John Medeski

John Medeski is a jazz keyboard player and composer known for his extensive work in avant-garde jazz and funk, bringing diverse musical styles to various collaborations and projects. After honing his skills at the New England Conservatory in 1983, John Medeski quickly established himself as a sought-after sideman, collaborating with esteemed artists including Dewey Redman, Billy Higgins, Bob Mintzer, and Alan Dawson. His career took a pivotal turn in 1991, co-founding the influential trio Medeski Martin & Wood (MMW) in New York City with drummer Billy Martin and bassist Chris Wood. MMW released a prolific debut discography, including Notes from the Underground (1992) and the critically acclaimed Shack-man (1996), extensively touring national and international funk, jazz, and jam music circuits throughout the mid-1990s.

In 2012, Medeski featured on Coheed and Cambria’s The Afterman: Ascension and The Afterman: Descension, showcasing his versatility across genres. He released his first solo album, A Different Time, in 2013. MMW’s evolution continued with Woodstock Sessions Vol. 2 (2014) and Omnisphere (2015) alongside the Alarm Will Sound Orchestra.

The Word also reunited, releasing Soul Food in 2015. In 2016, Medeski co-founded the supergroup Saudade with members from Deftones, Bad Brains, and Cro-Mags, releasing Hudson in 2017. He then formed John Medeski’s Mad Skillet in 2018, releasing their self-titled album that same year. Most recently, in 2023, he composed the original score for the critically acclaimed television series The Curse, further extending his diverse artistic output across different mediums and collaborations.