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
Where Have You Been?
Medeski Martin and Wood Lyrics
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I wanted to hold your hand and drive your car
I'm too shy to say that's what I mean
You're iconic
Where have you been?
Get outta my mind
You're killing me with those electric eyes
How you walked into my life
Wake up, wake up
You've had enough
You don't have to say this
Wake up, wake up
You've had enough
You don't have to say this
Feels like you're the only one that I could love
I wanted to hold your hand and drive your car
I'm too shy to say that's what I mean
You're iconic
Where have you been?
Excuse me, where are you from?
I know I've seen you before
There's a world inside your imagination
Excuse me, where are you from?
I know I've seen you before
There's a world inside your imagination
I never wanted to tell you
I'd move the stars for you
The lyrics to Medeski Martin and Wood's song "Where Have You Been?" encompass themes of love, desire, and longing. The singer expresses a deep affection for someone, feeling as if they are the only person they could love. However, they are too shy to fully express their feelings, resorting to subtle hints like wanting to hold their hand and drive their car. The repeated question "Where have you been?" suggests that the singer has been waiting for this person to enter their life, indicating the sense of longing and anticipation.
The lyrics also allude to the overwhelming impact this person has on the singer. Their presence in their life is described as intoxicating, with "electric eyes" that have the power to consume their thoughts. The singer wishes they could have died upon meeting this person, implying that their allure is so powerful and captivating.
The song further explores the idea of a mysterious connection between the singer and this person. They ask where they are from, stating that they feel a sense of familiarity, as if they have seen this person before. This hints at a deeper connection beyond the physical realm, suggesting a metaphysical or spiritual bond.
In the final lines, the singer reveals the depth of their feelings by expressing their willingness to move the stars for this person. This emphasizes the depth of their love and devotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Feels like you're the only one that I could love
You make me feel like you're the only person I could truly love and connect with.
I wanted to hold your hand and drive your car
I desired to share intimate moments with you and be a part of your life.
I'm too shy to say that's what I mean
I lack the courage to express my true intentions and desires.
You're iconic
You are special and highly regarded in my eyes.
Where have you been?
I wonder where you have been all this time and why we haven't crossed paths sooner.
Get outta my mind
You constantly occupy my thoughts and it's becoming overwhelming.
You're killing me with those electric eyes
Your captivating and intense gaze is driving me crazy.
I wish I could have died
I wish I had the courage to express my emotions fully and face the possible rejection.
How you walked into my life
Your entrance into my life had a profound impact on me.
Wake up, wake up
Snap out of your current state.
You've had enough
You've reached a point of saturation or exhaustion.
You don't have to say this
There is no need for you to continue with a particular behavior or expression.
Excuse me, where are you from?
May I ask where you come from?
I know I've seen you before
I have a strong sense of familiarity towards you.
There's a world inside your imagination
You possess a rich and intricate inner world.
I never wanted to tell you
I never intended to confess my true feelings to you.
I'd move the stars for you
I would go to great lengths and make significant sacrifices for your sake.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Katie Wood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind