Bands/Projects

Here are a  selection of bands that John Martin works with as a sideman. See dawning Dawning and the Hidden Notes Notes for his projects as a leader. 

Metamorphic

Metamorphic perform at Jazz in the Round - 28/01/13

Chris Williams - alto sax, John Martin - tenor/soprano sax,  Ollie Dover -  bass clarinet, Kari Nergaard-Bleivik - vocals, Seth Bennett - double bass, Ruth Goller - double bass & electric Bass, Johnny Hunter - drums, Laura Cole - piano, composer, bandleader

"Metamorphic are an ‘imposing talent".. John Fordham in the Guardian ★★★★

Metamorphic are a contemporary jazz/folk group made up of some of the finest improvising musicians in the UK, who play compositions written by pianist/ bandleader Laura Cole, based on her emotional journeys and personal experiences. This is a band that really relishes playing together, and that seeks to explore the intensity of the collective experience, with Cole’s compositions as a starting point, through spoken word, improvisation and tightly written passages.

We have released 3 albums together: The Rock Between, Coalescence & The Two Fridas.

Highlights include: Our second album Coalescence’ which received excellent reviews all round. Brian Mortons album of the year, 4 stars from The Guardian, Jazz Wise and The Jazz man. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/jul/04/metamorphic-coalescence-review A live broadcast from the BBC introducing stage at Manchester jazz festival with Metamorphic. Playing Jazz in the round hosted by Jazz on 3’s Jez Nelson with guest DJ slots from Jazz FM’s Chris Philips,

More info  http://www.metamorphic.org.uk

Awale

Biram Seck - vocalist, Thibaut Remy - guitar, Kevin Toublant – bass, Kaw Secka - sabar drums, John Martin – saxophone, Ben Brown – drums, Laurence Wilkins – trumpet, Medoune Ndiaye - sabar drums

‘A truly magical and uplifting cross-cultural collaboration, bringing together Afro-latin, funk and soul elements with a Senegalese twist. The wonderful voice of Biram Seck and Thibaut Remy’s compositions make for an unmissable combo. Must See!’ - Tim Garcia (Jazz FM/Musica Macondo)

"Most Impressive, echoes a lot of greats like Orchestra Baobab and Youssou N’Dour but with very much it’s own sound" - Jamie Renton (DJ, fROOTS)

Highlights include: A magical gig with Awale in Tunisia, supporting 2012 Grammy award winner Tinariwen. A live session with Awale at the BBC Maida vale studios for BBC radio 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyIr6RuRtks#t=131 Supporting the legendary Afro Beat drummer Tony Allen at Electric Brixton in 2019 s

https://www.awale.co.uk

Femi and The InRhythms,

Femi and the InRhythms, Joyful Noise, 2018

Femi Sofela - bass/vocals, Ester Mabadeje - vocals, Ebenezer Oke - guitar, Niran Obasa - keyboards,
Ggenga Kolade - keyboards, Timothy Amata - percussion,
Tosin Dagunduro - drum, Tinu Adewoye - backing vocals, 
John Martin - tenor & soprano saxophone, Joe Aukland Trumpet - trumpet,
Ed Rieband - trombone.

“Classic afrobeats with a few surprises”, NIGEL WILLIAMSON, Songlines

“The saxophone playing is standout from start to finish” ADOLF ALZUPHAR, Rhythm Passport

Femi and The InRhythms, a 7-piece band from Lagos and London, mixes the cerebral musicality of afrobeat with the visceral grooves of funk underpinned with Yoruba-English vocals styles to create an eclectic futuristic world dance music making them one of the key bands from the contemporary African music scene. Femi and The InRhythms was formed by bassist Femi Sofela to put the heavy afrobeat into funk and jazz, music with which he built his reputation as a musician and producer. The band releases their debut CD/LP “Pressure To Pleasure” on Joyful Noise Records in January 2018.

Highlights include: playing with Award winning Nigerian saxophonist Mike Aremu. Lots of lovely gigs at venues like Komedia Bath/Brighton, Band On The Wall Manchester, Colchester arts centre, London African Festival, Rich Mix and the Vortex, Tabernacle, Notting Hill etc.

DUBNOIZ COALITION

John Martin - tenor saxophone, Dr Das – Electric Bass, Bantu  - Electronics, Pascal Vaucel - Guitar,
Hamid Mantu - drums.

DUBNOIZ COALITION is a collaborative project initiated by Dr Das, bassist and co-founder of Asian Dub Foundation to re-interpret the stark yet emotive compositions featured on his solo ‘dubnoiz’ albums. He is joined on stage by electronic musician Bantu of Dubmorphology, UK saxophonist John Martin, Paris based guitarist Pascal Vaucel and for the first time, drummer Hamid Mantu of Trans Global Underground, to present a collision of dub mentality and jazz improvisation - structure verses fragmentation - melody verses dissonance. The mission is to stretch and decimate the original tracks, revealing hitherto hidden colours and frequencies. This is also an exploration of the impact of the 1970s music of Miles Davis on electronic and experimental dance music, using dub bass as the foundation.

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

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52c82852e4b0da0398358166/t/54ff2705e4b0a7a5db30deda/1426007813170/1DRDASDUBNOIZCOALITION.pdf

The Root Source

The Root Source “Fire Walker“ Freestyle Records, 2010

Andrew Fairclough - Hammond Organ, Rhodes Piano, Wurlitzer Piano, Clavinet, Percussion,
Benjamin Packer - Guitar, Roberto Ares Rio - Percussion, Larry Clack - Drums, Spencer Brown – Double & Electric Bass,
Tom East - Flutes, John Martin - Tenor & Soprano Saxophone

"Freestyle continue with their quest to bring fresh and contemporary sounds and it gets no better than 'Fire Walker" by The Root source, from the off the title track a, slice of samba modal madness, shows off the tightly honed skills of the band and the extremely well crafted arrangements" Emrys Bairds, Blues and Soul

The Root Source have returned, with a quality and timeless follow up to their self titled debut album released in 2007 (FSRCD019). Upon its release, the London based septet were lauded by the likes of Nicola Conte, Snowboy and Gilles Peterson and discerning dance floors around the world took a real heel bashing whenever any of these top DJs played the tracks from the album in their club sets!

Highlights include: Supporting the legendry Hammond organ player Dr Lonnie Smith at the Jazz Café and playing In Italy at the Micca Club in Rome

https://therootsource.bandcamp.com