Encyclopedia:
John Medeski,
Talk:John Medeski
Anthony John Medeski (b.
28 June 1965) is an
American jazz keyboards player and
composer. He plays the acoustic piano and an eclectic array of keyboards, including the Hammond B-3 organ,
melodica,
mellotron,
clavinet, ARP String Ensemble, Wurlitzer Electric Piano, Moog Voyager Synthesizer, Wurlizter 7200 Synthesizer, and Yamaha CS-1 Synthesizer (a "kids' toy"), among others.
Medeski was born in
Louisville, Kentucky, and grew up in
Florida. After
piano lessons (starting when he was five years old), he began as a teenager to perform with musicians such as
Mark Murphy and
Jaco Pastorius. In 1983 began studying piano at the
New England Conservatory in Boston, where he also performed as a
sideman with
Dewey Redman,
Billy Higgins,
Bob Mintzer,
Alan Dawson, and
Mr. Jellybelly.
Highly technically gifted, but also soulful, Medeski seems equally at home performing in accessible groove based funk/jazz (some MMW albums and
A Go Go with
John Scofield) as he is in the more experimental side of things; such as
John Zorn's
Electric Masada or his collaboration with
David Fiuczynski,
Lunar Crush. He regularly uses multiple effects including but not limited to electronic synthesizers to create unique sounds.
Medeski is best known for his work with
Medeski Martin & Wood, often known as MMW, with drummer/percussionist
Billy Martin and bassist
Chris Wood. The trio was formed in New York in 1991 and has been on the cutting edge of Funk/Jazz. Collaborating with such musicians as
Trey Anastasio and
John Scofield, the band has become one of the faces of modern Jazz.
In 2000, Medeski collaborated on
The Word. A traditional southern rock band with members
Robert Randolph (pedal steel) from
Robert Randolph and the Family Band, brothers
Luther Dickinson (guitar) and
Cody Dickinson (drums), and Chris Chew (bass) of
North Mississippi Allstars. The band released a self titled album and toured in support. The band reunited in the summer of 2005 at the
Bonnaroo Music Festival. This was the first time since 2001. Robert Randolph has mentioned that The Word will tour sometime in 2007.
During the
Trey Anastasio Band 2001-2002 tour, Medeski played organ when original keyboardist Ray Paczkowski was unable to play.
On July 14, 2006,
John Medeski & The Itch performed their debut gig at the
All Good Music Festival in
Masontown, WV. "The Itch" consists of
Eric Krasno (guitar) of
Soulive and
Adam Deitch (drums) with Medeski playing a B3 Organ.
Medeski, JohnMedeski, JohnMedeski, JohnMedeski, JohnMedeski, JohnMedeski, JohnMedeski, John