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.
• 13/10/2024 – Martin Salemi Daylight – Heptone – Ittre, Belgium
• 23/10/2024 – Toine Thys/Motoi Kanamori 4tet – Floreo – Brussels, Belgium
• 24/10/2024 – Toine Thys/Motoi Kanamori 4tet – Lasnes, Belgium
• 25/10/2024 – Toine Thys/Motoi Kanamori 4tet – l’Horloge du Sud – Brussels, Belgium
• 26/10/2024 – Toine Thys/Motoi Kanamori 4tet – La Cidrothèque – Brussels, Belgium
• 26/10/2024 – Hervé Caparros Trio – Ultieme Hallucinatie – Brussels, Belgium
• 09/11/2024 – Otto Kint Duo – Brussels, Belgium
• 20/11/2024 – Schaerbeek Voix – Filousophe – Brussels, 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
• 18/12/2024 – Schaerbeek Voix – Filousophe – Brussels, 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
• 26/02/2025 – Otto Kintet – Paleis 305 – Brussels, Belgium
• 22/05/2025 – Otto Kintet – Jazz Met Pit – Hoeilaart, Belgium
News
Excited to play with my new band at Heptone today, first date of the tour!:) ☀️
I’ve always loved writing tutti sections:) Here’s the one at the end of my latest single, The Long Run. After the solos and the last theme, this tutti feels like a second wind, just when you think the run is over ☀️ You can download the full score for this tune for free on my website 🥳👐
#martinsalemidaylight #igloorecords
#soundslice @soundslice_music
Really excited for this! 🥳☀️Come see us at one of those shows!:)
📸 @mondayjr
My new single « The Long Run » is available now:)
Full video on YouTube ☀️
Hello folks! Here’s a little selfie of me in New York to let you know that my new single, “The Long Run”, is out today:) 🥳Taken from my new album Daylight, coming out on November 22 on @igloorec and featuring the greats @lorenzodimaio @borisschmidtmusic @daniel.jonkers_ and @sylvaindebaisieux ☀️ Go listen to it and let me know what you think:))
My fingers playing some notes at @ornithologyjazzclub the other night 🙂
Had fun jamming in Brooklyn last night! 🥳 Big thanks to @roesmaurits for capturing the moment on video! 🗽
Little solo on my tune Late April, recorded with my band Daylight live at a sold out show at Sounds in Brussels few months ago:) ☀️ Next show this Saturday at @gaumejazz Festival 🎉 !
Full video on YouTube:)
In the newspaper today:) Interview by @maili_b_ for @lalibre.be, thank you for the invitation! 🤗🎉
