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Andreu Martinez
From his 14th he absorbs everything from the jazz, blues and rock scene. He enters Barcelona’s “Aula de Jazz y Musica Moderna in 1994, graduating a year later with honours and begins his professional career playing with numerous groups on the local scene. He soon begins experimenting with the fusion of jazz with blues, rock and funk, discovering more contemporary musicians such as Bill Frisell, Scott Henderson, Pat Metheny and Robben Ford who have a great influence on him.
In 2001 he moves to New York to broaden his musical knowhow and learn from the musicians in the big apple, and on his return from the states he records his first album "Senyales de Vida" (K-Industria) with his band, the ANDREU MARTINEZ PROJECT, with Jordi Franco on bass and Pere Foved on drums. Its ten eclectic compositions reflect the beginning of his search for his own style and sound.
The album "live at the Festival International de Jazz de Lleida" proved that Andreu Martinez definitely found his own voice : gripping compositions and superb guitar playing backed by a strong and groovy rhythm section.
The latest album ‘Fast Food’, released in 2007 (Batiendo Records), is a record - in his own words - "much more mature than the other ones". The main musical line is jazz but he doesn't refuse funk or rock and a lot of improvisations which sound more intense than ever, and features the great Charlie Wood on some tracks. Recorded in only a few days in the Music Lan Studios in Figueras, in spirit it is almost a 'live' recording, a circumstance that makes it sound fresh and spontaneous from the first time you listen to it.
Andreu Martinez is currently working on a new album, in the same vein but adding his voice on some tracks, which will be released in 2008.
The Andreu Martinez Project 'live' is a great experience not to be missed !
Tags
« Young blood, energetic and original, can take from jazz as easily as from rock, blues or funk and return it with a stylish punch. » - Pere Pons, Avui.
« A magnificent guitarist, be it jazz, funk, rock or blues, the different styles slide easily below the agile fingers of Andreu sounding elegant and intelligent. » - Pep Tort, La Veu De l’Anoia
« A young group led by one of Spain’s foremost contemporary blues rock asset : Andreu Martinez. » - Andreu Zaragoza, Guitarra Total
« A fluid composer, expert in creating ambience and leaving the fundamental spaces open for improvisation. A guitarist with a polished and efficient style at the moment of truth, players like this you don’t see every day. » Ramón del Solo, Revista Bluespain
“Classy Fusion/Rock Barcelona born guitarist Andreu Martinez has also been a frequently familiar face amongst the live music scene within Barcelona. He has released his own debut solo album ‘Senyals de Vida’ (Signs of Life), as well as a recent live album showcasing exceptional guitar skills backed by solid musicianship. The free spirit that drives Andreu’s work navigates effortlessly between contrast found in Blues, Country and Rock.” - CDbaby.com
About Mr Hurricane Band :
« Among the songs ‘Slow Down’ gives us a chance to hear Andreu Martinez on both vocals and guitar with an excellent saturated sound and a perfect rhythm section.” “An original, modern album which escapes from traditional schemes and superbly blends blues, blues jazz fuzz and even some accents of bluegrass and alternative country. » - Kingsbee - Docteurblues
"Todos los amantes del jazz, el r’n’b, la fusión y el funk tienen una cita ineludible el próximo jueves 17 de mayo en la Sala Zacarias de Barcelona para presenciar lo que promete ser uno de los acontecimientos del año: la presentación en Barcelona del nuevo disco de Andreu Martinez Project, el soberbio ‘Fast Food’ (Batiendo Records, 2007). Andreu Martinez apenas si necesita presentación; con dos magnificos titulos a sus espaldas y una trayectoria en directo que cualquier guitarrista a su temprana edad envidiar a su tercera obra en estudio es un compendio de sus mejores virtudes.
Music
Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson
