Doug Martin

I offer jazz music - jazz standards primarily - performed as solo saxophone, sax-piano duo, trio with bass, or quartet with drums. A vocalist can be provided as well.
Myself or the group often perform as background jazz for cocktail parties, receptions, etc. but we have been called upon to perform for wedding ceremonies, jazz vespers services, as well as concert style performances.
As for dress, men usually wear shirts & ties. Ladies, cocktail dresses. We can be more formal if required.

As a native of Windsor, Ontario, Doug was not immune to the barrage of music crossing the border from Detroit, USA. During his formative years he was immersed in the sounds of early rock ‘n’ roll, Motown, psychedelia and jazz. Being a budding saxophonist, he was strongly impacted by the playing of Stan Getz and Paul Desmond.
Years later, while enrolled in the jazz program at Toronto’s Humber College, he began composing and was drawn to the distinctive writing styles of Wayne Shorter, Charles Mingus and Thelonious Monk.
As a performer, he has plied his trade in Canada and the US, playing all manner of music from rock ‘n’ roll to big band jazz. He has played at numerous festivals in both countries. In 2014 he performed for the first time at the Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza in Havana, Cuba and has done so several times since.
As a leader, he has released four albums, the last three containing his own compositions entirely. His music has received critical acclaim in such competitions as the UK Songwriting Contest (semi-finalist) and the West Coast Songwriters Competition (honourable mention). Tracks from his albums have received airplay worldwide on the internet, as well as terrestrial radio in the US, Europe and Canada (most notably CBC, Radio-Canada, and JazzFM91 in Toronto).
Presently, Doug lives in the Ottawa area where he teaches, composes and leads several small jazz ensembles.

If we are providing background music, we usually require nothing. For anything else we can supply microphones & a small PA, but no staging or lighting.