WEB EXCLUSIVE: MEDESKI, MARTIN AND WOOD

You know, religion has never really suited me. I was raised by Southern Baptists, and educated by Catholic nuns. I\'ve worked for Jews, and hung out with a kid who thought he was an uber-Muslim. I\'d even say I\'ve slept with a dark-haired Devil worshipper, but that\'s just daydreams and hand cream, if ya know what I mean. Anyway, I\'ve never felt close to any form of religion, but I had one of the more religious experiences of my life this past Saturday, when I saw Medeski, Martin and Wood at the Newport Music Hall.
The sparse crowd of teenage faux-hippies, hash enthusiasts, and music lovers filled out quickly when the Brooklyn-based trio took the stage. Billy Martin broke bread with his percussive stylings, while the sounds of Chris Wood\'s bass and guitar poured over the audience like blessed wine. Having dispensed with the Eucharist, John Medeski played organ and keyboards with the intrepid majesty of The Holy Ghost, causing concert-goers and security guards, alike, to speak in tongues, and (in some cases) remove their panties. The sermon involved an intense mix of material, both new and old. Several hymns from their most recent album, Uninvisible, turned up, and were evenly spaced amongst older spirituals from Shack-Man and such. The jazz trinity weaved in and out of songs like a veteran taxi driver in Manhattan traffic. Speaking of traffic, the barrage of \"Hail Marys\" and \"Our Fathers\" ended with a cover of Jimi Hendrix\'s \"Crosstown Traffic\".
Medeski, Martin and Wood\'s live tour is scheduled to last well into the summer, covering most of the United States and dipping into Canada and Spain, continuing to spread their word like the true apostles of sound that they are. Amen.