MARTIN JACOBSEN - Saxophonist

Although Danish-born Martin Jacobsen considers Paris his home base, the busy saxophonist travels extensively throughout Europe and abroad, performing with such notable jazz performers as David Sanborn. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, he began playing the tenor saxophone at the relatively late age 19, driven by a strong urge for musical expression after listening to jazz for about a year, especially the Miles Davis group with John Coltrane of the 1950s. He received a few lessons from fellow tenorman Tomas Franck, but largely taught himself to play. "It isn't always the best way to learn because you can make mistakes, do things wrong and then you have to waste time correcting bad technique. But also, doing it the hard way, you can make discoveries. You definitely find out what is really important."

Through the 1990s, Martin worked with a host of talented young jazz players on the Copenhagen scene and was heard with the Bust'n Bloopers Big Band with Bob Mintzer and formed his quartet with guitarist Jacob Fischer in 1993. In 1995, he took the advice of saxophonist Bob Rockwell who suggested he move to either New York or Paris. Martin plumped for "Paree" and has since been performing and recording with Doug Raney, Bobby Durham, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, David Sanborn, Gil Goldstein, Rick Hollander, James Genus, Nicky Moroch, Gene Lake, Jesse van Ruller, Antonio Farao, Alain Jean-Marie, Patrick Villanueva, Greg Burk and many others.
He also works frequently in Italy and has performed in Spain, England, Portugal, Mozambique, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Switzerland, Scotland, Luxembourg, Hungary, Lebanon, Canada and Denmark.

In 1999, he formed a quartet with Doug Raney, Gilles Naturel and Rick Hollander. The quartet exited audiences wherever they performed during four years and as a critic wrote: "Martin Jacobsen and Doug Raney are two acclaimed musicians both evolving in an aesthetic of their own which are not necessarily similar. The result, performed with a quartet de luxe, has chances to surprise many a listener." With his impressive debut album on SteepleChase, "Current State", we all have chance to hear how one of the most current and brilliant jazz groups in the European continent sounds like. As a New York critic wrote: "By his astute choice of album titles Jacobsen seems well aware of what makes jazz a vital music. It's the constant sense of growth and discovery, taking the old and making it new. His own tunes, the hard swinging "Backwater" and the title track, show him to be a composer of promise."
In 2004, he also recorded with Italian bassist Michel Rosciglione and his trio with pianist Massimo Faraò and legendary drummer Bobby Durham, well-known for his work with among others the Oscar Peterson trio.

Apart from being involved in many projects as a sideman or leader, Martin Jacobsen can currently (2008-2009) also be heard with saxophone legend David Sanborn and his band. They have performed at many of Europe's major jazz festivals and venues (North Sea Jazz, Montreux Jazz Festival, Berliner Festspielhaus, New Morning in Paris, Barbican Hall in London among others) playing the music from Sanborn's latest release for Decca Records, "Here & Gone".

Website: www.martinjacobsen.com