With more than twenty albums to his name, both as a leader and as a sideman, Martin Salemi is an eclectic musician, a prolific composer and a in-demand pianist and keyboardist.
«A beautiful example of what jazz can be today: a music nourished by all musics, free of yesterday’s constraints». (Laurent Graulus – Musiq3)
Released in 2017, ‘Short Stories’ (IGLOO Records ) was critically and publicly acclaimed – «There’s some Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett in this young musician (…) a knock out » (Le Soir ***), « I really can’t praise this album highly enough (…) Get it! » (Lynn René Bayley, US). In 2018, he won first prize at the B-Jazz International Contest – « What a good band! They sound beautiful ».
His second trio album, ‘About Time’, released in Autumn 2021, was considered an « instant classic » by Philippe Baron – RTBF and got a 4-star review in Jazz Magazine (FR). « Always of great accuracy and astonishing musicality (…). To listen to and re-listen to until you lose all sense of time. (…). Discover without delay! » (Brigitte Mahaux – Musiq3)
After returning from a tour of Japan, he released his third album “Leaving: Live On Tour” in 2023. “There’s an elegance to the trio throughout the record (…) A sophisticated sound that deserves fuller exposure beyond the trio’s home country.” Stephen Graham – Marlbank (UK)
A prolific composer, Martin Salemi also writes music for the theatre and the cinema. Among others, he has worked with the likes of the German theatre collective Rimini Protokoll, the Belgian film-maker Luc Jabon and the Domya, La Berlue and L’Anneau theatre companies.
« … There’s nothing cryptic about his superb playing… » Jim Gilchrist – The Scotsman (UK).
Pro-active member of the Brussels music community, he launched in 2021 the ambitious “Muzik1030 Bar” project in his municipality of Schaerbeek. Aiming to revitalise the cultural and catering sectors, he set up a financial and logistical aid programme to assist with the organisation of concerts in local bars. A great success from the start, the project made the headlines in the regional and national press and, in the space of a year, made possible the organisation of over 180 concerts in the cafés of Schaerbeek, providing work for over 600 musicians. The project, supported by the municipality, has been relaunched for three years, and other Brussels municipalities are now trying to draw inspiration from it.
« There’s an elegance to the trio throughout the record (…)
A sophisticated sound that deserves fuller exposure beyond the trio’s home country. »
Stephen Graham – Marlbank (UK), about “Leaving: Live On Tour” (2023)
« Beautiful melodies and superb trio work […] An instant classic »
Philippe Baron – RTBF Musiq3, about “About Time” (2021)
« A partir d’un matériau d’une grande simplicité, sans recherche d’effets ni de ruptures, le sens du récit et la qualité du son d’ensemble emportent l’adhésion »
Vincent Cotro – Jazz Magazine – 4 étoiles (FR), about “About Time” (2021)
« Toujours d’une justesse et d’une musicalité étonnante […] Il s’écoute et se réécoute à en perdre toute notion du temps […] A découvrir sans plus attendre ! »
Brigitte Mahaux – RTBF Musiq3 about “About Time” (2021)
« Les plages s’enchaînent et coulent avec intelligence dans une fausse simplicité en nous entraînant dans de nouveaux paysages toujours recommencés […] About Time est une production cohérente au naturel léger mais plein d’élan et construite comme une œuvre classique : tout y est mélodie, calme et ravissement, propice à la réflexion, un album que l’on sent inspiré par les idées élévatrices d’une belle humanité. »
Pierre Dulieu – DragonJazz (disque du mois, Sélection Best Of 2021) about “About Time“
« Het spel van Salemi is echter van zulk hoog niveau, zowel emotievol als speltechnisch, en de samenwerking tussen hem en de ritmesectie zo fijn, dat dit trio net zo gemakkelijk tussen al die vernieuwende Belgische bands internationaal grote indruk kan maken. »
Dick Hovenga – WrittenInMusic
« I really can’t praise this album highly enough. If the reader gets the feeling from the above review that I didn’t quite describe Salemi’s playing in enough detail, it is only because there is so much detail that it’s better to just listen and not analyze too much. Get it! »
Lynn René Bayley, Artmusiclounge (US), about “Short Stories” (2017)
« Ca fait du bien d’écouter un album de jazz contemporain qui ne cherche pas à tout prix des sonorités inouïes […] La musique est fraîche, joyeuse, dansante »
Jean-Claude Vantroyen, Le Soir ***, about “Short Stories” (2017)
« Van begin tot einde zuiver akoestisch zonder electronics en toch klopte het plaatje. Respect! »
Georges Tonla Briquet, Jazz’ Halo about “Short Stories” (2017)
« Les compositions du leader sont toutes délectables. Non seulement, elles ont du caractère mais, ni démonstratives ni appliquées, elles sont aussi mémorables par leur côté mélodieux »
Pierre Dulieu, Dragonjazz, about “Short Stories” (2017)
« Martin Salemi est un bel exemple de ce que peut être le jazz aujourd’hui: une musique qui se nourrit de toutes les musiques, libérée de ses carcans d’autrefois. »
Laurent Graulus, RTBF Musiq3
« On est très loin d’un jazz cérébral et hermétique […] Ce sont des mélodies qui accrochent tout de suite, sans tomber non plus dans la facilité. C’est délicat, ça swingue, tout en finesse […] absolument remarquable. »
Xavier Vanbuggenhout, RTBF La Première, about “Short Stories” (2017)
© pictures from top to bottom : Monday Jr, Patrick Clerens, Jean-Frédéric Hanssens, Vincent Blairon
Next Concerts
Here you can find my upcoming tour dates. Hope to see you there!
More infos about schedule and line-up on the concert page.
• 09/06/2024 – Daniel Stokart Quartet – Heptone – Ittre, Belgium
• 23/06/2024 – Calvo/Salemi Quartet – The Music Village – Brussels, Belgium
• 26/06/2024 – Calvo/Salemi Quartet – La Laiterie – Brussels, Belgium
• 29/06/2024 – Calvo/Salemi Quartet – Winok – Brussels, Belgium
• 04/07/2024 – Schaerbeek Voix – Kriekelaar – Brussels, Belgium
• 10/08/2024 – Martin Salemi Daylight – Gaume Jazz Festival – Rossignol, Belgium
• 10/10/2024 – Otto Kintet – Théâtre Marni – Brussels, Belgium
• 13/10/2024 – Martin Salemi Daylight – Heptone – Ittre, Belgium
• 26/11/2024 – Martin Salemi Daylight – Théâtre Marni – Brussels, Belgium
• 30/11/2024 – Martin Salemi Daylight – Centre Culturel – Mouscron, Belgium
• 04/12/2024 – Martin Salemi Daylight – Rideau Rouge – Lasnes, Belgium
• 05/12/2024 – Martin Salemi Daylight – CC Libramont – Libramont, Belgium
• 06/12/2024 – Martin Salemi Daylight – Le Club – Comines, Belgium
• 07/12/2024 – Martin Salemi Daylight – L’An Vert – Liège, Belgium
• 08/12/2024 – Martin Salemi Daylight – Relais Jazz – Tourinnes-La Grosse, Belgium
• 13/12/2024 – Martin Salemi Daylight – Jazz9- Mazy, Belgium
• 14/12/2024 – Martin Salemi Daylight – Junglingshaus – Eupen, Belgium
• 24/01/2025 – Martin Salemi Daylight – Blanc Cailloux – Braine L’Alleud, Belgium
• 12/02/2025 – Daniel Stokart Quartet – Pelzer Jazz Club – Liège, Belgium
• 20/02/2025 – Otto Kintet – Rataplan – Anvers, Belgium
• 21/02/2025 – Otto Kintet – Izzy Jazz Club – Bruges, Belgium
• 22/05/2025 – Otto Kintet – Jazz Met Pit – Hoeilaart, Belgium
News
New album coming soon!🤗
I’m very happy to share the cover of my next album, which will be released on November 22nd by @igloorec. It features @sylvaindebaisieux on sax, @lorenzodimaio on guitar, @borisschmidtmusic on doublebass, and Daniel Jonkers on drums with illustration by my dad, Jean-Claude Salemi. And I play piano and a bit of keyboards 🎹 Stay tuned for more info soon! 😊🎵
Just drop off the key Lee and get yourself free 🤪
#playingout #fenderrhodes #vintagekeyboards #paulsimon @paulsimonofficial
Deeply honored to hear that my music was performed, alongside music by some of my heroes, in a church in Illinois (US) last sunday:) 🤗🎵🥳 Alléluia !
Explorations in E minor to start the practice session of today:) Here I’m trying to develop my ideas and to move around the tonality of E minor. Sorry for the bad singing 😝
J’ai l’honneur et le plaisir de remplacer deux pianistes que j’adore pour donner des stages cet été:) 🎵☀
Je donnerai stage de piano jazz à l’AKDT à Libramont du 15 au 21 juillet en remplacement de Nicola Andrioli (avec Vincent Bruyninckx) 🎹 🥳
et stage de combo jazz à l’académie d’Evere du 23 au 25 août en remplacement de Nathalie Loriers. 🎶
Le stage à Libramont est complet je crois mais il reste des places pour le stage à Evere:) plus d’infos en mp!:)
Some lines on the Rhodes MarkII 🎹 to start the day:)
Still jamming on this banger 🔥✨🕺💃 track is “Rêves/Cauchemars” by @garancemidi 💫
Rhodes MarkII going into Ferro Preamp by @tinesandreeds , thanks to @vintage_keys_shop !:)
Lately I’ve been enjoying this beautiful song from @garancemidi from their last album:) Really love this record made by my friends @gaspard6cx @insta.de.ari @romainrouserez @anatoledamien1 and @garancemidi, it’s called “Dans La Maison” and it’s ☀️✨💫🐶❤️ go check it out!🤪
#rhodesmark2 #ferropreamp #garancemidi #maestrophaseshifter @tinesandreeds
Very happy and very honored to sub the great Nicola Andrioli 🙏 tonight in Stéphane Mercier quartet featuring Nic Thys and Darren Beckett 🥳 🎶
@stephanemercier @darrenabeckett @nic_thys_bass
This was one of the first gigs with my new band Daylight, at a great sold-out night at the Sounds in Brussels some time ago. Featuring Sylvain Debaisieux on tenor, Boris Schmidt on doublebass, and Daniel Jonkers on drums. Since then, we’ve welcomed Lorenzo Di Maio on guitar 🎸.
2024 holds exciting things for this project! We’re performing tomorrow at @propulse_festival_fwb and preparing to release our first album on @igloorec in November. Along with a release tour across Belgium 🤗 Looking forward to playing and sharing our music with you 🎶
Video by Basile Beauvois, edited by Vincent Blairon
Sound by Vincent De Bast
