Billy Martin (percussionist)

For other people known by this name, see Billy Martin (disambiguation).

Billy Martin is a jazz drummer most notable for his participation in avant-garde jazz-funk trio Medeski Martin & Wood. Before becoming part of Medeski, Martin & Wood, Martin was part of the NYC Brazilian scene in the 1980's. 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 or 'The art of percussion, avant-garde and beyond'. Other collaborations include Iggy Pop, Eyvind Kang, DJ Olive, Ikue Mori, John Scofield, Maceo Parker, Marty Ehrlich, and Min Xiao-Fen.

Billy Martin at the Bennett Alliance Concert Series (Cambridge, MA, 2007)

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 DJ's 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, and Drop the Needle was born. Along with his percussion work, Martin is an 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 as he created new chamber compositions for John Zorn's Tzadik label, Medeski, Scofield, Martin, and Wood released Out Louder on MMW's new label Indirecto, many new artworks, and an upcoming drum book entitled Riddim: Clave of African Origin.

Discography

w/ Bob Moses

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

w/ Ned Rothenberg

• Overlays (1991, Moers)
• Real and Imagined Time (1995, Moers)

w/ 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)

w/ 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)
• Shackman (1996, Gramavision/Ryko)
• Farmer's Reserve (1996, Indirecto/Amulet)
• Wim Wender's End of Violence soundtrack (1997)
• Great Jewish Music - Serge Gainsbourg (1997, Tzadik)
• Great Jewish Music - Burt Bacharach (1997, Tzadik)
• Great Jewish Music - Marc Bolan (1998, Tzadik)
• Combustication (1998, Blue Note)
• Tonic (2000, Blue Note)
• The Dropper (2000, Blue Note)
• Uninvisible (2002, Blue Note)
• End of the World Party (just in case) (2004, Blue Note)
• Masada Anniversary (2003, Tzadik)
• Happy Feet soundtrack (2006)
• Last Chance to Dance Trance (perhaps): Best of 1991-1996

w/ Iggy Pop

• Avenue B (1999, Virgin)

w/ Oren Bloedow

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

w/ Chris Whitley

• Perfect Day (2000)

w/ John Scofield

• A Go Go (1998, Verve)
• Out Louder (2006, Indirecto)

w/ Samm 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)

As illy B Eats the break beat and remix series

• 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)

w/ Socket

• January 14 & 15 (2005, Amulet)

w/ Dave Burrell

• Consequences (2006, Amulet)

w/ G. Calvin Weston

• Percussion Duets (1996, Amulet)
• Houston Hall (2006, Amulet)

w/ DJ Spooky

• Optometry (2002, Thirsty Ear)

w/ DJ Logic

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

Healing Sound series

• Falling Water (1997, Amulet)

External links

• Riddim drum book website
• Billy Martin official website
• Martin's online art exhibit
• Starlings on John Zorn's Tzadik imprint
• Information on Drop the Needle
• Interview with Billy Martin
• Official MMW website
• Martin's Amulet label