Jazz pianist Jim Martinez, together with vocalist Laura Didier, began our Jazz at the Church Concert series in February 2009.
The concert was billed as "Church Hymns & Jazz Standards Swingin' Together" and was a fitting beginning to what has turned out to be a very successful and joyous endeavor for our parish.
In 2010 Jim and Laura will present not only the above-mentioned Jazz Praise concert, but has also added a second concert entitled "A Tribute to the Music of Doris Day." (click HERE for the "A Tribute to Doris Day" website)
Jim presents a variety of live shows, including not only the above mentioned Jazz Praise and Doris Day concerts, but also tributes to Oscar Peterson, Lionel Hampton and Edvard Grieg, together with "The Jazz Music from A Charlie Brown Christmas" and a Diva Series concert.
Currently living in Sacramento, California, Jim, a classically-trained pianist, has performed or recorded with notables like Lionel Hampton, the Stan Kenton Band, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Christian McBride, Benny Golson, Roy Hargrove, Russell Malone and Ed Thigpen, the first drummer with the Oscar Peterson Trio. Hampton was a guest on Jim's fifth CD titled "Praise Him With Jazz".
After a 2002 concert at Carmel Presbyterian Church, the legendary Clint Eastwood said in a Los Angeles newspaper interview, "Last night, we went to a church in Carmel where a guy named Jim Martinez was playing...they were great."
If you follow our meditation series on YouTube, you'll know that we use Jim's Jazz Praise music often, and if you would like more information on Jim and his music, it can be found via his website at www.JimMartinez.com
Here's one of several of Jim's videos on YouTube, ending with a very cool "They will know we are Christians...." :
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