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Martin Giesenow

About Me

My Jazz Story

I was exposed to jazz by my ten years elder brother, in the late 1950s. He liked big bands such as Benny Goodman's or Billy May's. I started hearing people like John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Charlie Mingus, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz, Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson. Later, I my taste evolved to more complex big band sounds such as Gil Evans, Maria Schneider, Claus Ogerman, Clare Fischer (with whom we became friends), and soloists such as Michael Brecker, Kenny Kirkland, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter. I had the opportunity of talking with Micheal Brecker and Ron Carter when they came to play to Buenos Aires, and can hardly believe how they were so kind to share experiences with a beginner like me. Many times, great players are also great persons.