JOEL A. MARTIN, pianist/composer

 

 

CURRICULUM VITAE FOR JOEL A. MARTIN

SELECT CLASSICAL RECITALS

2006:  Ice Palace Concert Hall (Orenburg, Russia)

2003:  Conservatory of Music (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)

1992:  Kaukametsa Hall (Kajaani, Finland)

1991 - 1992:  l'Opera Comique (Paris, France)

1985:  Severance Hall (Cleveland, Ohio)

1984 - 1985:  Performing Arts Center at Purchase College (Purchase, New York)

1979, 1980, 1981:  The Kennedy Center (Washington, DC)

1984:  The Emerson String Quartet (Hartford, Connecticut)

1980's:  The Phillips Collection (Washington, DC)

1980's:  WQXR-FM (NY) - McGraw/Hill Artist Showcase

1980's:  Two national tours of Germany, England and Japan 

ORCHESTRAL APPEARANCES

2007:  El Paso Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Loeb, Conductor

2006: Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Chloe Sasson, Guest Conductor

2006:  El Paso Youth Symphony Orchestra, Benjamin Loeb, Conductor

2005:  Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Kevin Rhodes, Conductor

1986:  New York Philharmonic, Zubin Mehta, Conductor

1983:  Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Alan Balter, Conductor

1981:  Philadelphia Orchestra, William Smith, Conductor

1979:  Delaware Symphony, Stephen Gunzenhauser, Conductor

EDUCATION

1984 - 1992:  Purchase College (Purchase, New York)

1983 - 1984:  Hartt School of Music (West Hartford, Connecticut)

1983:  Munich Conservatory, Summer Program (Munich, Germany)

1982:  Tanglewood Institute, Summer Program (Lenox, Massachusetts)

1978 - 1983: Private student under pianist Natalie Hinderas at Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)

Also studied piano under Ursula Oppens and Susan Starr at Tanglewood Institute (Lenox, MA); Jorg Demus and Paul Badura-Skoda (Munich, Germany); Anthony Newman (Purchase, NY).

HONORS, GRANTS, DISTINCTIONS

2007 - 2008: Women's League for the Arts, Springfield MA for arts in education programs in Western MA region.

1996 - 2004:  Several JAZZICAL profiles in The New York Times.

1985 - 2004:  Profiled in TIME, Keyboard Classics, Musical America, Piano Today magazines.

2000 - 2001:  Westchester Arts Council grant for Arts-in-Education.

1999 - 2000:  Westchester Arts Council grant for Arts-in-Education.

1997 - 1998:  Reviews in JazzTimes, Seconds magazines for CD entitled, JAZZICAL: A Marriage of
                      Classical and Jazz.

1992 - 1994:  Concert Artist Guild - Two-Year Career Development Fellowship. CAG commissioned harpsichordist and Bach specialist Anthony Newman to write an original composition for the artist entitled, "Sonata of the Americas - 1992" - includes variations on the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

1985 - 1994:  Grants from TIME Magazine; Musicians Emergency Fund of New York; National Arts Club of New York; ASTRAL Foundation of Philadelphia; Lois J. Wright Memorial Foundation of Baltimore; Eubie Blake Scholarship Fund of New York; Theodore Presser Foundation of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.  

1990:  SONY Innovators Award - Finalist for Music.

1989:  Musical America's "People To Watch For in '89".

1988:  Lebow Award For Piano - First Prize, National Arts Club of New York.

1985:  Youngest competitor in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. 

1983:  Received Mayor's Proclamation for "Major Contribution to the Arts and Art-in-Education." Baltimore, Maryland.

1981:  Merit Citation from the Governor of Maryland for "Excellence in the Arts."

COMPOSER/ARRANGER (2006-2008)

Jazzical Winter Suite : Rachmaninoff's “Polichinelle,” Lee Hoiby's “Winter Song,” and Martin's “Baroque Gets Dizzy During Christmas in Tunisia ” (full orchestra), 15 minutes

Requiem for Peace in 8 movements featuring Dr. Maya Angelou's poem “Caged Bird” (for concert wind ensemble, string orchestra, mixed chorus and piano), 32 minutes

Rondo in F minor, J. 331 (full orchestra), 3.5 minutes

Song of Love (for concert wind ensemble), 7 minutes

Gloria in C Minor (for chamber orchestra), 4 minutes

Gypsy Frolic (mixed chorus), 2.5 minutes

Story of Jazzical Joe (mixed chorus), 4 minutes

From the CD: Joel Martin's Jazzical Christmas

1. Snow (solo and string orchestra)
2. Christmas Will Soon Be Here (mixed chorus), 3.5 minutes
3. The Hanukkah Song (Children's chorus), 4 minutes
4. Meditation in C (solo piano), 3 minutes
5. It's Christmas Time (choral)
6. Winter Reflections in F minor (solo piano), 4 minutes
7. Winter Reflections in F major (solo piano), 4 minutes
8. Winter Reflections in G minor (solo piano), 4 minutes
9. Christmas in August (Song of Kyrgyzstan), 4 minutes
10. Chorale in C minor (solo piano)
11. Festival of Bells (percussion instrumental)
12. Chorale in A major (solo piano)
13. Winter Reflections in D major (solo piano)
14. Chorale in F major (solo piano)
15. Bells of Hanukkah (percussion instrumental)

For the Brooklyn Youth Chorus:

1. Glory To God (gospel/pop)
2. Minnie from Brooklyn (arrangement of “Minnie the Moocher”)
3. Brooklyn Boogie (arrangement of “Calloway Boogie”)
4. I Hear A Rhapsody (arrangement)
5. Golliwog Cake Dance (Jazzical from Debussy's Children's Corner) – with dancing, singing and acting
6. Winter Song – Lee Hoiby (Jazzical version)
7. En Sourdine – Faure (Jazzical version)
8. Longest Time – Billy Joel (arrangement)
9. Imagine – John Lennon (arrangement)

COMPOSER/ARRANGER (2004-2006)

Bernstein: "Somewhere," from West Side Story (JAZZICAL version – for 2 orchestras and piano)
Cab Calloway: Geechie Joe (Arrangements for symphony orchestra and jazz big band)
Cab Calloway: Minnie the Moocher (Arrangements for symphony orchestra and jazz big band)
Cab Calloway: Rebop Guy (Arrangements for symphony orchestra and jazz big band)
Chopin: C Minor Prelude (JAZZICAL version – for piano and orchestra)
Chopin: Nocturne in B Flat Minor (JAZZICAL version for – women’s chorus)
Chopin: Nocturne in F Minor (JAZZICAL version – for 2 orchestras and piano) 
Chopin: Variations on Prelude in A (JAZZICAL version – for 2 orchestras and piano)
Debussy Meets Monk, from Sailes, Preludes Book 1 (JAZZICAL version – for 2 orchestras and piano)
Ellington: Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (Concert arrangement – for chamber orchestra and Jessye Norman)
Ellington: It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got Swing (Concert arrangement for chamber orchestra and Jessye Norman)
Ellington: Sophisticated Ladies (JAZZICAL version – for 2 orchestras and piano)
Fats Waller: Ain't Misbehavin' (JAZZICAL version – for 2 orchestras and piano)
Gershwin: The Man I Love (Concert arrangement for chamber orchestra and Jessye Norman)
Gershwin: Our Love is Here to Stay (Concert arrangement for chamber orchestra and Jessye Norman)
Gershwin: Love Walked In (Concert arrangement for chamber orchestra and Jessye Norman)
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 (JAZZICAL version, 1^st movement – for 2 orchestras and piano)
Schumann: Kreisleriana "Farewell Song Sing Along" (JAZZICAL version, 2nd movement – for
2 orchestras and piano)
Scriabin: Etude in C# minor (JAZZICAL version – 2 orchestras and piano)
Scriabin: Prelude in G Minor, No. 22 (JAZZICAL version “Preluda Swinga Samba” – for 2 orchestras and piano)
Three Blind Mice (JAZZICAL version – for 2 orchestras and piano)

MUSIC DIRECTOR, ORCHESTRATOR, ARRANGER

2006 - 2008:  Composer and arranger for the Grammy Award winning Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Wrote over 20 compositions for them.

2007: Collaborated on 2 concerts as composer and arranger with operatic soprano Kathleen Battle. Performed together at University North Carolina - Chapel Hill and Kennedy Center.

1998 - 2005:  Music director and featured pianist, The Cab Calloway Orchestra.

1998 - 2004:  Assistant music director and featured pianist, Boys Choir of Harlem. 

2002 - 2003:  Jazz arranger/composer/accompanist for soprano Jessye Norman. Wrote 15 arrangements for voice and jazz trio concerts in Seoul, Korea. Arranged 4 symphonic orchestrations for tours in Russia.

1997: Musical director/arranger/composer for Broadway-bound musical "Pretty Baby," based on the 1979 Paramount/Louis Malle film. World premiere and previews (August – October). New Orleans, Louisiana. 

CONCERTS AND APPEARANCES

May 27, 2006:  "Dueling on a Steinway" (four hands, one piano) with Joel Martin and Dr. Joe Utterback. Darien Arts Center. Darien, Connecticut.

May 25, 2006:  World premiere of JAZZICAL: Dueling Orchestras with The JAZZICAL Big Band Orchestra and The Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Waterbury, Connecticut.

May 20, 2006:  JAZZICAL with the Enloe High School Jazz Ensemble at Artsplosure Music Festival, Raleigh, NC. Televised on Raleigh Television Network and simulcast on WSHA Radio (Shaw University).

April 9, 2006:  JAZZICAL version of Chopin C minor Prelude – For Orchestra. Performed at the inaugural concert of the El Paso Youth Orchestras, Benjamin Loeb, conductor/music director. El Paso, Texas.

April 6, 2006:  JAZZICAL with Joel Martin Trio. Workshop and concert. Cape Fear Community College. Wilmington, North Carolina.

March 8, 2006:  JAZZICAL interview on radio station 89.5 FM WPKN. Bridgeport, Connecticut.

March 5, 2006:  JAZZICAL Vesper Service with bassist David Dunaway. Katonah First Presbyterian Church. Katonah, New York.

Feb 5, 2006:  Musical Dialogues No. 6 with Edward Cummings, conductor of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Accompanied special guest Brazilian vocalist Lilly Abreu. Hartford, Connecticut.

January 15, 2006:  Baby Grand Jazz Series (solo piano), Hartford Public Library Atrium. Hartford, CT.

October 30, 2005:  Wave Hill Concert Series. JAZZICAL and World Blues. JAZZICAL Trio at Wave Hill. Bronx, New York.

October 16, 2005:  JAZZICAL solo piano concert. Sponsored by the Duke Ellington Society and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Avon, Connecticut.

September 10 - 14, 2005:  Audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and CEOs & CFOs of Fortune 500 companies. Allen and Company Annual Conference. Sun Valley, Idaho.

June - July 2003:  Cab Calloway Orchestra Tour. Appearances at Columbia University, New York City; Academic Arts Theatre, Valhalla, New York; Lincoln Center, New York City; Worcester, Massachusetts; Flint, Michigan; Boones, Missouri.

May 2003:  Boys Choir of Harlem Tour. Appearances at Community Theater, South Street Seaport Company, Morristown, New Jersey; Merrill Lynch headquarters performance and Q&A, The Children’s Home Society, NJ's 109th Anniversary Gala, Plainsboro, New Jersey; Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, Baltimore, Maryland; Chrysler Hall Theater, Virginia Arts Festival, Norfolk, Virginia.

April 17, 2003:  JAZZICAL concert and fundraiser for Eastchester Council for the Arts. Eastchester High School. Westchester County, New York.

April 10, 2003:  World premiere, JAZZICAL orchestral composition, Scriabin "Preluda Swinga Samba" (Prelude in G Minor, No. 22). Commissioned by Briarcliff Manor High School String Orchestra and Jazz Band Program. Performed at Music and Art Festival. Briarcliff Manor, New York.

April 10, 2003:  Television interview about JAZZICAL on the Listening Place. Also aired on Westchester Cable TV. Pleasantville, New York.

April 6, 2003:  JAZZICAL: Perestroika! concert with jazz quartet. Westfield Congregational Church. Westfield, Massachusetts.

April 4, 11, 19 & 25, 2003:  Cab Calloway Orchestra. The Rainbow Room. New York City.

October 21, 2000:  JAZZICAL mini-concert. New Rochelle Public Library. Westchester County, New York. 

October 20, 2000:  Featured pianist/musical director with the Cab Calloway Orchestra. Eubie Blake Cultural Arts Center. Baltimore, Maryland.

October 16, 2000:  JAZZICAL/Classical Concert. Monday in the Dark with George Concert Series. Fundraising concert for benefit of the Christopher Reeves Foundation, Westchester Food Pantry, and others. Elmsford, New York.

September 27, 2000:  JAZZICAL benefit performance. Kitchawan Institute 2000 Gala Opening. Ossining, New York.

1997:  Performances at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Also performed at Snug Harbor with clarinetist Alvin Batiste and the Jazztronauts. New Orleans, Louisiana.

ARTS IN EDUCATION / ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

November - December 2006:  JAZZICAL: Enloe! Arts in Education Residency at Enloe Arts Magnet High School. Commission for series of JAZZICAL compositions for Chorus, Jazz Ensemble, String Orchestra and Chorus. Commission for original 4 - 5 movement classical composition entitled, "Requiem for Peace" for combined ensembles. Will debut at Meymandi Concert Hall. Raleigh, North Carolina. Date TBD.

May 15 - 19, 2006:  JAZZICAL: Enloe! Arts in Education residency at Enloe Arts Magnet High School. Worked with String Orchestras, Concert Band, Chorus, Jazz Ensemble, Advanced Placement Music Theory, Piano Lab. Raleigh, North Carolina.

January 23, 2006:  Interview on WFDU-FM on "Anything Goes with Lise Avery" 1020 AM to talk about JAZZICAL: Perestroika! and Arts in Education programs. Teaneck, New Jersey.

September 2001 - 2005:  Artist in Residence at Harrison High School. Wrote several compositions for Harrison High School Choir and select Jazz Vocal Ensemble including Jazzical version of the Chopin Nocturne in B Flat Minor for Women’s Chorus. Conducted spring musicals "Peter Pan,"  "Anything Goes,"  "Les Miserables," and gave several lecture demonstrations on jazz improvisation. Harrison, New York.

February 2005:  Guest clinician for JAZZICAL in the Springfield, Massachusetts and Waterbury, Connecticut school systems.

May 2002:  Briarcliff High School Music Department, Westchester County, New York. Commissioned JAZZICAL composition for string orchestra/jazz band. Scriabin "Preluda Swinga Samba World" premiered at the Music and Art Festival in April 2003. Briarcliff Manor, New York. 

October 31, 2000:  Blue Mountain Middle School. JAZZICAL Arts in Education Program "Excellence in Education Day." Westchester County, New York.

October 21, 2000: Eubie Blake Cultural Center Gala week. Concert and Lecture. Baltimore, Maryland.

May 2000:  Harrison High School. Concert featured specially commissioned JAZZICAL compositions, including “Charlestown Alley.” Westchester County, New York.

February 6, 2000:  Tuesday Morning Music Club Junior Extension Club of Springfield, Massachusetts Featured performing artist and guest lecturer. Springfield, Massachusetts.

December 1999:  Harrison High School. Concert featured specially commissioned JAZZICAL and choral jazz compositions, including "I Met My Baby At Macy's" and "Hold Tight." Westchester County, New York.

1999 - 2000 Academic Year: Westchester Arts Council grant for Arts-in-Education. Developed various programs for Arts Partners Schools (short-term school residencies); Arts Partners Community (short/long-term development arts); and Arts Excel (long-term curriculum-integrated school residencies).

1999 - 2000 Academic Year:  The Friends of Music and Art of Bedford/Mt. Kisco Public School Systems. Commissioned to compose, conduct and perform two JAZZICAL selections for Fox Lane High School jazz band and combined elementary/middle/high school chorus, including Montsalvatge’s "Cradle Song." Westchester County, New York.  

1998:  Hall Academy of Music and Fine Arts. Conducted short-term Arts-in-Education residency. Bridgeport, Connecticut.

1998 - 1999 Academic Year:  Harrison High School. Lecture Series and Performances of JAZZICAL compositions. Westchester County, New York.

1992 - 1997 Academic Years:  Pleasantville High School. Assisted music director in all aspects of program development including curriculum design; conducted Arts-in-Education lecture series. Westchester County, New York.

1986 - 1992 Academic Years:  "Jazz, Classical, Rock: Are they Related?" Lecture/demonstration, presented by the Prompters of Purchase College, New York, Westchester County and Putnam County Public Schools, New York. 

1987 Academic Year:  Oklahoma City Public/Private School Systems Lectures and Performance Series. Sponsored by Black Liberation Arts Center and Oklahoma State Commission on the Arts.

1985 Academic Year:  Lecture and Performance Series. Country Day School System. Fort Worth, Texas.

1984 - 1985 Academic Year:  Conducted workshops for Hartt School of Music with founder Moshe Paranov. Greater Hartford Public School System. Hartford, Connecticut. 

1979 - 1982: University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Assisted Director of Instrumental Music in all aspects of program/curriculum development and training for Concert Band, Stage and Jazz Band, and Marching Band. Princess Anne, Maryland. 

1982:  Guest lecturer and performer. Governor's Conference for Youth and Children. Salisbury, Maryland.

1980 Academic Year:  Performed and conducted workshops/lectures and conducted the musical, "Godspell". Urban Services Cultural Arts Project. Baltimore, Maryland.  

MUSICAL THEATER

2002 - 2005:  Substitute pianist/keyboardist for Broadway shows "The Full Monty," and "Caroline, or Change". 

2004:  Producer/engineer/pianist for demo recording of "The Kid Who Played The Palace" by Peter Sklar (New York City).

August 2000:  Assistant Conductor/Pianist Three Mo' Tenors concert/workshop. Produced by Marion Caffey and Trawick Artists. DiCapo Theater. New York City.  

July - August 2000:  Pianist/actor for Arthur Miller's "The Road Down Mount Morgan" starring Patrick Stewart. Broadway, New York City.

June 2000:  Substitute pianist for "The Wild Party" starring Eartha Kitt and Mandy Patinkin. Broadway, New York City.  

April 17, 2000:  Featured artist for the Gracie Awards. Produced by the American Women of Radio and Television New York City.  Performed with the Boys Choir of Harlem and R&B group "Jagged Edge."

September 1995 – 1996:  Featured artist national tour of Hale Smith's "Ask Your Momma: Twelve Moods for Jazz Orchestra and Narrator."

RECORDINGS 

2003: JAZZICAL: Perestroika! – JAZZICAL treatments of Scriabin, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Rimsky Korsakoff for piano, bass, drums, tenor saxophone, flute.

1999:  JAZZICAL: Brazil – JAZZICAL treatments of 19^th and 20^th century art songs by composers Faure, Debussy, Treharne, Carpenter and Montsalvatge, as well as compositions by Scriabin and Chopin for piano, bass, guitar, drums. 

1997:  Tis the Season for JAZZICAL – JAZZICAL treatments of compositions by Handel, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Debussy and MacDowell for solo piano.

1996:  JAZZICAL: A Marriage of Classical and Jazz – JAZZICAL treatments of Stravinsky, Chopin, Brahms, Schumann and Debussy for solo piano, duo and trio.


JAZZICAL is a REGISTERED trademark of the Martin Consortium Syndicate.
JAZZICAL: DUELING ORCHESTRAS is a trademark of the Martin Consortium Syndicate.