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Joe Martin

Joe Martin is one of the most sought-after bassists on the current New York City jazz scene. Known for his warm sound, facile ear, harmonic flexibility, and lyrical solos, he has performed with a diverse range of musicians which includes Andy Bey, Vinicius Cantuaria, Bill Charlap, Anat Cohen, Avishai Cohen, Billy Drummond, Art Farmer, Aaron Goldberg, Jon Gordon, Ari Hoenig, Joel Frahm, Larry Goldings, Gilad Hekselman, Ethan Iverson, Guillermo Klein, Jonathan Kreisberg, Ivan Lins, Lionel Loueke, Bill McHenry, John McNeil, Brad Mehldau, The Mingus Big Band, Ben Monder, Jane Monheit, Chris Potter, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Maria Schneider, Jaleel Shaw, Mark Turner, and many others. Continuous musical dialogue amongst great musicians is a major source of inspiration for Joe.

Composition is another indispensable component to Joe's musical world. A strong melodic sense and the use of the bass part as both function and counterpoint are apparent in his writing. His most recent CD, available on Anzic Records, is titled Not By Chance, and it features Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, and Marcus Gilmore. His debut CD Passage (Fresh Sound New Talent Records) which features Mark Turner, Kevin Hays, and Jorge Rossy, received much acclaim from critics and musicians alike. He has lead gigs in New York City at clubs including The Jazz Gallery, The Jazz Standard, Smoke, and Smalls.

Born in Kansas City in 1970, Joe grew up surrounded by music in Pella, Iowa. His father, a retired music history professor, was clarinetist with the Des Moines Symphony for 28 years, and his mother, a librarian by profession, is an amateur violinist. His younger brother Phil is a drummer who resides in Chicago. He listened regularly to his parents’ extensive classical music collection, which also included records by Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Miles Davis, and George Shearing.

His grandfather was a jazz pianist who played nightclub and dance gigs in Joplin, Missouri. On family visits, his grandfather taught him many of the great American standards. Growing up in this nourishing musical environment gave Joe his deep love and respect for all music. Joe began his musical studies on cello at age seven. He also played trumpet in his school band. At age fifteen he picked up the electric bass and with encouragement from his parents, band director, and Des Moines bassist Susie Miget, took the instrument home for the summer. He felt an immediate rapport with the bass, playing by ear and learning bass lines he heard on the radio.

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Album Review

Mark Turner: Live At The Village Vanguard

Read "Live At The Village Vanguard" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


A due anni di distanza dalla pubblicazione di Return from the Stars il pianoless quartet di Mark Turner torna con questo corposo doppio album: oltre due ore di musica che documentano il meglio delle serate al Village Vanguard del 18 e 19 giugno 2022. Musicalmente la distanza che lo separa dal disco ECM, registrato nel novembre 2019, è di cinque anni, ma non ci sono grandi cambiamenti: quel repertorio è ripreso interamente con l'aggiunta di composizioni già ...

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Album Review

Mark Turner Quartet: Live At The Village Vanguard

Read "Live At The Village Vanguard" reviewed by Pat Youngspiel


Mark Turner's Live At The Village Vanguard follows a year after the saxophonist's critically acclaimed second quartet offering for the ECM label Return From The Stars (2022) and features the same group, containing live cuts of the entirety of that record. The title track “Return From The Stars," “Terminus," “Bridgetown," “Nigeria 2," “Lincoln Heights," “It's Not Alright With Me," “Wasteland" and “Unnacceptable" are taken from the album and given new guises in these vibrant live renditions. Also included are “Brother ...

5
Album Review

Henry Hey: Trio: Ri-Metos

Read "Trio: Ri-Metos" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Henry Hey's name may be unfamiliar to some--he is more of a collaborator than a headline hog--but a good percentage of us have heard his music. He played piano for Rod Stewart during the singer's Great American Songbook phase, and he contributed to David Bowie's 2013 comeback album, The Next Day (Columbia Records), served as musical director for George Michael and has co-written songs for Australian electronics music duo Empire of the Sun. And throw in some soundtracks for popular ...

8
Album Review

Rudy Royston & Flatbed Buggy: DAY

Read "DAY" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Drummer Rudy Royston debuted his group Flatbed Buggy in 2018, with the eponymous Greenleaf Records release. It had the feeling of a jazz-folk chamber group. With its unusual instrumentation--Gary Versace's accordion, Hank Roberts' cello, and John Ellis' bass clarinet joining Royston's drums and Joe Martin's bass--a laid-back and engaging Americana vibe emerged. The follow-up, Day, is more of the same, with a bit more swing. With an ear towards the past, the sound recalls drummer Chico Hamilton's mid-50s ...

Album Review

Emile Parisien: Louise

Read "Louise" reviewed by Neri Pollastri


Sebbene da noi un po' ignorato, il sassofonista e compositore Emile Parisien è da tempo uno dei migliori rappresentanti della eccellente scuola francese, nonché tra i più interessanti interpreti internazionali del sax soprano. Noto per le sue collaborazioni con l'estroso fisarmonicista Vincent Peirani e con il pianista italiano residente a Parigi Roberto Negro, presente pure in questo lavoro, è anche un notevole band leader e lo dimostra qui in Louise (dedicato alla scultrice Louise Bourgeois), ove dirige un “classico" sestetto ...

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Album Review

Edward Simon: 25 Years

Read "25 Years" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Al pubblico del jazz non piacciono molto le compilations ma questa del pianista Edward Simon è speciale. I diciassette brani del doppio CD sono stati scelti da lui--come bilancio e riflessione personale nel 25° anno della sua attività da leader--e forniscono una variopinta retrospettiva delle sue tappe musicali. «L'idea mi è venuta l'anno scorso (2019) quando ho compito 50 anni--ha detto al Columbia Daily Tribune--La raccolta è nata da uno spirito di celebrazione e dalla consapevolezza di quante cose siano ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Joe Martin, Joe Chambers & Roy Eldridge

Read "Joe Martin, Joe Chambers & Roy Eldridge" reviewed by Joe Dimino


New York City bassist Joe Martin has Kansas City roots and is featured on the 689th Episode of Neon Jazz. Following his lead is a great group of musicians whi are constantly releaseing material keeping the world of jazz an innovative artistic medium. They include Patrick Cornelius, Tarik Hassan, Joe Chambers and Gerald Beckett. Enjoy the music. Playlist Joe Martin “Ma hattanville" Passage (JM Music) 00:00 Host talks 7:26 Woody Herman “Northwest Passage" Night and Day (DCE Pop ...

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Performance / Tour

Bassist/Composer Joe Martin @ The Jazz Standard October 7 + 8

Bassist/Composer Joe Martin @ The Jazz Standard October 7 + 8

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity

Anzic Records To Release NOT BY CHANCE From Bassist/Composer JOE MARTIN Available September 15, 2009 on Anzic Records The Joe Martin Quartet – Live at The Jazz Standard in NYC – October 7 + 8 with Mark Turner, Brad Mehldau + Marcus Gilmore “Joe is one of the heavy bass players” --Kurt Rosenwinkel “...a versatile bassist and a thoughtful composer” --The New York Times “...a rock solid player” --The San Jose Mercury News If you are a jazz ...

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Event

Bassist Joe Martin Signs to Great Moon Records

Bassist Joe Martin Signs to Great Moon Records

Source: All About Jazz

Great Moon Records Proudly announces the signing of Basist Joe Martin. Inspired since the days of Motown, 53 year old Joe Martin's track record dates back to the early 70's. A native of Wareham, Massachussetts. Martin started out performing with Saxophonist Eric Walker in New York City and since then he's plucked his fender Bass accross the country. With his first solo debut currently in its creative process, Joe Martin has been working in the studio with saxophonist Victor Valente, ...

Primary Instrument

Bass

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Adjunct Faculty New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music Adjunct Faculty Queens College Private lessons available

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

DAY

Greenleaf Records
2024

buy

Trio: Ri-Metos

Self Produced
2023

buy

Live At The Village...

Giant Step Arts
2023

buy

Louise

Enja Records
2022

buy

Balance Point

Posi-Tone Records
2020

buy

Clarity

Posi-Tone Records
2020

buy

The Trion Re

From: Spirit Science
By Joe Martin

Coyote

From: 1962
By Joe Martin

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