It’s clear that musical diversity runs through Billy Martin’s veins. This percussionist plays with such a unique style that it’s a shame he’s not more well known in the music world. Billy played in pop bands through high school while expanding his musical endeavors by studying percussion with Paul Price (who performed percussion compositions for John Cage) and taking off-campus classes on samba and Brazilian music. That influence is incredibly evident in his playing with his primary band Medeski, Martin, and Wood. He often incorporates ethnic percussion instruments and found objects into his drumset playing. Yet even more so, he mixes in breakbeats and DJ infused beats with his Afro-cuban and jazz style. The jazz influence, according to Billy Martin, specifically comes from Max Roach. He has claimed that his two biggest influences are Max Roach and Zigaboo Modeliste (drummer for the funk band The Meters). He also sometimes goes by the moniker Illy B. The most notable releases as Illy B include the Illy B Eats series of breakbeat records. Along with his percussion work, Billy Martin is a visual artist, dealing mainly with pastel drawings and paintings. His work has been displayed in several galleries and is also on the packaging of many MMW albums. Billy Martin recently established his own label called Amulet, which specializes in avant-garde percussion releases. Billy Martin truly creates his own fusion of sounds. From jazz to funk to breakbeat, his playing and his style are so electric. I personally played so much like him early on (which is far from being a bad thing) that I had to completely quit listening to MMW in order to avoid becoming a clone. Finding your own voice is a very difficult thing. Billy Martin certainly found his.
ARTISTS - Medeski, Martin, & Wood, MSMW, John Scofield, DJ Logic, John Zorn, Bob Moses
What's on your disc:
1. Little Walter Rides Again – MSMW
2. Miles Behind – MSMW
3. Tequila and Chocolate – MSMW
4. Beeah – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
5. United – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
6. I Wanna Ride You – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
7. Nocturnal Transmission – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
8. Smoke – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
9. Lifeblood – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
10. It’s a Jungle in Here – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
11. Sugar Craft – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
12. Hottentot – John Scofield
2. Miles Behind – MSMW
3. Tequila and Chocolate – MSMW
4. Beeah – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
5. United – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
6. I Wanna Ride You – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
7. Nocturnal Transmission – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
8. Smoke – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
9. Lifeblood – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
10. It’s a Jungle in Here – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
11. Sugar Craft – Medeski, Martin, & Wood
12. Hottentot – John Scofield
MMW Discography:
Notes From the Underground
It's a Jungle in Here
Friday Afternoon in the Universe
Shack-man
Shack-man
Farmer's Reserve
Combustication
Last Chance to Dance Trance (Perhaps)
Tonic
The Dropper
Uninvisible
End of the World Party (Just in Case)
Let's Go Everywhere
Radiolarians 1
Radiolarians 2
VIDEOS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4gHeoeVEkA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kaorNzKVnE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWc99ZeG6w8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-5doar5hMs
LINKS:
http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Billy_Martin.html
http://www.billymartin.net/
http://www.mmw.net/billy.jsp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Martin_(percussionist)
