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 among others 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
CDs, radio and television shows with Doug Raney, Bobby
Durham, David Sanborn, Gil Goldstein,
Rick Hollander, Jesse van Ruller, James
Genus, Gene Lake, Ricky Peterson,
Richard Patterson, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen,
Antonio Farao, Alain Jean-Marie, Patrick
Villanueva, Greg Burk and many others.
Martin Jacobsen has his base in Paris, but is a busy traveler in Europe
and abroad and has performed in Italy, Spain,
England, Portugal, Germany,
Scotland, South Korea, Mozambique,
Switzerland, Hungary, the Netherlands,
Canada, Lebanon and of cause in
Denmark.
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".
Read more in the biographies below.
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Martin Jacobsen plays Vandoren Reeds
