Home » Jazz Musicians » Martin Uherek

Martin Uherek

Though not growing up in family of solely musical profession, Martin Uherek came in touch with music since the earliest age, through a church choir led by his father. He soon showed a lot of interest in music, having a good time figuring out and self-teaching different instruments, such as piano, guitar, flute, or drums. A change in his musical life came in 2004/2005, his 3rd year of high school, when he participated in a 1-year exchange study program at SMC High School in Menasha, Wisconsin. Here, after hearing a recording of Charlie Parker called Confirmation, Martin fell in love with jazz music more than ever before and decided to pursue music career, with focus on jazz. He went on to study saxophone at Conservatory of J.L.Bella and later Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica. At this time he  attended private music lessons with the great jazz pianist Klaudius Kováč. In 2008 he founded his band Martin Uherek Quartet, with strong roots in jazz tradition, in October 2008 Martin competed with his band in the 1st Tarnow International Jazz Contest in Poland, where their band won 2nd prize in the younger category and in addition, Martin was awarded as soloist in this category. In December 2008, their band became the laureate of Slovak national jazz competition “New Faces of Slovak Jazz 2008”. During 2009-2010, he was also a member of a stable jazz group, Ľuboš Brtáň Quartet. Martin with his band won a contest of young talents on Bratislava Jazz Days 2012 and in October 2013, he and his band opened on the main stage of Bratislava Jazz Days 2013 with his project "Remembering Monk" focused on Monk's compositions.

In the past few years Martin has played with many of the leading jazz players and formations in Slovakia as well as abroad, such as Gregory Hutchinson, Klaudius Kováč, Róbert Ragan, Peter Solárik, Juraj Bartoš, Milo Suchomel big band, Matúš Jakabčic CZ/SK Big Band, Cotatcha Orchestra.

In the present, Martin is one of the leading figures on the Slovak jazz scene, actively playing with several formations - his own SO-UH-RA (pianoless) trio, Martin Uherek Quartet, Matúš Jakabčic CZ/SK Big Band and others. In addition, he regularly composes and arranges for saxophone ensembles and big bands. He also teaches saxophone and jazz improvisation at the Conservatory of J.L.Bella in Banská Bystrica and leads an educational series called Príbehy jazzu/Stories of Jazz, which combines spoken word with live jazz music played with his band.

Read more

Tags

5
Take Five With...

Take Five With Martin Uherek

Read "Take Five With Martin Uherek" reviewed by Martin Uherek


Meet Martin Uherek: I am a young professional saxophonist from Slovakia. I have a deep admiration for the legendary jazz musicians of the '40s through the '60s. I am a leader of several bands-- notably the Martin Uherek Quartet and Jazz Pianoless Trio. My newest project is Stories of Jazz (Self Produced, 2014), which combines music performed by my trio and tells stories about jazz musicians, tunes, history and much more. Instrument(s): Tenor saxophone. ...

Read more articles
Primary Instrument

Saxophone, tenor

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Sonny Rollins
saxophone
Dexter Gordon
saxophone, tenor
Coleman Hawkins
saxophone, tenor
Andy Middleton
woodwinds
Charlie Parker
saxophone, alto
Ben Webster
saxophone, tenor

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Matúš Jakabčic...

JFJ, spol. s r.o. & La Plata Production
2022

buy

Príbehy jazzu vol. 3...

PJ SOUND Studio
2021

buy

News For Peter

Music Fund Slovakia
2019

buy

Root System

Music Fund Slovakia
2019

buy

Príbehy jazzu vol. 2...

PJ SOUND Studio
2018

buy

Príbehy jazzu

PJ SOUND Studio
2016

buy

Videos

Get more of a good thing!

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