aboutus
Since
Martini Red first came together we've had trouble describing exactly what
we do. Is it Hot Jazz? Swing? Old-Time? A Tin Pan
Alley string band? Whatever we've decided to call it, the focus has
always been on finding good, fun songs from the American repertoire and
adding our own twist to them, taking vintage jazz, Western Swing, standards,
and blend it with a healthy dose of blues, ragtime, even bluegrass.
The result is a unique blend that's sometimes fast and danceable, sometimes
slow and listenable, but always a reflection of our honest love for the
music.
The
band got its start in 1996 when two longtime friends, singer/guitarist
Tony Brussat and bassist Nick Smiley, got together
with mandolinist James Key and began exploring
their fascination with improvised acoustic music. Soon the group
was gigging regularly at local venues and events and receiving critical
acclaim; and though Tony left Washington in 1999 to pursue interests out
West, Martini Red continues on its original mission of bringing the best
of vintage jazz to a modern audience -- sometimes as a duo, but often with
the help of some of the area's finest musicians on guitar, violin, drums,
saxophone, clarinet, or cornet.
In
1999 Martini Red was nominated for a Wammie for Best Traditional Jazz group;
in 2001 Nick was nominated for Best Traditional Jazz Male Vocalist.
The band recorded its first CD, rntitled We Three, in 2001, with
the help of drummer Norm Thorne. In additional, our rendition of
The
Christmas Song was included in the 1998 Hungry for Music "A Christmas
Feast" compilation; our original tune, Angel of Christmas Sorrow,
was part of the 2001 version.
Home
Songs Media
Shows Pix
Links Contact us