Billy Martin (drummer)

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Billy Martin (Copenhagen Jazz Festival 2007)
Billy Martin (2007)

Billy Martin (* 1962 in New York City , New York) is an American drummer and percussionist with the jazz trio Medeski, Martin & Wood .

Despite a childhood in a musical home (his father is a classical violinist), Martin did not start playing drums until he was eleven and moved to New Jersey. In 1981 Martin moved back to Manhattan and began working as a drummer for a wide variety of bands, especially in the New York scene for Brazilian music . Martin also collaborated with bands and musicians (including Bob Moses and John Lurie's “ The Lounge Lizards ” and “National Orchestra”). In particular, the collaboration with Lurie's bands shaped his drum style. Moses, on the other hand, developed into a kind of drum mentor for him, together they recorded Moses' duet album "Drumming Birds" in 1984. It was also Bob Moses who introduced Billy Martin to two other musicians with whom he toured Israel before: John Medeski and Chris Wood . In 1991 the three musicians founded the trio Medeski, Martin & Wood .

For Martin as a soloist, collaborations with musicians such as John Zorn , John Scofield or Iggy Pop and DJ Logic followed .

In addition to his work as a drummer, Martin also works as a graphic artist and draftsman. In addition to painting and drawing, he devotes himself to the illustration of the Medeski, Martin & Wood albums.

In 2006 the musician founded his own label Indirecto , on which the album "Out Louder" by Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood was released.

Discographic notes

as a soloist and composer

  • Black Elk Speaks 2001 (Amulet)
  • Solo Live Tonic 2002 (Amulet)
  • Starlings 2006 ( Tzadik )

with Bob Moses

  • Visit with the Great Spirit 1983 ( Gramavision )
  • Drummingbirds 1984 (Amulet)
  • The Story of Moses 1987 (Gramavision)
  • Time Stood Still 1993 (Gramavision)

with Ned Rothenberg

  • Overlays 1991 (Moers)
  • Real and Imagined Time 1995 (Moers)

with John Lurie and the Lounge Lizards

  • Live in Berlin vol. 1 & 2 (1991)
  • Men With Sticks (1993)
  • Get Shorty (Soundtrack; 1995)
  • Fishing with John (Soundtrack; 1998)
  • African Swim / Manny and Low (Soundtrack, 1999)
  • The Legendary Marvin Pontiac: Greatest Hits (1999)

with Dave Burrell

  • Consequences 2006 (Amulet)

with Grant Calvin Weston

  • Percussion Duets 1996 (Amulet)
  • Houston Hall 2006 (Amulet)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Martin, Billy
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American drummer and percussionist
DATE OF BIRTH 1962
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City , New York