Martin Winch

Life and career

Born in Nottingham, England, Martin was 14 when his family immigrated to New Zealand in 1963. They settled in North Shore which is now part of greater Auckland City, where he attended the Northcote College. He would later tell that as a young boy he became so obsessed with his younger brother Rob’s guitar, that he couldn’t simply put it down.

During the late ’70s, his time with the 1860 Band and The Rodger Fox Big Band in Wellington helped Winch to become the brilliant jazz stylist that he was. Prior to that he worked in club bands such as at The Crypt, circa 1973 Auckland City. More so, he was an outstanding all rounder in a career spanning four decades. In a buoyant NZ music scene of the ’70’s, ’80s and much of the ’90s, Martin did it all; club bands, backing international artists, (Randy Crawford, Shirley Bassey, Elaine Page., Roger Whittaker to name a few), orchestral calls, many, many jazz gigs, soundtracks and commercial recording and teaching – all the while writing and recording his own material.

Winch played with a vast array of blues, pop and jazz artists from New Zealand and abroad, toured with musicals such as Chicago (musical), Jesus Christ Superstar and My Fair Lady, lent his fine touch to hundreds of local albums and even jammed with Nigel Kennedy

Winch's most famous album, Espresso Guitar sold over 80,000 copies in New Zealand alone. Musical arrangement was done by another famous New Zealand musician, Pianist Carl Doy who also produced it. Espresso Guitar enjoyed the number 1 spot on the NZ charts for several weeks, and found wider popularity among fans in Australia and Asia as well. He released five albums of his own; among which 'Music for Coffee Lovers' was another hit too.

Winch's favourite instrument was jazz guitar, but he was equally good at rock, blues, acoustic and electric guitar. He was a well known teacher too, tutoring at the School of Music of the University of Auckland for five years.

In recognition of his work spanning over 40 years, the New Zealand Herald in 1999 named Winch one of the Top 10 guitarists New Zealand ever produced.

Martin lost his battle with cancer at the age of 62. He died on 21 May 2011.