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John Martin

John Martin is a London based saxophonist and composer. After studying composition with Nikki Iles and Eddie Parker at Middlesex University, John went on to play as a sideman in many bands on both the jazz and world music scenes.

He has preformed and guested with: Gareth Lockrane, Roberto Pla, Dele Sosimi, the legendry ska band The Beat and the award-winning singer Liane Carroll.

He is a member of the critically acclaimed contemporary jazz folk septet Metamorphic and the Dr Das Dubnoiz Coalition, the side project of Dr Das, the bass player and founding member of the Asian Dub Foundation.

His début album “Dawning” was reviewed as ‘one of the most fascinating and beautiful releases’ of 2011, receiving positive testimonials from both Kenny Wheeler and Iain Ballamy. John has been a guest on both BBC radio 3’s jazz line up and jazz Fm’s Sunday jam and has been featured in the Jazzwise column “taking off”.

Highlights include:

A live broadcast from the BBC introducing stage at Manchester jazz festival with Metamorphic.

A live session with Awale at the BBC Maida vale studios for BBC radio 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyIr6RuRtks#t=131

Gigs In Paris, Bulgaria and Belgium with the Dr Das Dubnoiz Coalition. Dr Das is a founding member of the Asian Dub Foundation.

Metamorphics 2nd album Coalescence’ which received excellent reviews all round. 4 stars from The Guardian, Jazz Wise and The Jazz man.

A magical gig with Awale in Tunisia, supporting 2012 Grammy award winner Tinariwen.

Gigs with Martins Hidden Notes Project at Kings Place and the 2014/2015 London jazz festival.

Playing with the legendry ska band The Beat and supporting the Happy Mondays.

As well as being busy as a sideman John has dedicated the last 4 years to developing a tonal approach to the sonically fascinating soundworld of saxophone multiphonics and overtones patterns. The project goes under the banner of ‘The Hidden Notes’ and has culminated in the release of Martin’s second album ‘The Hidden Notes – Spirit of Adventure’ The record has been described as; “a milestone for both himself and the saxophone world” by Barak Schmool the founder of the F-re collective and has also received praise from the American saxophone giant Bob Mintzer;

“Beautiful and compelling…His certainly found the notes between the notes!” Bob Mintzer

Tags

7
Album Review

Swingadelic: Bluesville

Read "Bluesville" reviewed by Jack Bowers


If you're partial to music that is sunny and freewheeling and almost commands a smile, you should have no trouble warming to Bluesville, the eighth recording by New Jersey-based Swingadelic, now twenty-two years old and counting. As its name implies, the orchestra (more often than not a mini-big band a dozen or so strong) re-creates an era wherein young fun-lovers (and some older ones as well) listened, danced and grooved to bands whose essential purpose was to make sure everyone ...

10
Album Review

John Martin: The Hidden Notes - Spirit Of Adventure

Read "The Hidden Notes - Spirit Of Adventure" reviewed by Budd Kopman


The Hidden Notes--Spirit Of Adventure by saxophonist John Martin and his quintet (Ralph Wyld on vibes, guitarist Rob Updegraff, drummer Tim Giles and Tim Fairhall on bass) (mentioned briefly here) is a project that has had a four-year gestation. Calling the naturally occurring harmonics that are produced over the fundamental by all instruments the “hidden notes," Martin has put enormous effort into bringing out and controlling the harmonic possibilities of the saxophone through multiphonics, controlling the overtone patterns through different ...

118
Album Review

John Martin Quartet: Dawning

Read "Dawning" reviewed by Chris May


The debut album from London saxophonist John Martin comes with some heavyweight commendations. Flugelhornist Kenny Wheeler, whose music inspired one tune and whose influence courses through the disc, calls it “a lovely album," and saxophonist Iain Ballamy says it is “an honest, cohesive and sophisticated release." Dawning introduces an engaging young saxophonist, in whose music echoes of Africa can be heard alongside those of Wheeler and a more general ECM-like ambience. Martin has long experience of playing ...

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The Hidden Notes Quotes

“Instead of the noisy squawks and atonal meditations of free jazz, Martin’s interest in the horn’s extended techniques lies in a more quietly lyrical and painterly expression of his themes...a charmingly expressive alternative to some of the more in-yer-face enterprises in current UK jazz.” ★★★★ Selwyn Harris – Jazzwise, August 2016

“Few new releases come with quite such a specific technical claim as this double release from British saxophonist John Martin…Martin’s originality is explorative rather than explosive…a technique of infinite subtlety and a restless sensitivity that ruffles and wrestles with existing modes of expression…The understated brilliance of the multiphonics is Martin’s defining feature”

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Primary Instrument

Trumpet

Location

London

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Bluesville

Zoho Music
2020

buy

The Hidden Notes -...

F-IRE Records
2017

buy

The Hidden Notes -...

F-IRE Records
2016

buy

Dawning

F-IRE Records
2011

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I Love The Life I Live

From: Bluesville
By John Martin

Videos

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