
Into the woods you go again
To take another journey
Into the woods
The weather's clear
We've been before
We've naught to fear
Into the woods, away from here
Into the woods, to find a giant
Into the woods to Grandmother's house
Into the woods
The path is straight
No reason then
To hesitate
Into the woods
It's not so late
It's just another journey
Into the woods
But not too long
The skies are strange
The winds are strong
Into the woods to see what's wrong
Into the woods to slay the giant
Into the woods
To shield the child
To flee the winds
To find a future
To shield
To slay
To flee
To find
To fix
To hide
To move
To battle
To see what the trouble is
The lyrics to "We're So Happy" by Medeski Martin and Wood take the listener on a whimsical journey through various characters and their experiences, emotions, and desires. The song starts with a fairy tale-esque setting, with references to a young Princess, a lad named Jack, and a baker with his family in a far-off kingdom. The repetition of phrases like "I wish" and "More than anything" convey a sense of longing and desire for something more, whether it be a festival, riches, or simply more room. The characters express contentment despite minor inconveniences, highlighting the theme of finding happiness amidst life's challenges.
As the song progresses, a different perspective emerges, with a focus on personal fulfillment and unexpected joy. The lyrics express surprise at finding love, perfection, and happiness, as well as gratitude for the richness of life and the arrival of a baby. The characters reflect on their happiness and express the desire to maintain that joy for the long haul, emphasizing the importance of staying happy and content in their current state.
The song delves into the complexities of wishes and their consequences, acknowledging that while wishes may bring problems, it is better to have them and face the challenges than to never have them at all. The characters express their commitment to being perfect in their roles as spouses, parents, and individuals, striving to ensure the happiness of their loved ones and themselves. The lyrics touch upon themes of growth, resilience, and the rewards of overcoming obstacles to achieve happiness and fulfillment.
The final section of the song introduces a sense of foreboding as the characters encounter unexpected troubles and challenges, such as a destroyed garden and mysterious footprints. The mention of mythical creatures like giants and dragons adds a fantastical element to the narrative, hinting at the dangers that lie ahead for the characters. Despite the uncertainties and fears they face, the characters bravely venture into the woods, symbolizing a journey into the unknown to confront and overcome the troubles that await them. The song concludes with a sense of determination and readiness to face whatever obstacles may come their way, showcasing a resilient and courageous spirit in the face of adversity.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind