JACKSON HOLE, WYO – There are fervent musical conversations that take place late night at the Crescent City’s annual tradition known as Jazz Fest, and John Medeski’s Mad Skillet was born from its hotbed musical atmosphere.
Medeski (of Medeski Martin & Wood fame) is a virtuosic man of the keys—Hammond B3 organ, Wurlitzer piano, Moog Voyager Synth, clavinet, melodica, and other versions of expressive ivory. Medeski Martin & Wood made an unlikely wave in the jamband scene two decades ago as an experimental jazz band. The trio performed a two-night run at the Mangy Moose in 2003 that were also two drastically different shows—one full of funk and groove and the other avant-garde jazz, only to close with Hendrix’s “Crosstown Traffic.”
Medeski is an improvisational genius with mad skills, and now has a New Orleans-rooted skillet in which to sizzle these jazz, funk and psychedelic rock musings. Sharing commonalities with The Meters, Sun Ra, and Ennio Morricone, the Mad Skillet is comprised of some serious groovers. In lieu of bass, Big Easy sousaphonist Kirk Joseph holds down the low-end melodies alongside band mate from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, drummer Terence Higgins. An unsung hero of modern jazz, Grammy-nominated guitarist Will Bernard rounds out the quartet.
Medeski and Bernard made a yearly quest to play together during Jazz Fest. Along the way, they serendipitously found chemistry with Joseph and Higgins through an informal jam session. The eclectic, far-reaching backgrounds of Medeski and Bernard alongside this legendary NOLA rhythm section generated what Medeski calls, “a vast musical universe with limitless potential.”
Nine tracks of Mad Skillet can be heard on the quartet’s self-titled debut, which dropped last November and came to fruition after a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised over twenty thousand dollars. It’s an exciting ride with plenty of avant-garde soundscapes, super grooves, and a dose of “mad” soloing. Pull up a seat for this this one, an artsy escape into instrumental lushness.
John Medeski’s Mad Skillet, 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Center Theater. Tickets are $47-$57, available at JHCenterForTheArts.org.
