About The Artist

Andre Martinez in Brooklyn, New York.

Biography: André Martinez He was born in Downtown Brooklyn. Martinez grew up in an environment where artistic expression, particularly music, was highly prized. His uncle Frankie Martinez was a musician, bandleader, teacher, and arranger. Another uncle, Angel Marrero a virtuoso guitarist who led his orchestra and worked with Tito Guizar, Xavier Cugat, and many others. His father Henry (Hank) Martinez, was a master builder and master carpenter of high-end cabinetry and inventor http://cyberneticzoo.com/underwater-robotics/1965-diving-suit-henry-martinez-charles-opalek-american/.

Frankie "Tito" Martinez - Guitar - photo taken in the Borscht Belt - Catskills NY where he worked as band leader for many years along side many legendary entertainers.






Uncle Angel Marrero

---

As a youth in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Martinez participated in gifted and talented school programs. As part of this program, he credits his jazz teacher and mentor, Fred Silverman, for his encouragement to pursue the arts. 

Percussionist with Jr. High School Orchestra - Fred Silverman - Conductor

A significant event in his life occurred in his youth when Marianne McPartland invited his class to meet Leonard Bernstein and Beverly Sills in rehearsal at Lincoln Center Philharmonic — followed by a meeting with Buddy Rich at his club in NYC. Music and art would become his destiny.

He continued his music studies at Brooklyn College and with many noted teachers and musicians. Some were Rick Kravitz, Jerry Gonzalez, Gene Golden, Beaver Harris, Michael Narada Walden, Jackie Masonet, Tommy Lopez, Dom Um Romao, Milton Cardona, Frankie Malabe, Chief Baba Bey, Pedro Morejon, Erasto Vasconselos, and others.

The great Dom Um Romao on top right with Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 

---

The Music Years 1970- 2022:

• In the 1970's he leads his Afro-Latin Ensemble - El Monté, which performed throughout New York City. They performed at Columbia University International House, The Door, Pratt University, Dance Africa at BAM in Brooklyn, and did various live radio shows from The Nuyorícan Poets Café.

 

---

 

In the early 1980s, Martinez embarked on a personal and creative relationship with pianist Cecil Taylor  that ultimately lasted over two decades, including 11 years as an active member of Taylor's band. He toured the world as Taylor's drummer/percussionist in trios, quartet, quintets, sextet, octets and in Big Bands formats appearing on the albums Nicaragua: No Pasaran, and Winged Serpent, Music of Two Continents – Cecil Taylor, the video Burning Poles, Cecil Taylor - Aliocha and many other recordings, as well as performing hundreds of shows during a period that introduced a new theatricality and cohesiveness to the group's presentation—recently celebrated at the new Whitney Museum - Cecil Taylor/Open Plan exhibition in 2016 event and
Brooklyn College Presents - Unit Structures- The Music Of Cecil Taylor in 2019.
Music From Two Continents - Warsaw Jamboree 1984 - Historic release  12/2021
Cecil Taylor/ André Martinez: article link

•  

---

• Most performances took place as part of major festivals in the following Cities/Countries: 
• Salzburg, Austria
• Saalfelden, Austria
• Vienna, Austria
• Innsbruck, Austria
• East Berlin, Germany
• West Berlin, Germany
• Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
• Montreal, Canada
• Toronto, Canada
• Victoria Ville, Canada
• Prague, Czechoslovakia
• London, England
• Paris, France
• Lyon, France
• Hunziken, Switzerland
• Berlin, Germany
• Strasbourg, Germany
• Munich, Germany
• Hamburg, Germany
• Rome, Italy
• Milan, Italy
• Bologna, Italy
• Pavia, Italy
• Messina, Sicily
• Warsaw, Poland
• Cagliari, Sardinia
• Saragossa, Spain
• Barcelona, Spain
• Madrid, Spain
• Bern, Switzerland
• Zurich, Switzerland
• Basil, Switzerland
• Lucerne, Switzerland
• Orleans, France
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Nancy, France
• Quebec, Canada
• Cologne, Germany
• Beaufort, France
• Brussels, Belgium

  ---

 

• Major Concerts: US
  
• New England Foundation for the Arts Concert Series - Cecil Taylor Trio ( Andre Martinez Drums and Percussion / William Parker Contra Bass) 
• STRUCTOLITE TOUR 
• Spaulding Auditorium Dartmouth College Hanover
• NH Maine Center for the Arts University of Maine Orono
• ME Langston Hughes Center Providence
• RI Residential Arts Center University of MA-Amherst Amherst MA
• Berkshire Museum Pittsfield
• MA Flynn Theater Burlington
• VT Polish National House Hartford CT
• Strand Theater Dorchester, MA
• Knitting Factory, NYC (Quintet - Cecil Taylor, Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Andre Martinez, Rev. Frank Wright.)
• Knitting Factory, NYC (Orchestra - C. Taylor, W. Parker, A. Martinez, Tony Oxley, Glen Spearman, David Ware, C. Ward, R. Malik, T. Barker, J. Bruschini, Evelyn Blakely.)
• Blue Note, NYC (Quartet - C. Taylor, J. Lyons, W. Parker, A. Martinez.)
• Judson Street Church, NYC (Orchestra - C. Taylor, J. Lyons, Rev F. Wright, W. Parker, K. Borca, R. Bakr, B. Bakr, A. Martinez, Abdul Fatah Muneer, Eve Smith, Craig Harris, G. Spearman.)
• Condon’s, NYC (Trio - C. Taylor, W. Parker, A. Martinez.)
• Art Park Jazz Festival, Niagara, NY (Quintet - C. Taylor, J. Lyons, W. Parker, R. Bakr, A. Martinez.)
• Imac Theater, Live Video, Long Island City (Quintet - C. Taylor, W. Parker, A. Martinez, J. Lyons, Rev. F. Wright.)
• Chicago, Jazz Festival (Unit: C. Taylor, W. Parker, J. Lyons, A. Martinez, R. Bakr, B. Bakr.)
• Irving Plaza, NYC (C. Taylor, W. Parker, J. Lyons, F. Wright, R. Campbell, A. Martinez.)
• Lehigh University, Bethlehem Pa Trio. (C. Taylor, W. Parker, A. Martinez.) Kimball’s,
• San Francisco (Quintet - C. Taylor, J. Lyons W. Parker, A. Martinez, Rev. F. Wright.)
• Mystic Fire Video, NYC (Quartet - C. Taylor, W. Parker, A. Martinez, T. Oxley)
• Lush Life, NYC (Orchestra - C. Taylor, J. Lyons, W. Parker, R. Bakr, D. Carter, A. Martinez, K. Borca, L. Bowie, D. Murray, S. Coleman, A Muneer)
• Cleveland Institute of Music, Ohio (Trio - C. Taylor, W. Parker, A. Martinez.)
• Village Vanguard, NYC (Trio - C. Taylor, W. Parker, A. Martinez.)
• Sweet Basil's, NYC (C. Taylor, J. Lyons. Bakr, B. Bakr, Revd.. Wright, W. Parker, A. Martinez)
  

  ---

The Cecil Taylor Unit (1980 – 1992) with André Martinez

      Recorded  Materials - Part 1

• Cecil Taylor Quintet – Live at Lush Life – NYC – Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez with Special Guest – Lester Bowie (1981)

 

• Cecil Taylor Quintet – Art Park – Lewiston, NY– Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez ( 8-15-1982)

 

• Cecil Taylor Quintet – Live at the Chicago Jazz Festival - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker,  Rashid Bakr, André Martinez (1982)

 

• Cecil Taylor Quintet Rehearsal at CT house – Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez

 

• Cecil Taylor Quintet – Vienna Austria Akademia Theater -  Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez (3/8/1983)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit - Live at the Blue Note – NYC - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Frank Wright , André Martinez  (1984)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez ,Brenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (11/16/1983)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez ,Brenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (11/16/1983)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit & Ballet - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André MartinezBrenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (1983)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez ,Brenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (11/16/1983)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit - Paris – Teatré Musical - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, André Martinez Karen  Borca, Gunter Hampel, Frank Wright, Tomaso Stanko, John Tchicai - (1984)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Victoriaville, Canada - William Parker, André Martinez , Gregg Bendian (7/10/1989)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit - Aliocha - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rev. Frank Wright, André Martinez

---

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Mannheim  - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez ,Brenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (11/3/1983) Part l & II

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Orleans France - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez ,Brenda (10/29/1983)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit - Berlin Der Philharmonie - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez ,Brenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (11/16/1983) Part One

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Berlin Der Philharmonie - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez Brenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (11/16/1983) Part Two

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit - Madrid - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez Brenda Bakr

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Grant Park, Chicago - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, Glen Spearman, Raphé Malik & Lester Bowie (9/02/1982)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Lush Life -  NYC - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez ,Brenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (07/03/1982)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Berlin Der Philharmonie - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez Brenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (11/16/1983) Part One

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Berlin Der Philharmonie - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez Brenda Bakr (11/16/1983)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Berlin Willisau - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez ,Brenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (08/27/1983)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Berlin Der Philharmonie - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez ,Brenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (11/16/1983) Part One

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Cagliari, Sicily - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez ,Brenda Bakr (03/14/1983)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Rugiben - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez Brenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (12/20/1984)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  IMAC Theater - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez ,Brenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (11/16/1983) Part One

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Berlin Der Philharmonie - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez , Brenda Bakr (04/09/1983)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Dorbirn Austria - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez  
• (03/11/1983) Part One

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Dankirk - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez Brenda Bakr 7 Dancers (10/30/1983)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Berlin Der Philharmonie - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez Brenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (11/16/1983) Part One

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit - Lush Life - - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez , Glen Spearman, David Murray, Steve Coleman, Charles Tyler, Ken Simon, Butch Morris, Fataah Muneer Abdul, James Newton, Craig Harris, Eve Smith,Brenda Bakr, Karen Borca, Raphé Malik  ( 1981)

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Lush Life - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez, Raphe Malik

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Sweet Basil’s - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez , Brenda Bakr , Rev. Frank Wright

 

• Cecil Taylor Unit -  Nancy, France - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid  Bakr, André Martinez ,Brenda Bakr & Sounds In Motion (10/18/1983)

---

The Cecil Taylor Unit (1980 – 1992) with André Martinez

 Recorded  Materials Part 2

1. Cecil Taylor Quintet – Live at Lush Life – NYC – Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez with Special Guest – Lester Bowie (1981)

 

2. Cecil Taylor Unit– Art Park – Lewiston, NY– Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez ( 8-15-1982)

 

3. Cecil Taylor Unit– Live at the Chicago Jazz Festival - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker,  Rashid Bakr, André Martinez (1982)

 

4. Cecil Taylor Unit Rehearsal at CT house – Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr,

              André Martinez

 

5. Cecil Taylor Unit– Vienna Austria Akademia Theater  - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker,               Rashid Bakr, André Martinez (1983)

 

6. Cecil Taylor Unit – Zaragosa – Spain - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez, Brenda Bakr (10/1983)

 

7. Cecil Taylor Unit – Orleans France - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez, Brenda Bakr (3/8/1983)

 

8. Cecil Taylor Unit –Bolonga – Spain - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez, Brenda Bakr (3/12/1983)

 

9. Cecil Taylor Unit - Saafeldon - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez, Brenda Bakr (4/9/1983)

 

10. Cecil Taylor Unit –Festival – Europe - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez, Brenda Bakr (3/8/1983)

 

11. Cecil Taylor Unit – Zaragosa – Spain - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez, Brenda Bakr (3/8/1983)

 

12. Cecil Taylor Unit – Zaragosa – Spain - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez, Brenda Bakr (3/8/1983)

 

13. Cecil Taylor Unit –Music from Two Continents - Hunziken - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, André Martinez, Rev. Frank Wright, Karen Borca, Tomaso Stanko, John Tchicai, Gunter Hampel,  (10/20/1984)

 

14. Cecil Taylor Unit –Music from Two Continents - Hunziken - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, André Martinez, Rev. Frank Wright, Karen Borca, Tomaso Stanko, John Tchicai, Gunter Hampel,  (10/1984)

 

15. Cecil Taylor Unit –Music from Two Continents - Paris - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, André Martinez, Rev. Frank Wright, Karen Borca, Tomaso Stanko, John Tchicai, Gunter Hampel,  (10/20/1984)

 

16. Cecil Taylor Unit –Music from Two Continents - Paris -  Backstage chant and concert -Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, André Martinez, Rev. Frank Wright, Karen Borca, Tomaso Stanko, John Tchicai, Gunter Hampel,  (10/20/1984) Part II

 

17. Cecil Taylor Unit –Music from Two Continents - Paris -  Backstage chant and concert -Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, André Martinez, Rev. Frank Wright, Karen Borca, Tomaso Stanko, John Tchicai, Gunter Hampel,  (10/20/1984)

 

18. Cecil Taylor Unit –Music from Two Continents - Vieligen - Black Forest – LP - rehearsal Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, André Martinez, Rev. Frank Wright, Karen Borca, Tomaso Stanko, John Tchicai, Gunter Hampel,  (10/20/1984)

 

19. Cecil Taylor Unit –Basel - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez, Brenda Bakr (1983)

 

20. Cecil Taylor Unit –Saafelden- Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez, Brenda Bakr (4/9/1983)

 

21. Cecil Taylor Unit –Basel- Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez, Brenda Bakr (12/11/1985)

 

22. Cecil Taylor Unit & Diane McIntyre – Eye of The Crocodile - Judson Street Church - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez, Brenda Bakr (3/8/1983)

 

23. Cecil Taylor Unit –Sweet Basil’s NY - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez, Brenda Bakr ( )

 

24. Cecil Taylor Unit – Sardinia - Jimmy Lyons, William Parker, Rashid Bakr, André Martinez, Brenda Bakr (3/8/1983)

 

25. Cecil Taylor Trio – Condon’s NYC - William Parker & André Martinez, (1/13/91)
26. Cecil Taylor Unit –Rada – Live at the Knitting Factory - William Parker, André Martinez,Tony Oxley, Thurman Bakr, Raphé Malik, Glen Spearman, Carlos Ward  (1/15/1991)

 

27. Cecil Taylor Quartet – Blues Alley - Japan – William Parker, André Martinez, Tony Oxley (1990)

 

28. Cecil Taylor Unit –Rada – Live at the Knitting Factory - William Parker, André Martinez,Tony Oxley, Thurman Bakr, Raphé Malik, Glen Spearman, Carlos Ward  (5/9/1991)

 

29. Cecil Taylor Unit –Rada – Live at the Knitting Factory - William Parker, André Martinez, Tony Oxley, Thurman Bakr, Raphé Malik, Glen Spearman, Carlos Ward  (1/13/1991

• Released 12/2021 - Music from Two Continents – Cecil Taylor - Warsaw Jamboree
• In Books: The Penguin Book of Jazz Encyclopedia William Parker A Sessionograhpy - Rick Lopez
• William Parker - Univeral Tonality - Cisco Bradley African
• Dance - An Artistic Historical and Philosophical Inquiry - Kariamu Weish Asante
• Jazzing: New York City's Unseen Scene -Thomas H. Greenland