The Word is a blues/jazz jam rock supergroup composed of Robert Randolph (pedal steel guitar), John Medeski (keyboards), Chris Chew (bass guitar), Luther Dickinson (guitar), and Cody Dickinson (drums, washboard). Being a supergroup, each of the band members lead their own outfits: Dickinson brothers and Chew are known as North Mississippi Allstars; Medeski plays with jazz-funk band Medeski, Martin & Wood (MMW); and Robert Randolph, a steel pedal phenomenon, tours with his Family Band.
The Word was born when the Dickinsons and Medeski found Randolph in 2001, then 22 years old with only one commercially available tune under his belt. Despite his popularity within gospel, Randolph had not yet crossed over to secular music. In just three days of jamming in MMW’s studio, their self-titled debut, The Word, was polished off. It showcased to powerful effect in each funky, intense track Randolph’s mesmerizing pedal sermons.