Martin Blanes

Biography

He has done higher studies on guitar, composition, violin and piano in Ourense, Música en Compostela, A Coruña, Madrid and Athens, together with specialization seminars with masters such as David Russell, Kostas Kotsiolis, Barry Harris, Antón García Abril, Steve Herbermann, Joshua Edelman, Charlie Moreno, Pavel Steidl, Peter Bernstein, NHOP, Pedro Iturralde, Marco Tamayo, Ricardo Gallén, Joaquín Clerch, Ioana Gandrabur, Victor Wooten, Maximino Zumalave, Carlo Domeniconi, William Kanengiser, Mulgrew Miller, Jean-Luc Ponty, Subramaniam, Marimí del Pozo Nieto, Jorge Pardo, Paulo Bellinati...

He was a member of the indie band Sevigny and the prog-jazz-rock band Amoeba Split.

He tours regularly Europe and the United States, also giving masterclasses and conferences. Nowadays he also combines his tours with the co-direction of the book publisher "A Formiga Rabicha". In 2009 he will be performing in Argentina, Germany, Japan, Poland and USA.

In 2008 he released his CD "O Son da Lenda" (The Sound of the Legend) that consists of 12 tracks inspired by Galician legends and the music of that region.

He also made the biographical investigation of the two book and CDs about Galician violinist Manuel Quiroga, released by "Ouvirmos". Nowadays he is his main biographer. He is also co-writer of the texts of the book about oral-traditional Galician inheritance "A Lenda no seu Lugar" (The Legend in its Own Place).

He co-wrote, together with Llorenç Barber, the inaugural work for pilgrimage year do Saint Iacobus tomb event "Xacobeo 99". It was premiered before the kings of Spain and broadcast on television all over the world. This work (about 50 minutes long) was written to be performed with all the bells of the churches and cathedral of Santiago de Compostela simultaneously. This music was performed as the opening of the main eclessiastical act.

He mostly performs as a solo artist but also plays with the following band/projects:

-Martín Blanes 3tet

-Duo with polish arpist Zofía Dowgiaīīo - contemporary improvisation

Also worked as interviewer for diverse media, with interviewees as Victor Wooten, Ron Carter, Bill Brudford, Philip Catherine and Ilya Gringolts.

During 2009 will release two CDs as leader. One solo work called "Bichiños" and the long waited first release of "Martin Blanes 3tet".

He is currently publishing a blog about his experiences as a travelling musician.

Instruments and Equipment

His specialization focuses on 8 stringed hybrid guitar and bass, designed by Charlie Hunter and Ralph Novax, so he can play simultaneously melodies, compings and bass lines. Also is known for his solo acoustic fingerstyle work, playing altered tunings and percussive hits on the guitar at the same time.