Billy Martin

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

MMW Discography:

Notes From the Underground

It's a Jungle in Here

Friday Afternoon in the Universe
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)

Adam Deitch

When Adam Deitch is the drummer on any given project or record, you know what you're going to get: solid time, funky driving beats, creative fills, and just a great sound from the drums. The drums are always in the forefront of any song Adam plays on, though he's never a distraction from the rest of the music. Having attended Berklee, his playing is heavily rooted in funk and r&b with a jazz mentality. He's the drummer for Lettuce and The John Scofield Band, and has also played with Average White Band, Ledisi, Raphael Saadiq, Eric Krasno, and many more. Adam's playing is very active and conversational. His breakbeats are unbelieveable. He has also produced for many hip-hop artists, such as Talib Kweli, Jurassic 5, 50 Cent, and Snoop Dogg. Currently, Adam has put out recent records with Lettuce and Ledisi and is performing with the Eric Krasno (guitarist for Soulive) led band Chapter 2 as well as his own band called Break Science. He is also on the associate faculty at the New School in New York City.

ARTISTS - Lettuce, The John Scofield Band, Ledisi, Average White Band, John Medeski, Talib Kweli, Raphael Saadiq, Eric Krasno, Anthony Hamilton, Big Daddy Kane, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Lauryn Hill.

Here's what's on the CD:

1. Thikhatali – John Scofield Band
2. Uberjam – John Scofield Band
3. Watch Out For Po-Po – John Scofield Band
4. Freakin’ Disco – John Scofield Band
5. Every Night Is Ladies Night – John Scofield Band
6. Acidhead – John Scofield Band
7. Ideofunk – John Scofield Band
8. Jungle Fiction – John Scofield Band
9. Express Yourself – Lettuce
10. Outta Here – Lettuce

11. Soon the New Day - Talib Kweli feat. Norah Jones
12.Knockin’ – Ledisi
13. Say No – Ledisi

Albums to check out for Adam's drumming and production:

Uberjam - John Scofield Band

Up All Night - John Scofield Band

Rage! - Lettuce

Outta Here - Lettuce

Live at Blue Note Tokyo - Lettuce

Eardrum - Talib Kweli

Turn Me Loose - Ledisi

VIDEOS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1XirszefOY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlzMYrHLalE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og6sN_1JqGM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkoQxSb8360

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1F28_9u4aY


LINKS:
http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Adam_Deitch.html

http://www.myspace.com/adamdeitch

http://www.moderndrummer.com/updatefull/200001202/Adam%20Deitch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Deitch


Adam interviews his dad (who is also a great drummer) and does an impromptu drum clinic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOTTjCMYUMc