Jim Martinez is a creative and virtuous pianist that has a style which oscillates between bebop, hard bop, cool and sometimes, latin-american rhythms. In relation with his influences, the most important come from straight-ahead jazz musicians as Dave Brubeck, Oscar Peterson, Vincent Guaraldi, among others. He have also classical training, especially from ukrainian teacher Yuriy Oliynyk. He won numerous awards: Camellia Symphony and the Chico Symphony Young Artist Concerto Competitions, the Music Teacher's Association Junior Bach Festival (two times), just to name a few.
His ministry called Jazz Praise, is dedicated mainly to create jazz arrangements of traditional and contemporary hymns, however he is an active musician that perform not only sacred jazz; in fact, he has played with different great musicians: Lionel Hampton, the Stan Kenton Alumni, Bucky Pizzarelli, Russell Malone, Jeff Hamilton, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Benny Golson, Harold Jones and Ed Thigpen, the first drummer for the famous Oscar Peterson Trio. Jim is one of the most active gospel jazz musician and through his ministry travel around USA, promoting jazz as an musical alternative in church, spreading jazz and its relation with Christianity.
Jim has recorded ten jazz projects, and three of them are gospel jazz albums. On this occasion I share with you videos of two of this projects: the first is a recording session of album "Music for your Soul", and the two last correspond to the album "Praise Him with Jazz", with the jazz legend Lionel Hampton as special guest.
Jim Martinez's official website: http://www.jimmartinez.com
