Billy Martin has split duty as drummer-percussionist for the wildly popular and successful jazz groove trio Medeski Martin and Wood, and he runs his own label, Amulet, that specializes in "the art of percussion, avant-garde and beyond..."

Billy also records for Amulet under the name "illy B," and has a smoking breakbeats, scratches and remix CD out called Drop the Needle. He's a busy, creative guy.

With help from our friends and readers, we interviewed Billy "illyB" Martin for Blogcritics:

Billy, Why do you think that MMW has become so commercially sucessful? Do you attribute it to a mid-90's revival of an improvisational music market, or was it just that MMW was able to appeal to a vast audience based on your ability to blend genres?
Daz

I think more people are responding and seeking a more visceral experience from a band. We push the boundaries, have energy, take chances, are creative and get a good groove on. I think that is the appeal.

Billy, do you notice any difference in the response from the European fans that come your shows?If i hear live-shows from MMW from the States, the crowd is much more enthusiastic.
George Kanakaris

Europeans in the North tend to be less expressive with their emotions and I think they go inward which is not a bad thing. Europeans in general, I think are more educated in the international arts and cultures. So, some may seem jaded. I think the same goes for Northern United States. Colder climate - more inward. Warmer climate more outward with emotions. I like both audiences.

Billy, I'm curious about all of your cool exotic percussion instruments. How many do you currently have and where did they come from? I love when you pull out the duck call and at times, it seems that the talking drum sounds like a monkey. Keep up the good work...take care!
Ben

I probably have too many percussion instruments. I like unusual, more expressive sounds which leads me to more folk/hand made or found instruments and objects.

Billy, I am interested to know about your playing congas with the lounge lizards... what are you playing? influenced by? What are you listening to these days ?
Peace and Blessings, Mike

My congas playing with the Lounge Lizards was a turning point for me. Before LL, I used my hands and didn't have a good technique on congas. I am really a stick drummer. So, John Lurie insisted that I play the congas even if I had to use sticks. So, I remembered seeing the drummers of Burundi at a festival in Amsterdam in the late 80s' and that had a big influence. There sticks are very thick and have much more tone and I have been developing my techinique for the congas with that influence. You can hear a great example of that on the "percussion duets" CD with Calvin Weston and myself available at amuletrecords.com.

Hey Billy, A little more specifically, I'd love to hear who you would name as having the biggest influence on your playing. If not a drummer/percussionist, would you also name the drummer/percussionist that you feel has had the greatest influence on your playing? Feel free to list more than one.

I think Max Roach, John Bonham, Nana Vasconcelos & Zigaboo Modeliste
are the best combination.