The trio of keyboard/organ/piano player John Medeski, drummer/percussionist Billy Martin, and bassist Chris Wood formed two decades ago in the Brooklyn neighborhood known as D.U.M.B.O. (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. Medeski and Wood, who had been studying at Boston's prestigious New England Conservatory of Music, decided to move to New York City with intent to explore the late-night underworld of the city's burgeoning jazz scene.

Teaming with drummer Martin, the trio began a kinetic exploration of experimental jazz that embraced spare, hip-hop beats and avant-garde improvisation equally. A run of albums for Gramavision and tireless touring expanded the trio's following, a cultish fan base that hit an apex after the release of Shack-Man, a compilation of loose-limbed funky abstractions written and recorded at the band's Hawaiian hideaway.

Further explorations found MMW recording for celebrated jazz imprint Blue Note, recording and touring with a full horn section and collaborating with noted turntable artists (DJ Logic and DJ Olive) and musicians like guitar giant John Scofield. More recently, the threesome has launched its own label (Indirecto Records), giving them the freedom to take new directions including an album of children's music and their Radiolarians project which featured the group refining new material on the road leading up to studio sessions that documented their latest songs.

While MMW has remained active (most recently issuing Free Magic, a recording from the trio's 2007 acoustic tour, and a double-live set with Scofield), Medeski has been busy with other projects as well, including extensive touring with the Tony Williams proto-fusion tribute band Spectrum Road with fellow virtuosos Vernon Reid, Jack Bruce and Cindy Blackman. For the SF Jazz Festival show, Medeski gives a solo piano concert that is sure to be packed with fiery improvisation.

John Medeski solo
Sunday, Nov. 18, 2 p.m. $25-$40
Gould Theater at Legion of Honor