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kay martin

About Me

Music keeps me alive and vital!

Although Kay Martin was always a performer (mainly acting), singing was a late-breaking development. In the late 90s she studied singing at Cabrillo, and by 2000 was fronting a jazz band led by the late trumpeter Bob Smith every Friday at Positively Front St.  (until it burned down!), & led a trio longstanding at the Shadowbrook with Steve Smith & Brian Chester—& elsewhere about the Santa Cruz area. Within a couple years she released the straightahead jazz CD Softly (engineered at Ridgetop Sound) featuring wonderful local musicians—Tim Volpicello, Art Alm, Stan Poplin, Steve Robertson, and Scott Nordgren. Kay moved to Los Angeles in 2003 and sang across the southland, including in downtown LA club residencies but especially on the west side—including years at Santino’s in Santa Monica—with many wonderful accompanists (Josh Nelson, John Storie, Bruce Forman. . . so many!). Released in 2015, her groundbreaking Four Sweets CD with world-class LA players (Liz Kinnon, Hussain Jiffry, Enzo Todesco, Dick Mitchell) has won accolades and awards. She also sang with a pop vocal trio for years, Three of Diamonds, and indie /alt/ Americana off and on with the Shady Characters up here. During 2022 Kay traveled and lived in Europe, Wales, and Morocco taking her eclectic repertoire of Brazilian, jazz, indie rock and soul to the streets for “pop-up” as well as formal concerts. The music from these years is being released one song at a time, to comprise the Prodigal Tomboy album. She is very content to be back in these Santa Cruz area communities, which her heart never really left.

Favorite Musicians / Bands

Eva Cassidy

Kay Martin

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because it's got soul and the best harmonization. I was first exposed to jazz crawling around to Ella and the Duke. I have been fortunate to play with many wonderful musicians in the SF Bay area, in Los Angeles, and beyond. I started singing jazz out because that's what opened up for me, when I started singing publicly. My music has evolved: lots of Brasilian, and now more indie & soul—but always with jazz sensibilities, I think I can say. Check out my website at www.kaymartinmusic.com

My House Concert Story

I've done a number of house concerts—and they are the best!! Some in LA, and a few up here in the Santa Cruz area, since I moved back 2 1/2 years ago.

Favorite Places to See Jazz

Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Engage

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