''The Radiolarian Series'' is an album project by

experimental An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when ...

jazz fusion Jazz fusion (also known as fusion and progressive jazz) is a music genre that developed in the late 1960s when musicians combined jazz harmony and improvisation with rock music, funk, and rhythm and blues. Electric guitars, amplifiers, and key ...

trio

Medeski Martin & Wood Medeski Martin & Wood (or MMW) is an American jazz fusion band formed in 1991, consisting of John Medeski on keyboards, Billy Martin on drums, and Chris Wood on bass. The band is influenced by musical traditions including funk and hip hop and ...

released in three installments in 2008–2009.

Background

In early 2008 the band announced on their official website: "Medeski Martin & Wood are planning three tours, plus three albums in 2008. Each tour and subsequent album will consist of all NEW MUSIC. The plan: ''Write > Tour > Record > Repeat''."MMW.net. The Radiolarian Series News Postings (Not dated). Online
www.mmw.net
Accessed: June 13, 2008. "The problem with us," keyboardist John Medeski explains, "is that when we record an album, by the time a record company gets it out, we’ve already been playing the music for six or eight months, and we’re ready to move on."MMW Online Store. Radiolarians 1 Pre-Order Site. Online

Accessed: Sept. 23, 2008. The three volumes of ''The Radiolarian Series'' were first released as three separate albums. The series was also released as a 5-CD box set in 2009. ''The Radiolarian Series'' takes its name from

radiolarians The Radiolaria, also called Radiozoa, are protozoa of diameter 0.1–0.2 mm that produce intricate mineral skeletons, typically with a central capsule dividing the cell into the inner and outer portions of endoplasm and ectoplasm. The ela ...

(also radiolaria), amoeboid protozoa that produce intricate mineral skeletons, typically with a central capsule dividing the cell into inner and outer portions, called endoplasm and ectoplasm. Radiolaria grow their intricately beautiful patterned skeleton around their soft core in defiance of normal biological process. This is, according to the band, "similar to Medeski Martin and Wood's latest creative cycle." ''The Radiolarian Series'' consists of music composed and developed over the course of the band's three-part 2008 "Viva la Evolution" Tour: * ''Part One:'' February 19–29 (Northeast U.S.) * ''Part Two:'' July 11–18 (Southeast U.S.) * ''Part Three:'' November 12–22 (Pacific Northwest (U.S. & Canada))

Track listing

All tracks by

unless otherwise noted. RADIOLARIANS 1: #First Light #Cloud Wars #Muchas Gracias #Professor Nohair #Reliquary #Free Go Lily (traditional) #Rolling Son #Sweet Pea Dreams #God Fire #Hidden Moon RADIOLARIANS 2: #Flat Tires #Junkyard #Padirecto #ijiji #Riffin' Ed #Amber Gris #Chasen vs Suribachi #Dollar Pants #Amish Pinxtos #

Baby, Let Me Follow You Down "Baby, Let Me Follow You Down" is a traditional folk song popularised in the late 1950s by blues guitarist Eric Von Schmidt. The song is best known from its appearance on Bob Dylan's debut album ''Bob Dylan''. Early years of the song The song was ...

(traditional) RADIOLARIANS 3: #Chantes des Femmes #Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down (traditional) #Kota #Undone #Wonton #Walk Back #Jean's Scene #Broken Mirror #Gwyra Mi

Radiolarians Box Set

The 2009 box set included the original three discs, plus a full-length DVD, a live disc, a remix disc, and two vinyl records.

Performers

John Medeski Anthony John Medeski (born June 28, 1965) is an American jazz keyboard player and composer. Medeski is a veteran of New York's 1990s avant-garde jazz scene and is known popularly as a member of Medeski Martin & Wood. He plays the acoustic piano ...

– keyboards *

Billy Martin Alfred Manuel Martin Jr. (May 16, 1928 – December 25, 1989), commonly called "Billy", was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager who, in addition to leading other teams, was five times the manager of the New York Yan ...

– drums, percussion * Chris Wood – basses

Credits

Produced by Medeski Martin & Wood Recorded at Shackston Studio, Kingston, NY Mixed at Synergy Recording, Kingston NY Recorded & Mixed by David Kent, Assisted by Jed Kosiner Mastered by Alan Silverman, Arf Mastering Management by Liz Penta, Emcee Artist Management

References

External links

RFC Interview with MMW's Chris Wood

- November 2009 Interview with bassist Chris Wood
MMW and the Power of Creation
- September 2009 Interview with drummer Billy Martin about ''Radiolarians''
Citizen Dick Interview
- August 2009 Interview with drummer Billy Martin about ''Radiolarians''
PopMatters Reviews of ''Radiolarians 2'' and ''Radiolarians 3''
- at PopMatters.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Radiolarian Series Medeski Martin & Wood albums Avant-garde jazz albums 2008 albums 2009 albums Album series Indirecto Records albums Indirecto Records compilation albums Indirecto Records video albums Indirecto Records live albums 2009 live albums Medeski Martin & Wood live albums Medeski Martin & Wood video albums Live avant-garde jazz albums