Billy Martin (percussionist)

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Billy Martin


Img_capt = Billy Martin performing at the 2007 Bennett Alliance Concert Series in Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name =
Alias = Illy B
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Died =
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Instrument = Drum kit, percussion
Genre = Jazz, funk
Occupation = Musician, composer
Years_active = 1980s–present
Label =
Associated_acts = Medeski Martin & Wood
URL = [http://www.billymartin.net www.billymartin.net]
Notable_instruments =

Billy Martin is an American jazz drummer, best known as a member of avant-garde jazz-funk trio Medeski Martin & Wood.

Biography

Before becoming part of Medeski, Martin & Wood, Martin was part of the New York City Brazilian scene in the 1980s. He performed regularly with Pe De Boi, Batucada and several Bob Moses bands for over a decade. He also joined Chuck Mangione's touring group for three years. Most notably he has developed as a percussionist for The Lounge Lizards and with the John Lurie National Orchestra, and has collaborated with artists such as John Zorn, DJ Logic, Dave Burrell and Miho Hatori. He has also started his own record label, Amulet Records, specializing in eclectic percussion albums. Martin has also collaborated with Iggy Pop, Eyvind Kang, DJ Olive, Ikue Mori, John Scofield, Maceo Parker, Calvin Weston, Marty Ehrlich, and Min Xiao-Fen.

Martin also sometimes goes by the moniker "Illy B". The most notable releases as Illy B include the "Illy B Eats" series of breakbeat records. DJ Logic convinced Martin to record a breakbeat album for DJs and other producers to use and remix. At the last minute, Martin decided to place an insert which invited remixers to submit their mixes for a follow up compilation, "Drop the Needle".

Along with his percussion work, Martin is a visual artist. He does printmaking, painting, pencil drawings, and pastel drawings, among other mediums. His work has been displayed in several galleries and is also on the packaging of many Medeski Martin & Wood albums, most notably the cover of "Shack-man".

2006 was a prolific year for Martin; he created new chamber compositions for John Zorn's Tzadik label, he released "Out Louder" on MMW's new label Indirecto, he produced many new artworks, and published a drum book entitled "Riddim: Clave of African Origin".

Discography

Bob Moses

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

Ned Rothenberg

*"Overlays" (1991, Moers)
*"Real and Imagined Time" (1995, Moers)

John Lurie and the Lounge Lizards

*"Live in Berlin Vol. 1 & 2" audio and film (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" (1999)

Medeski Martin & Wood

*"Notes from the Underground" (1991, Amulet)
*"It's a Jungle in Here" (1993, Gramavision/Ryko)
*"Friday Afternoon in the Universe" (1995, Gramavision/Ryko)
*"Get Shorty" soundtrack (1995)
*"Shack-man" (1996, Gramavision/Ryko)
*"Farmer's Reserve" (1996, Indirecto/Amulet)
*Wim Wender's "The End of Violence" soundtrack (1997)
*"Great Jewish Music – Serge Gainsbourg" (1997, Tzadik)
*"Great Jewish Music – Burt Bacharach" (1997, Tzadik)
*"" (1998, Tzadik)
*"Combustication" (1998, Blue Note)
*"Last Chance to Dance Trance (Perhaps)" (1999)
*"Tonic" (2000, Blue Note)
*"The Dropper" (2000, Blue Note)
*"Uninvisible" (2002, Blue Note)
*"End of the World Party (Just in Case)" (2004, Blue Note)
*"Voices in the Wilderness" (2003, Tzadik)
*"Let's Go Everywhere" (2008)

Iggy Pop

*"Avenue B" (1999, Virgin)

Oren Bloedow

*"Luckiest Boy in the World" (1998, Knitting Factory Works)

Chris Whitley

*"Perfect Day" (2000)

John Scofield

*"A Go Go" (1998, Verve)
*"Out Louder" (2006, Indirecto)

amm Bennett and Chunk

*"Life of Crime" (1991, Knitting Factory Works)

As soloist and chamber music composer

*"Starlings" (2006, Tzadik)
*"Black Elk Speaks" (2001, Amulet)
*"Solo Live Tonic" (2002, Amulet)

Illy B Eats

*"Illy B Eats Vol. 1 – Groove Bang and Jive Around" (Amulet)
*"Drop the Needle" (2001, Amulet)
*"Antidote" (2002, Amulet)
*"The Turntable Sessions Vol. 1" (2002, Amulet)
*"Illy B Eats Vol. 2" (Amulet)
*"Illy B Eats Vol. 3" (Amulet)

ocket

*"January 14 & 15" (2005, Amulet)

Dave Burrell

*"Consequences" (2006, Amulet)

G. Calvin Weston

*"Percussion Duets" (1996, Amulet)
*"Houston Hall" (2006, Amulet)

DJ Spooky

*"Optometry" (2002, Thirsty Ear)

DJ Logic

*"For No One in Particular" (2003, Amulet)
*"Project Logic" (1999, Rope-a-Dope)

Healing Sound series

*"Falling Water" (1997, Amulet)

External links

* [http://www.billymartin.net/ Billy Martin] official website
* [http://www.mmw.net Medeski Martin & Wood] official website
* [http://www.amuletrecords.com Amulet Records] website
* [http://www.billymartin.net/Riddim/RiddimIndex_0006.html "Riddim" drum book website]
* [http://www.illyb.com Martin's online art exhibit]
* [http://www.tzadik.com/index.php?catalog=8025 "Starlings" on John Zorn's Tzadik imprint]
* [http://www.amuletrecords.com/CATALOG/amt008/amt008.htm Information on "Drop the Needle"]
* [http://blogcritics.org/archives/2002/12/07/151741.php Interview with Billy Martin]