Biography
The Wood Brothers are an American roots band formed by brothers Oliver Wood (acoustic and electric guitars, vocals) and Chris Wood (upright bass), along with multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix (percussion, piano, vocals). Raised in Boulder, Colorado, in a creative household, the brothers were immersed in American roots music from childhood. Their father, Bill Wood, a scientist who recorded with Joan Baez on the 1960 album Folksingers ’Round Harvard Square, performed classic songs at family gatherings, while their poet mother fostered storytelling. Bonding over blues artists like Jimmy Reed and Lightnin' Hopkins, their paths diverged: Oliver moved to Atlanta, playing in Tinsley Ellis’s band and founding King Johnson, which released six albums of blues-inflected R&B, funk, and country from the 1990s to early 2000s; Chris studied jazz bass at the New England Conservatory and co-founded the jazz fusion group Medeski Martin & Wood (MMW) in New York City in 1992.
The band formed after the brothers reconnected onstage on May 24, 2001, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, when Oliver sat in with MMW following King Johnson's opening set, sparking their realization to collaborate. They recorded a demo of Oliver's songs, securing a deal with Blue Note Records for their 2006 debut Ways Not To Lose, produced by John Medeski at Allaire Studios. Jano Rix joined around 2011, adding percussion and jazz piano. Subsequent releases include Loaded (2008), Smoke Ring Halo (2011) on Zac Brown's label, The Muse (2013) produced by Buddy Miller—their first Billboard chart success—and later albums like Kingdom in My Mind (2023). By 2012, both brothers had relocated to Nashville, solidifying their base.
Their musical style blends folk, gospel, blues, jazz, bluegrass, newgrass, Americana, rooted in improvisation and heartfelt songwriting, evolving from separate blues/jazz backgrounds into a cohesive roots sound. Over two decades, they've built a legacy as freethinking songwriters, touring extensively and earning critical acclaim for albums that trust emotional intuition.
Fun Facts
- The band traces its spark to a single night on May 24, 2001, at Ziggy’s in Winston-Salem, NC, where Oliver sat in with MMW after King Johnson opened, leading to their realization they should play together.
- Their first album Ways Not To Lose was recorded in September 2005 at Allaire Studios in Shokan, New York, during a period when Chris still balanced MMW commitments.
- The brothers lived in different cities for over 15 years before both relocating to Nashville in 2012, marking the first time since early adulthood they shared a city.
- Oliver credits early encouragement from bandmates like Chris Long in King Johnson for developing as a singer, despite initial criticism.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Tinsley Ellis - Blues guitarist who encouraged Oliver to sing and join his touring act (Tinsley Ellis touring band) [1990s]
- Chris Long - Bass player in King Johnson who inspired Oliver to start his own band and co-wrote songs (King Johnson albums) [1990s-early 2000s]
- Bill Wood - Father who introduced roots music through performances and recording with Joan Baez (Folksingers ’Round Harvard Square (1960)) [Childhood]
Key Collaborators
- Jano Rix - Multi-instrumentalist band member adding percussion, jazz piano, and vocals (Smoke Ring Halo (2011), The Muse (2013), and subsequent albums) [2011-present]
- John Medeski - MMW colleague who produced debut album (Ways Not To Lose (2006)) [2005-2006]
- Buddy Miller - Record producer for studio album (The Muse (2013))
- Medeski Martin & Wood - Chris's jazz fusion group; Oliver guested occasionally (Live appearances, Bob Dylan tribute (2006)) [2001-2006]
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Wood Brothers has been played 5 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.