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
2-page interview and 4 stars review in @lesoirbe today for my new album:) Out this friday! ☀️
J’étais interviewé par @sabinn_ringelheim pour @bx1_officiel , j’y parle de mon nouvel album, du choix de mes musiciens, de certaines influences musicales, de mon parcours et mon rapport au jazz, de ma manière de composer… J’y parle aussi de la pianiste @lara.hbert et de sa musique que j’admire beaucoup. Si vous voulez réécouter l’émission je mets le lien en story:) Et n’oubliez pas de prendre vos places pour le concert de sortie le 26 novembre au @theatremarni ☀🥳🎵
Bientôt la tournée ! Participez au concours sur @musiq3rtbf pour gagner des places:)
My new single “When Days Are Getting Longer” is out now! This track was inspired by that feeling of time shifting as days grow shorter, then start to stretch out again. I built it around an 11-bar progression with two melodies: A is simple and singable, and B takes off into these winding, intricate lines. The whole form flows like an arch, moving from A to B, through solos, and back again to B to end on A — reflecting that natural cycle of light and time. I hope it brings a little warmth as we head into the colder days:) Let me know how it feels when you listen. 🌅✨ —and mark your calendars for the full album, coming November 22! 🍂🌞
Excited to present our new album live on Tuesday, November 26 at @theatremarni! Book your seat now and join us:) 🎶
My new single ‘When Days Are Getting Longer’ is now streaming everywhere, plus there’s a one-shot video on YouTube! I’d love to hear what you think! ☀️🙂🥳
New single out today! ☀️🎶 ‘When Days Are Getting Longer’ is now streaming everywhere. Big thanks to the Dutch magazine Jazzism for the wonderful interview! ❤️
Featuring @borisschmidtmusic on bass, @sylvaindebaisieux on saxophone, @lorenzodimaio on the guitar and @daniel.jonkers_ on drums
Release concert in Brussels in the big hall of @theatremarni in one month!:) Really looking forward to it ☀️ Don’t forget to get your ticket:)
Excited to play with my new band at Heptone today, first date of the tour!:) ☀️
