JOHN MEDESKI

Pianist/organist John Medeski grew up in Florida, where he began formal musical training at age of five. In high school, he worked with Jaco Pastorius, Mark Murphy, and Randy Bernsen. Medeski studied in Boston at the New England Conservatory with Ran Blake, Leonard Shure, and Bob Moses. He has performed with Dewey Redman, Billy Higgins, Bob Mintzer, and Alan Dawson, as well as serving as pianist/organist for the Either/ Orchestra, Mandala Octet, and the Christopher Hollyday Quartet, among many others. Now residing in New York City, Medeski has worked with bassist Reggie Workman, the Black Rock Coalition, Chunk, and numerous other "downtown" bands. Currently a member of the widely acclaimed Gramavision "organic acid jazz" trio Medeski, Martin & Wood, as well as pianist/organist for John Lurie's Lounge Lizards and John Zorn's Masada group, 1994 has seen Medeski's second Gramavision release, Lunar Crush, a jazz/rock fusion effort with virtuoso guitarist David "Fuze" Fiuczynski, as well as featured roles on David Byrne's new release and, with musical partners Martin and Wood, on arranger Ken Schaphorst's Accurate Records CD When The Moon Jumps.


BILLY MARTIN
Drummer/percussionist Billy Martin was born in New York City, the son of a former Radio City Rockette and a violinist with the New York City Ballet and the New York City Opera orchestra. As a child he studied privately with several professional drummers, including Joe Morrello, Frankie Malabe and Michael Carvin. Influenced later by African and Brazilian music, Martin collaborated with drummer Bob Moses on several Gramavision recordings and tours. He then joined Chuck Mangione's touring group for four years. Afterwards moving to Brooklyn, N.Y., Martin quickly became a part of the "downtown" music scene. Besides the Medeski, Martin & Wood trio, he serves as percussionist for the Lounge Lizards and the John Lurie National Orchestra (a trio with Lurie and Calvin Weston), as well as drummer for John Zorn's Masada group and the Ned Rothenberg Double Band. He has recently toured Europe with the John Lurie National Orchestra and the Lounge Lizards and is featured on drums and percussionist on Gramavision's 1994 Bob Moses release Time Stood Still.


CHRIS WOOD
Growing up in Colorado, Chris Wood studied bass and composition at an early age, earning All State jazz bassist, as well as All State Orchestra principal bassist honors in high school. Wood studied at the New England Conservatory in Boston with Dave Holland, Bob Moses and Geri Allen. While in Boston he performed with Steve Kuhn, Bob Moses, Joann Brackeen, George Russell, Randy Weston, the Either/Orchestra, and the Ken Schaphorst Big Band, among others. Wood lives in Manhattan, where his versatile playing has put him in high demand among bands throughout the city. He has recorded and toured with Marc Ribot's Shrek group, as well as the Ned Rothenberg Double Band, the Jazz Passengers, Elliot Sharp, John Zorn, Jack Walrath, Chunk, Oren Bloedow, and the Black Rock Coalition.

Biography courtesy of Braithwaite & Katz Comunications, Brookline MA (USA).