Avant-jazz keyboardist John Medeski is known for his work with improvisational trio Medeski Martin & Wood. In 2000, Medeski produced and played on the self-titled debut by The Word, a gospel-meets-rock collective with North Mississippi Allstars that introduced the secular world to pedal-steel guitar phenomenon Robert Randolph. The band released a self-titled album and toured in support. The band reunited in the summer of 2005 at the Bonnaroo Music Festival, and again briefly in 2007 for four shows in the Northeast.

"The history of The Word reached back to our early years," says North Mississippi Allstars' Luther Dickinson. In 1998 we toured with Medeski Martin & Wood and came up with the idea. This tour means a lot to us and we're looking forward to getting back together with old friends."

Medeski Martin & Wood have been diligently at work on their Radiolarian series, and will release their first ever boxed set, Radiolarians: The Evolutionary Set on Dec. 8, 2009.

Three-time Grammy nominated North Mississippi Allstars will be doing a national tour January 27 to March 6, 2010. Luther Dickinson can be seen as a member of The Black Crowes. Chris Chew and Cody Dickinson have been touring recently as part of the lauded Southern Rock band, Hill Country Revue.

Robert Randolph & The Family Band has spent the last year touring behind their album COLORBLIND, the follow-up to their 2003 Grammy-nominated debut on Warner Bros. Records, UNCLASSIFIED. They are currently completing recording for their next album, which will be released in Spring 2010 and is produced by legendary producer T-Bone Burnett.

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