Tisziji Munoz’ Heart-Fire Sound: Celebrating Sacred Origin Featuring John Medeski with Don Pate/Bass and Bob Ra-kalam Moses/Drums
For the first time in more than 18 years, keyboardist John Medeski of the innovative trio Medeski Martin & Wood is pairing with guitarist Tisziji Munoz for live dates and an upcoming recording session this spring.
Munoz and Medeski kicked off their partnership April 9th at the Colony Café in Woodstock, NY and will continue with another show on May 15th at Issue Project Room in Brooklyn, NY. Joined by musicians Don Pate and Bob Ra-kalam Moses, Medeski and Munoz will play a selection of music comprised of various Tisziji Munoz compositions. Although known for their healing qualities, Munoz’ pieces are not always easy listening. Medeski comments that the performances will be “very powerful” and believes that it will open many people’s minds to the strength of Munoz’ compositions. The evening promises to be one of exciting jazz improvisation with musicians who consistently test their boundaries by challenging themselves and the audience with powerful music.
Composing and playing by the mantra “Heart-Fire Sound” Tisziji Munoz channels his jazz experience and spiritual teachings through his music. Of this knowledge, Medeski states: “He keeps a certain spirit of music alive in the tradition of John Coltrane, passed down through his work with Pharaoh Sanders. Tisziji’s whole life and music are a sacred thing.”
Tisziji Munoz’ biography is filled with the names of great musicians. Munoz began playing music as a child, teaching himself the drums in the Afro-Cuban style before moving on to the ukulele and eventually the guitar. Munoz’ music is known for its healing qualities, just as he is known for his deep devotion to spiritual pursuits. Becoming fully entrenched in the jazz scene, Munoz created Anami Music Productions to handle the ever-expanding demands of his musical spirit. During this time, Munoz began touring with saxophone legend Pharaoh Sanders. Munoz has since gone on to play and record with Elvin Jones, Ravi Coltrane, Dr. Art Davis, McCoy Tyner, Rashid Ali, Paul Schafer, Don Pate and John Medeski.
Since 1991, John Medeski has been part of the genre-defying trio Medeski Martin & Wood. Building upon their jazz roots with the addition of different rhythmic styles, electronics and various forms of rhythmic grooves MMW have broken out of the traditional jazz sphere, garnering them fans from across the musical spectrum. MMW have shared the bill with groups such as The Roots, Beck, A Tribe Called Quest, Ray Charles, Hermento Pascoal, and Phish, frequently appearing in venues unavailable to most jazz artists. Medeski’s recording credits include John Zorn, Iggy Pop, T Bone Burnett, Ray Lamontagne, Dan The Automator, k.d. Lang and more. Medeski has also produced The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, pedal steel guitar group The Campbell Brothers, and two records from The Wood Brothers.