"Martin Speake plays some of the most gorgeous alto sax sounds in contemporary jazz…." Phil Ehrensaft - The Whole Note, Canada, October 2002

Martin Speake Quartet with Mike Outram, Simon Thorpe and Dave Wickins

Charlie Parker

“a delightful album, superbly played by Speake and guitar star Mike Outram and with imaginative bass-and-drums support from Simon Thorpe and Dave Wickins” John Fordham, The Guardian

“By not treating its source as an immovable museum piece, Charlie Parker is the best kind of tribute—one that views the music as a living, breathing entity. Speake may look back in fondness, but his quartet’s interpretations look forward with anticipation and the excitement of new discovery”. John Kelman, All About Jazz

5 STARS IN BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE JULY 2005
ALBUM OF THE MONTH IN MOJO JULY 2005

THIS PROJECT HAS ALREADY BEEN TO A LARGE NUMBER OF VENUES ACROSS THE U.K. AND HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY CRITCS AND AUDIENCES ALIKE.

"I have listened to Charlie Parker’s music on and off over the years and probably gave him lip service about saying how great he was. However, a few months ago after a student played me the Washington Concerts I began listening in a different way and searched out many recordings I had never heard before. This included live dates and the South of the Border recording that featured Bird playing Latin influenced music. I then seemed to just listen to his music exclusively for about 6 months. After playing in many areas of jazz over the years from standards to free improvisation to Indian music I seemed to get drawn to the music of Charlie Parker at this time and began to include some of his repertoire on gigs. I then started reading books on his life including My Life in E flat (Chan Parker) and Bird’s Diary (Ken Vail), Bird Lives (Ross Russell) and Quintet of the Year (Geoffrey Haydon).
Charlie Parker died in 1955 and I realized it would be 50 years since his death in 2005. Things happen for a reason so I decided to form a band to pay tribute to his genius and celebrate his music by playing his compositions and also standards and other material that he recorded".

Martin Speake/Dharambir Singh Trio

Martin Speake "Exploring Standards" Trio with Mick Hutton and Tom Skinner

Martin Speake International Quartet with Bobo Stenson, Paul Motian and Mick Hutton

Martin Speake and Ethan Iverson

Martin Speake/Phil Lee Duo

"Secret" album with Nikki Iles, Duncan Hopkins and Anthony Michelli out now on Basho Records

Website: www.martinspeake.co.uk