“When called for, I try to get into that ‘stoopid’ mindset, like not even knowing the names of the strings. Physically, I'll even use a cruder, rougher approach”: Chris Wood unpacks his playing – both schooled and unschooled – with Medeski, Martin & Wood

Chris Wood performs during the Festival Jazz A La Villette 2011 at Cite de la Musique on September 11, 2011 in Paris, France.

The booming underground jam-band scene has brought fringe-fresh, format-busting sounds into all corners of contemporary music – so not surprisingly, it's had the same effect on the bass side of things. A case in point is Chris Wood of Medeski Martin & Wood, the veteran avant-groove New York trio that has been anointed one of cornerstones of the jam nation. 

Ponder any of the current trends in bassdom – feel over flash, jams as opposed to set compositions, doubling on electric and upright, retro gear and grooves, low-end-loaded mixes over full-range bite- and Wood fits the profile.