Tomás Martinez

Tomás Martinez is an Argentine jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator based between Buenos Aires and New York. Rooted in the bebop tradition, his musical identity combines a personal, singing tone with a strong melodic sensibility and a distinctive approach to swing and improvisation.

His debut album, In Good Company, was released on SteepleChase Records in 2026. Recorded at the legendary Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, the album features pianist Michael Weiss, bassist David Wong, and drummer Kenny Washington, alongside a trio session with bassist Paul Sikivie and drummer Teo Pérez. The album brings together original compositions and personal arrangements, reflecting Martinez’s engagement with the jazz tradition and his ongoing search for an authentic artistic voice.

Martinez has performed in New York, Montreal, Mexico City, Paris, The Hague, and Amsterdam, appearing at jazz clubs, concert halls, and international festivals in the Americas and Europe. His collaborations include performances with Michael Kanan, Chris Byars, Greg Ruggiero, Jacob Artved, Pat O’Leary, and Gabrielle Stravelli. His artistic development has been shaped by the music and guidance of distinguished jazz musicians, including Charles McPherson, Bob Mover, George Coleman, Grant Stewart, and Chris Byars.

For Martinez, jazz is a living oral tradition, passed from one generation to the next through listening, mentorship, collaboration, and performance. His artistic work encompasses performing, composing, teaching, and community building, all guided by the belief that each generation has a responsibility to contribute to this music while passing its knowledge and values forward. His goal is not simply to preserve jazz, but to help it continue to evolve through an authentic personal voice and to create opportunities for future generations to engage with its tradition.

In 2026, Martinez was selected for the inaugural cohort of SELMER Paris Young Talents, an international program celebrating a new generation of musicians.

Words from Mentors and Colleagues

“He is the finest alto saxophonist of his generation.”

- Chris Byars
Saxophonist, Composer, Arranger, and Educator

“He is a truly great musician. He plays with a brilliant combination of heart, mind, and guts. His playing is full of intuition, intelligence, beauty, and swing.”

- Michael Kanan
Pianist

“The Argentine-born Martinez possesses all one seeks in a top-drawer jazz alto saxophonist: a rich, singing tone; a commanding technique that can deliver swinging, melodically rich lines at any tempo; and an understanding of the roots of modern music that results in exhilarating renditions and solos. As musicians say of one they admire, ‘cat can play.’

Tomás is a pure bebopper who, while enamored of such towering figures as Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, and Charles McPherson, sounds very much like himself and packs a great deal of solo whammy. Simply put, he’s a breath of fresh air. He is the kind of musician this world needs: he delivers beauty through sound, and listening to him allows the listener to feel good. I’m for that.”

• Zan Stewart
  Jazz Critic; Recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award for Jazz Journalism

Photo credit: Lucas Carrizo