Jazz Articles about Billy Martin

About Billy Martin

Album Review

Billy Martin + Matt Glassmeyer + Jonathan Goldberger: State Fête

Read "State Fête" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
February 7, 2026

Billy Martin, the renowned groove master and founding drummer of Medeski Martin & Wood, has spent decades collaborating with boundary--pushing artists including John Lurie in the Lounge Lizards and John Zorn in his Cobra ensembles, all while exploring instrument design, filmmaking, and visual art. His 2026 project, State Fête, unites him with multi-instrumentalist Matt Glassmeyer and guitarist Jonathan Goldberger in a captivating exploration of live-composed soundscapes--think of it as a sonic state fair where the familiar becomes delightfully warped.

In Pictures

Reimagining Bitches Brew at the New York City Winter Jazzfest

by Dave Kaufman
January 26, 2026

Each year, the New York City Winter JazzFest, in collaboration with the music-promotion collective Pique-Nique, presents its “Take Two" series, which revisits and reimagines landmark recordings from the jazz canon. Previous editions have paid tribute to historically significant works, including a memorable presentation of Max Roach's Members, Don't Git Weary (Leo Lab, 1968) several years ago. This year's “Reimagine Bitches Brew" event, which took place at Le Poisson Rouge (LPR) on January 13, 2026, extended that lineage, situating the album ...

Radio & Podcasts

Billy Martin, Simon Hanes, Marco Cappelli, Kamasi Washington, Richard Baratta

by Ludovico Granvassu
May 27, 2025

A cinematic set for lovers of soundtracks, music connected--one way or another--to the movie world, grooves and earworms. Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Ari Joshua, John Medeski, Billy Martin “Blurry Face" Applehead Sessions (Music Factory) 0:16 Host talks 5:25 Billy Martin “Football Waltz" La Gran Seducción (Amulet) 7:16 Billy Martin “Letters" La Gran Seducción (Amulet) 9:12 Billy Martin “Gone Fishing" La Gran Seducción (Amulet) 10:23 ...

Radio & Podcasts

Billy Martin (aka Illy B) On The Nature Of Art And The Art Of Nature

by Leo Sidran
January 25, 2021

Billy Martin (also known as Illy B) is many things. He's a visual artist, a filmmaker, a teacher, a builder, a composer, a record producer... But if you know his name, chances are it's from his band Medeski, Martin and Wood, a project he's had for 30 years now along with bassist Chris Wood and keyboardist John Medeski. Billy refers to his artistic approach as playful and he is committed to the idea of play and experimentation in ...

Album Review

Billy Martin's Wicked Knee: Heels Over Head

Read "Heels Over Head" reviewed by Doug Collette

by Doug Collette
March 20, 2013

After a long series of way under-the radar solo projects, drummer Billy Martin has chosen a more accessible route in the last couple of years, beginning with his duo collaboration with keyboardist Wil Blades, Shimmy (The Royal Potato Family, 2012).The followup to the eponymous seven-track EP, Heels Over Head is equally easy to digest, perhaps more so, even if the instrumental lineup of Wicked Knee is somewhat unconventional. Martin has enlisted longtime kindred spirit and master horn man ...

Album Review

Billy Martin's Wicked Knee: Heels Over Head

Read "Heels Over Head" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
March 15, 2013

What if drummer Billy Martin of the late-20th, now 21st-century band Medeski Martin and Wood had been born at the end of the 19th century in New Orleans? What kind of music would he play? Certainly, it would have a brass band setting and be inflected with blues feel. Invite Buddy Bolden over tonight, because we have some funky ragtime sound with Martin's new outfit Wicked Knee. This their first full-length release, that follows the EP Wicked Knee (Amulet, 2011).

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Extended Analysis

Medeski, Martin and Wood: Radiolarians - The Evolutionary Set

by Sean Patrick Fitzell
March 13, 2010

Medeski Martin & WoodRadiolarians: The Evolutionary SetIndirecto Records2009 In an age when jazz is usually driven by individuals and fleeting lineups, the ability of Medeski, Martin and Wood (MMW) to sustain and reinvigorate their collective creativity for nearly 20 years is astounding. Never risk-averse--whether jamming with turntablists or flouting expectations with an all-acoustic record and tour--they've kept the music fresh for themselves and their listeners. So it wasn't ...