Draft:Wolf Martini

Wolf Martini (born 1970 in Aachen, Germany) is a German-born jazz guitarist based in the Netherlands. He has performed and recorded in jazz, soul, Latin and pop music and has worked with artists including Denise Jannah, Rita Reys, Candy Dulfer, Dana Winner, Ruth Jacott, Mathilde Santing, Jhelisa Anderson and Soleil Niklasson.

Early life and education

Martini was born in Aachen, Germany, in 1970. He began taking guitar lessons with guitarist Jürgen Sturm and started performing in cafés and bars in Aachen. Martini and Sturm also performed as a guitar duo, including at Café Dumont in Aachen. He subsequently moved to the Netherlands and studied jazz guitar at the Hilversums Conservatorium, graduating in 1996. His teachers included Wim Overgaauw, Henk Sprenger and Maarten van der Grinten. He also attended workshops with jazz guitarists John Scofield and Herb Ellis.

Career

After graduating from the Hilversums Conservatorium, Martini developed a career as a professional guitarist, performing in the Netherlands and internationally. His work has included jazz concerts and festivals, theatre productions, studio recordings, television appearances and international tours.

1999–2004

In 1999, Martini recorded with Hartog & Martini and performed with singer Hartog Eysman at the Vondelpark Open Air Festival in Amsterdam. They also appeared on the television programme "Simek",1999, "Reiziger in muziek", 22/10/2000, the national news NOS mentioned their participation at the "Uitmarkt" as a highlight 25/08/2001.In 2000, he appeared on ''Reiziger in Muziek'' with Eysman and participated in the theatre tour ''3x Vocaal'', with Eysman, Francien van Tuinen and Imke van Oosten. He also performed at the Vondelpark Open Air Festival. In 2001, Martini and Eysman performed as a duo and appeared as support act for Tuck & Patti (1999 Oosterport + Melkweg) in the Netherlands and (2000 Burg Wilhelmstein) Germany and for Ravi Coltrane at Paradiso in Amsterdam.

In 2002, Martini was a guest of the International Association for Jazz Education at the North Sea Jazz Festival and participated in a jam session in the Spiegeltent. In 2003, he performed at Jazz Festival Almere with the Rita Reys Trio, toured with Mathilde Santing and participated in the live recording ''De negen levens van Mathilde'', associated with Santing's theatre production. In 2004, Martini toured with the soul revue ''Big, Black & Beautiful'' and performed with the Denise Jannah Quintet at the North Sea Jazz Festival. He also performed with Jannah at the Voorkamer Festival in Darling, South Africa, and appeared on television with ''Big, Black & Beautiful''.

2005–2009

In 2005, Martini toured Indonesia with the Denise Jannah Quartet, performing in Jakarta, Surabaya, Semarang and Puntjak. In 2006, he performed with Jannah at the Volksblad Festival in Bloemfontein and at the Pierneef Theatre in Pretoria, South Africa, and appeared on SABC television. In 2007, Martini toured South Africa with Denise Jannah, performing in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Stellenbosch. He also appeared at the Voorkamer Festival in Darling, South Africa, and at the Jazz Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the Denise Jannah Quartet. He participated in Judith Nijland's recording ''Suitcase of Songs''. In 2008, Martini performed with the Denise Jannah Quintet at the Joy of Jazz Festival in Johannesburg and at the Pierneef Theatre in Pretoria, and appeared on SABC television with the Denise Jannah Quartet. He also performed a mini-concert with Edsilia Rombley. In 2009, Martini toured Indonesia with the Denise Jannah Quartet and participated in the studio recording ''Blue Notes & Red Shoes'' by Deborah J. Carter. He performed with the Ronald Snijders Extended Funk Band at Jazz in Duketown and with the Ronald Snijders Quartet at the Schelde Jazz Festival in Terneuzen. He also performed at the Jazz Festival Suriname in a duo with singer Eurydice and gave concerts and a workshop in Montenegro with Denise Jannah. Martini and Jannah also appeared together on television in Montenegro.

2010–2014

In 2010, Martini performed at the Westerkerk in Amsterdam with Denise Jannah and Ack van Royen and appeared on television with Jannah. He participated in pianist Tico Pierhagen's studio recording ''Aguabajo'' and performed in a quartet with Claudia de Breij, Reyer Zwart and Denise Jannah at the Fulcotheater in IJsselstein. In 2011, Martini toured with Ruth Jacott in the theatre production ''Simply the Best'' and participated in the studio recording ''Smoothjazz II'' by saxophonist Konstantin Klashtorni. He also performed duo concerts with Denise Jannah at the Bijlmermeer Theatre, Beurs van Berlage, Nieuwe Kerk and Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam, and appeared on television with Ruth Jacott on ''Life 4 You''. In 2012, Martini performed with Denise Jannah at the IJsselfestijn Festival and in Barcelona. He participated in a studio recording with pianist Tico Pierhagen and in the theatre productions ''De Wetenschapsmonologen'', by John Leerdam, and ''Barry & Mike''. He also performed at the U Jazz Festival with Raj Mohan and Denise Jannah. In 2013, Martini toured South Africa with Denise Jannah, including performances in January and April. He also performed with Candy Dulfer and appeared with Jannah at the South East Jazz Festival. In 2014, Martini toured Suriname with Denise Jannah and toured Belgium and the Netherlands with Dana Winner. He participated in the studio recording ''Bloom'' by Winner, featuring strings from the Metropole Orchestra. He also performed a Hindi-jazz concert at the Stadsschouwburg in The Hague.

2015–2016

In 2015, Martini performed with American singer Jhelisa Anderson at the North Sea Jazz Club in Amsterdam and at Tivoli/Stadsschouwburg in Utrecht. He toured South Africa with

Dana Winner and performed with the German group P.U.L.S.E., led by Werner Hüsgen, in Aachen. He appeared on television with Denise Jannah on ''De Andere Wereld'' and performed at Jazz at the Theater in Aachen with Heribert Leuchter. He also performed with NAP Sessions/Roger Happel and in a guitar duo with Jürgen Sturm at Klangbrücke in Aachen. In 2016, Martini participated in a CD recording with P.U.L.S.E. at Hansa-Haus Studio in Bonn, Germany. He also performed concerts with Denise Jannah, including a performance with Jannah and the classical ensemble FUSE.

2017

In 2017, Martini performed with Chicago-born singer Soleil Niklasson in Germany and continued his collaboration with Denise Jannah, including a performance with Jannah and her band at the North Sea Jazz Club in Amsterdam. He also performed with P.U.L.S.E., led by Werner Hüsgen, and participated in a small tour titled ''Blues and Soul'' with Denise Jannah & Band.

2018

In 2018, Martini performed with American singer Jhelisa Anderson at the ''Songs of Freedom'' festival in Leiden and at Ruigoord in Amsterdam. He also performed with his own band, Wolf & the Gang, at the Hillegersberg Jazz Festival in the Netherlands.

2019

In 2019, Martini continued performing with Denise Jannah and also performed in a guitar duo with Joost Zoeteman. In June 2019, Martini was a featured guest in ''Gitarrenhelden – von Django Reinhardt bis George Benson'', part of Heribert Leuchter's ''JazzBühne'' concert series at the Grenzlandtheater in Aachen. He performed alongside Leuchter, Simon Oslender, Steffen Thormählen and Werner Lauscher and contributed his own compositions. The concert received a positive review in the ''Aachener Zeitung''. Martini also performed with Soleil Niklasson. On 15 November 2019, they appeared as the duo ''Soleil & Wolf'' at Stilwerk in Hamburg.

2020–2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Martini continued his musical activities through online guitar lessons and streamed performances. He performed in online concerts with Denise Jannah and with his own trio. In 2020, Martini also recorded the guitar duo album ''Watch the World'' with guitarist Joost Zoeteman. In 2021, Martini performed with Denise Jannah, with his own trio and in a guitar duo with Joost Zoeteman. Martini and Zoeteman performed at the World Jazz Festival in Amersfoort with material from ''Watch the World''. Martini also performed at the Red Light Jazz Festival in Amsterdam with his trio, featuring Robert Biesewig on drums and Maarten Helsloot on Fender Rhodes.

2022

In 2022, Martini performed in several concerts with pianist Jos van Beest. On two occasions, Dutch tenor saxophonist Hans Dulfer appeared as a special guest. Martini also performed in a series of concerts with the German group P.U.L.S.E., led by Werner Hüsgen. The group performed at Birdland Jazz Club in Hamburg and B-Flat Jazz Club in Berlin, presenting music from ''Kobaltblau'', an album recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic. That year, Martini was invited by guitar luthier Theo Scharpach to demonstrate Scharpach's guitars in a promotional video. Martini also performed at the Red Light Jazz Festival in Amsterdam with his own trio, featuring Hans de Wild on Hammond organ and Roy Bagwandin on drums, presenting music associated with American jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery.

2023

In 2023, Martini and vocalist Denise Jannah began the ''Up Front & Close'' concert series at the concert hall of the Muziekschool

Amsterdam. The series featured intimate duo performances and invited musicians from the audience to join the performers for guest performances and musical collaborations.

2024

In 2024, Martini was again invited by guitar luthier Theo Scharpach to demonstrate and showcase Scharpach's guitars. Martini performed twice at Grand Café Fifth with his own trio, featuring Hans de Wild on Hammond organ and Arno Nieuwenhuizen on drums. He also performed at the jazz club Mr. Jazz in Zutphen with Robert Schippers on Hammond organ and Arno Nieuwenhuizen on drums, presenting compositions associated with Wes Montgomery. Martini performed a duo concert with Denise Jannah in Amsterdam as part of an anniversary event for Musicians Without Borders and also performed with Jannah at Jazztage Harderwijk. He appeared at an open-air concert in Bad Godesberg, Germany, with Soleil Niklasson and her band. In Amsterdam, he performed two concerts with saxophonist Greenfield at the jazz club Alto.

2025

In 2025, Martini performed at the Red Light Jazz Festival in Amsterdam in a duo with Soleil Niklasson. Their programme featured songs by Stevie Wonder and other standards. He also performed with Denise Jannah at a festival in Amsterdam- Noord at the Tolhuistuin and appeared with Jannah in the programme ''NoLimit''. Martini presented a series of Sunday-afternoon jazz concerts at restaurant Neeni in Amsterdam with his own trio, featuring Cord Heineking on bass and Gijs Dijkhuizen on drums. He also presented ''Wolf Plays Wes'', a programme devoted to the music of Wes Montgomery. Martini performed the programme with his own trio at Hamaland Jazzclub in Germany and at Jazz in Eibergen in the Netherlands, featuring John Hondorp on Hammond organ and Gijs Dijkhuizen on drums.

The ''Wolf Plays Wes'' programme was also presented as a solo concert at Cultuur in Bussum and in a duo with bassist Cord Heineking at the ''Cultuur tussen de Wallen'' festival in Naarden- Vesting.

2026

In 2026, Martini performed in a series of ''Jazz on Sunday'' concerts with pianist Jos van Beest. He also continued his collaboration with vocalist Denise Jannah, including a performance at the Rotterdamse Schouwburg. Martini continued to present his ''Wolf Plays Wes'' programme with his own trio, including a performance at De Mess theatre in Naarden-Vesting.

Musical projects

Wolf Plays Wes

''Wolf Plays Wes'' is Martini's concert programme devoted to the music of American jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery. The programme has been performed in several formats, including solo guitar, guitar and bass duo, and guitar trio with Hammond organ and drums. Performances have included the Red Light Jazz Festival in Amsterdam, Mr. Jazz in Zutphen, Hamaland Jazzclub in Germany and Jazz in Eibergen.

Up Close & Personal

''Up Close & Personal'' is a concert series established by Martini and Denise Jannah in 2023. The series is based around intimate duo performances, with guest musicians invited to join the performers during the concerts.

Discography

• ''De negen levens van Mathilde'' – Mathilde Santing (2003), guitar; live recording associated with the theatre production and tour

• ''Suitcase of Songs'' – Judith Nijland (2007), guitar; studio recording

• ''Blue Notes & Red Shoes'' – Deborah J. Carter (2009), guitar; studio recording

• ''Aguabajo'' – Tico Pierhagen (2010), guitar; studio recording
• ''Smoothjazz II'' – Konstantin Klashtorni (2011), guitar; studio recording

• ''Live in Johannesburg'' – Denise Jannah & Wolf Martini (2012), guitar; studio recording

• ''Bloom'' – Dana Winner (2014), guitar; studio recording
• ''Kobaltblau'' – P.U.L.S.E., guitar; studio recording
• ''Watch the World'' – Wolf Martini & Joost Zoeteman (2020), guitar duo; studio recording