John Medeski

Saint Disruption, the soul-inspired, collaborative music group consisting of John Medeski and scientist and folk healer Jeff Firewalker Schmitt, have released their latest single “Last Poet First / Ukupacha,” an ode to New York City’s Last Poets and the founder, Umar Bin Hassan. Listen to “Last Poet First / Ukupacha” here.

Improvisational titan John Medeski (Medeski Martin & Wood) and scientist and ceremonial folk healer Jeff Firewalker Schmitt had no idea they’d meet and strike up a friendship when they traveled independently to the heart of the Amazon to work with a shaman healer in 2008. But meet they did, and a collaborative creative relationship was born. Twelve years after that fateful meeting, in the midst of a global pandemic, Medeski and Schmitt felt an urgent need to join forces and make music as Saint Disruption, a spirit-driven, soul-inspired new musical collective led by Medeski and Schmitt.

Community members, international performers, political representatives, candidates and activists have gathered for a virtual concert as Hudson Valley Votes comes together to get out the vote in the most important election the United States has ever faced.

I have been closely tracking COVID deaths. (My morbid confession.) On average, 1,000 deaths are realized daily. By January, if we don’t assume basic public health approaches, new models predict 3,000 daily deaths. I’m not a numbers gal. (I barely passed algebra 2 and was thrown into delinquent geometry where I have fond memories of the goth guy who taught me how to apply lipstick flawlessly.) Although told ad nauseam numbers are clear-cut, I despise mathematics, finding the subject difficult to comprehend.

GRAMMY Award-nominated guitarist Will Bernard knows a thing or ten about holding down the groove with a community of instrumentalists who've defined the influential improv-based music scene of New York City. Bernard's latest power-punch of funk hits on his new album, Freelance Subversives (Ropeadope), shows a dedication to multidimensional and introspective compositions with deep pocket-rhythms at its foundation.

The final show of 'The Last Waltz Tour' was held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Saturday, November 23rd, 2019 and featured special guest Robbie Robertson sans Turkey dinner for all. The 2019 tour honored The Band's iconic 1976 Thanksgiving Day farewell concert at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. Robertson, the lead guitarist for The Band, was also the organizer of the original concert.

Let’s rewind to November 25, 1976, on Thanksgiving Eve. The iconic group, The Band, were joined by Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Dr. John, to name a few. This was going to be the official “Farewell Show” in San Francisco (Winterland Ballroom) for the Canadian/American quintet: Helm/Danko/Robertson/Hudson/Manuel.

The Mellotron Variations album will be released tomorrow, and Grateful Web has a sneak peek today, premiering “Agent ChaCha.”

On October 12 at 7pm, Hudson Hall presents composer, drummer and Guggenheim Fellow Bobby Previte and his all-star Rhapsody Band performing his newest work, RHAPSODY (Terminals Part II: In Transit), for acoustic sextet — the second in a three-part series exploring the experience of travel. Previte’s Rhapsody Band includes legendary keyboardist John Medeski, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, harpist Zeena Parkins, Fabian Rucker on alto saxophone, and the vocal and erhu fiddle talents of Jen Shyu.

John Medeski's Mad Skillet has announced the November 9 release of its self-titled debut album via Medeski Martin & Wood's record label, Indirecto Records. Led by the hugely influential keyboardist and featuring guitarist Will Bernard and the legendary Dirty Dozen Brass Band rhythm section of sousaphonist Kirk Joseph and drummer Terence Higgins, Mad Skillet is first and foremost a product of New Orleans. The band's inception can be traced back to the late-night sets that go down every year during New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

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