Home » Jazz Musicians » Martha J.

Martha J.

Still young, she embarked on her journey into singing and guitar as an enthusiastic self-taught artist, driven by an unwavering passion for music.

Her career began in 1986, performing in various venues in Milan and Northern Italy as a singer and guitarist with a repertoire of renowned singer-songwriters and English and American bands such as Joni Mitchell and James Taylor, as well as English and Irish folk music with influences like The Pentangle.

She explored classical singing under the guidance of sopranos Edith Martelli, Mary Lindsay, and Eun Sun Park. Perfecting her vocal technique with the assistance of Andrea Tosoni and Monica Scifo, she immersed herself in the art of jazz through seminars led by luminaries such as Sara Serpa, Sheila Jordan, Kevin Mahogany, Rachel Gould, Patricia Williamson, Jeff Ramsey, and Dennis Montgomery. Additionally, she trained as an actress at the Studio Laboratorio dell'Attore and studied modern dance with Miguel Angel Cragnolini.

In 1988, she founded the band "Proxima," where she served as the lead vocalist and co-author. She participated in the Festival di Sanremo in 1990, released two CDs under the PDU/EMI label, and performed in numerous concerts in Italy and abroad, particularly in Canada.

From 1999 onwards, she primarily focused on jazz, adopting the pseudonym "Martha J.," embracing a repertoire of timeless classics and celebrated interpreters of the jazz tradition, including Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, and Billie Holiday.

In 2008, she released her first two jazz standard albums: "That’s it!" as a quartet (with Francesco Chebat, Roberto Piccolo, and Stefano Bertoli), and "No One But You" (voice and piano with Francesco Chebat).

In the following years, she continued her collaboration with Francesco Chebat and released several albums, some of which featured original compositions (see Discography).

She collaborated live and in the studio with a multitude of Italian and international musicians, including Maxx Furian, Antonio Zambrini, Tino Tracanna, Ellade Bandini, Attilio Zanchi, Toni Arco, Lele Melotti, Giulio Corini, Francesco Chebat, Stefano Bertoli, Roberto Piccolo, Sergio Orlandi, Giovanni Monteforte, Marco Bianchi, Guido Bombardieri, Marcello Noia, Francesco D’Auria, Michele Bozza, Enrico Galetta, Vittorio Castelli, Carmelo Tartamella, Carol Sudhalter, Larry Ray, Richard Lanham, and many other exceptional talents.

She participated in thousands of musical events, ranging from festivals, clubs, theaters, private events, television, and radio.

In the pop scene, she appeared on various programs on RAI and Mediaset networks and major radio networks. She performed numerous concerts in Italy and Canada.

In the jazz scene, some of the events she cherishes most include Jazz Visions, Festival Mutamenti (Levico and Aulla), Mendrisiotto Jazz Club (Switzerland), Bonaventura Jazz Club (Milan), Piacenza Jazz Fest, Estate In (Bergamo), Dieci10 Jazz Club (Bergamo), Teatro Tirinnanzi (Legnano), Le 2 Rive del Jazz (Boario Terme), Donne In-Canto (Milan), Open Jazz Festival (Ivrea), Match Music (Sky TV), Il Ritmo delle Città (Magenta), Festival del Cinema, Spazio RSI, Locarno (Switzerland), Osijek Jazz Festival, Valtidone Festival, Brianza Open Jazz Festival, and many more.


Tags

597
Take Five With...

Take Five With Martha J.

Read "Take Five With Martha J." reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Martha J.:I started my career in Milan, Italy and in 1990 I took part in Sanremo Music Festival (that is the most important festival in Italy dedicated to Italian pop music). After that, I recorded two CDs and I took part in many radio and TV shows. I gave concerts in Italy and abroad.

From 1999, I turned almost exclusively to jazz music, and since then I have been playing with many famous ...

Read more articles

“Martha J. is not only a marvelous singer with a lovely instrument and delivery, but also a substantial song lyricist, writing with grace and subtle eloquence. She found a perfect collaborator in pianist and composer Francesco Chebat... “ - Mark Stevens, Piano and All That Jazz Radio "... an extraordinary sensibility, a perfect control of the voice that gives great emotions (...) one of the most gifted and refined vocalists of our jazz/folk/fusion scene." Gianni Zuretti, L'isola che non c'era "...an explosion of freshness, of vocal skill and great professionalism, together with a talent that no school can teach..." G Candiano - TG com "..

Read more

Primary Instrument

Vocals

Location

Milan

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

I have been teaching since 2004 to all levels of students. My student's age goes from 10 to 65. I teach at Accademia Gerundia, Lodi and I give private lessons in Milan a Bergamo. For info: [email protected]

Sara Serpa
vocals
Chet Baker
trumpet and vocals
Pentangle
band / ensemble / orchestra

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Pas de Deux

Clessidra Records
2014

buy

Harlem Nocturne

Clessidra Records
2012

buy

Dance Your Way to...

Clessidra Records
2010

buy

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.