Vocalist/Lyricist/Composer/Producer/Writer/Voiceover Born in Philadelphia, Gail Marten began her singing career in 1980 shortly after moving to Maryland. Performing throughout the mid-Atlantic region, Marten has captivated audiences at music festivals, concert venues, jazz clubs and private social events. In the '90s she held long term engagements at many premier area hotels including Omni, Hyatt Regency, Hilton, Radisson, Sheraton, Belvedere, Renaissance; and she has performed at first rate venues including Blues Alley, Bohemian Caverns, Baltimore's Pier Six Concert Pavilion, Ethel's Place, Eubie Live!, New York's West End Club, Rita Dimitri's, Charlie's–Georgetown, Hilton Hotel–UK. Marten has enjoyed working with scores of jazz legends and notables including Larry Willis, Cyrus Chestnut, George Colligan, Charles Covington, Richard Johnson, Unified Jazz Ensemble, Clem Ehoff, Robert Shahid, Carl Grubbs, Eric Kennedy, Tim Whalen, Fred Hughes, Blake Meister, Jeff Wilson, Larry Brown, Dick Durham, Bob Diener, Billy Colucci, Tim Murphy, Reuben Brown, Todd Simon, Benny Waters, Odonel Levy, Steve Novosel, Greg Hatza, Darius Scott, Tom Lagana, Herman Burney, Amy Shook, Eric Wheeler, Alfonso Rondon, Marty Knepp, Ricky Loza, Alfredo Mojica, Victor Dvoskin, Gary Grainger, Ron Kearns, Sam King, Arnold Sterling, Benny Waters and on and on; so many other great musicians. Marten’s CDs are in regular rotation at radio stations world-wide, and her music is included on 26 CDs produced by EQ Music and Elm Records based in Singapore. Marten has provided voice narration for corporate video productions. Marten is the editor/designer of the Baltimore Jazz Alliance newsletter, for which she regularly contributes her articles. She served as board member, consultant and producer at The Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center from 2009-2016. Marten is the owner of Jazz Palette Graphic and Web Design and Jazz Palette Music Promotions. www.jazzpalette.com AWARDS
Awards
Numerous awards have been received for Marten's CDs produced with Clem Ehoff; Beyond The Rainbow, Pure Joy, and Is It Love. Her CD, In Love Again, Featuring pianist Larry Willis, has received international acclaim, and was named one of The Best 20 Vocal Jazz CDs of 2009 by jazz critic and journalist W. Royal Stokes at Jazz House Diaries. In Love Again was considered for nomination for the Grammy Award in 2010.
ASCAPlus 2008 & 2009, Women's Radio Best of the 2000's, UK International Songwriting Contest, Great American Songbook, JPF International, Baltimore Jazzine Best Recording of the Year 2011, John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Billboard Songwriting Contest, Broadjam's Summer Music Challenge, Lyric Awards Global Contest, Song & Film, Finland’s Vantaa Jazz Heritage, Film Music Network and others.
"An artist of rare sensivity and taste with the unique ability to get inside a song and convey its meaning to the fullest."
– Karl Stober, Jazz Trenzz
"Her interpretations separate the women from the girls, the professionals from the ingénues, the cabaret hip from the jazz pretenders . . . Another talent she can call on whenever the Muse allows, is her lyric writing."
– Harvey Siders, Jazz Times
"Wonderful! Lovely voice. A classic pop jazz vocalist."
– Mark Murphy
“Ms. Marten caresses a jazz vocal with the authority of authenticity, and projects an innate awareness of how the songwriter might wish to hear the song sung
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"An artist of rare sensivity and taste with the unique ability to get inside a song and convey its meaning to the fullest."
– Karl Stober, Jazz Trenzz
"Her interpretations separate the women from the girls, the professionals from the ingénues, the cabaret hip from the jazz pretenders . . . Another talent she can call on whenever the Muse allows, is her lyric writing."
– Harvey Siders, Jazz Times
"Wonderful! Lovely voice. A classic pop jazz vocalist."
– Mark Murphy
“Ms. Marten caresses a jazz vocal with the authority of authenticity, and projects an innate awareness of how the songwriter might wish to hear the song sung. Her lyrical approach to standards brings an exciting new dimension to the music. She radiates a warmth and sophistication that is completely captivating.”
– Paul Nuñez, Curiosadid
"In Love Again is as elegant and refreshing as an expertly made Negroni . . . Marten inhabits the material with a haunting, lived-in quality. "
– David Dudley, The Urbanite Magazine
"Gail Marten not only sings lyrics which tell a story, but recites a vivid prose which demonstrates that she has a hip awareness of life – delivered with a voice of sweetness and verve. She not only stirs passion, but she generates reflective thought. Delicious, as the melding of passion and intellect often is . . . the girl next door dressed in a black sheath!"
– Anthony Agostinelli, Jazz Newsletter
"Wonderful. The Real Deal."
– Donald Harrison
“Gail Marten’s new release (Is It Love) is a triumph in lyrics and arrangement . . . With her exotic sensual tones Ms. Marten can get across what most feel but rarely admit . . . Her vocals, with eloquence, reach out to that lover inside of all of us."
– Karl Stober, Jazz Trenzz
"Gail Marten, you are a tunesmith/wordsmith/jazz singer of such talent that you are, as Duke used to say, 'Beyond Category.' Your Intelligence, maturity and hipness put you In Touch."
– Frank Koiner, The Spotlite
“Her voice has been compared to artists like Keely Smith and Chris Connor but I also hear echoes of Mel Torme. Her writing, the arrangements and that magnificent voice add up to an outstanding and highly emotionally charged listening experience.”
– E.F. Cooke, Jr, Jazz Trane
“A great jazz voice with phrasing that shows a sense of dialogue, of space and rhythmic awareness—or was it just serendipity? “
– Hal Whittaker, Review
“Her choice of material and the warmth, intelligence, and utter infectiousness of her voice bring joy to these hungry ears. It's just so-o-o nice to find an HONEST singer.”
– Steve Ember
"Gail's voice has never sounded better, her phrasing is impeccable, the choice and tracking of the tunes tell a story of a life lived. Her vocals stir your feelings and reach into your heart, but give you food for thought about your own romances."
– Barrie Woodey, Jazz For A Sunday Night, CHRW Radio, London, Ontario
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