Jim Martinez - Good Grief! It's Still Jim Martinez: A Tribute to Guaraldi, Schulz and Peanuts (2015)

Tracklist

01. Bang!
02. Samba de Snoopy
03. Blues for Beagles
04. A Boy Named Charlie Brown
05. Schroeder Can Play
06. Waltz for Vince
07. Cast Your Fate to the Wind
08. Champion Charlie Brown
09. Spike & the Cactus Club
10. Thank You, Sparky
11. Chillin' At the Warm Puppy Cafe
12. Surfin' Snoopy
13. Theme to Grace
14. Linus and Lucy
15. Anyone?!?



A Jazz tribute to Vince Guaraldi, Charles Schulz and Peanuts with 8 original songs, written in the style of Snoopy animated specials, plus six covers.

Pianist Jim Martinez, from Sacramento, California, began his musical career at the age of four, receiving 18 years of classical training. He has amassed a list of musical accomplishments encompassing nearly all styles of music.

Martinez, 49, is a Steinway Pianos Artist and has performed or recorded with Jazz notables Lionel Hampton, the Stan Kenton Alumni Band, Christian McBride, Russell Malone, Roy Hargrove, Cheryl Bentyne (of the Manhattan Transfer), the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Benny Golson and Ed Thigpen, the first drummer for the famous Oscar Peterson Trio. Jim has also performed with various Symphony orchestras and toured as a featured guest with the U.S. Air Force Jazz Band (Travis AFB, CA).

Martinez opened for All-Star Night 13 straight years at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho. Other highlights of venues and events include the Bix Biederbecke Festival (Davenport, IA), the Harvest Jazz and Blues in New Brunswick, Canada, the Crystal Cathedral in Southern California, St Peter’s Church in New York City, and The Basement Jazz Club in Sydney, Australia. He worked as pianist and musical director for Joan Rivers and Bob Newhart at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe, NV.

Martinez gained international exposure through his Echoes of Oscar Peterson, which featured Martinez playing his own transcriptions of Peterson's performances. In November 1998, Ed Thigpen traveled from Denmark to join Jim in a Tribute to Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson. They also did a similar tribute together in 1991.

Jim has thirteen CD's to his credit as a leader. His soon-to-be-released project is titled, Good Grief! It’s Still Jim Martinez, A Tribute to Vince Guaraldi, Charles Schulz & Peanuts. Eight of the fifteen tracks were written by Martinez, in the style of Guaraldi. Additionally, Schulz’ company has granted Jim permission to use Snoopy, Woodstock & Schroeder on the CD.

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