Praise Him with Jazz: Church Hymns and Jazz Standards Swingin' Together

A classically trained jazz pianist & Steinway artist, Jim Martinez has performed or recorded with notables like Lionel Hampton, the Stan Kenton Band, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Christian McBride, Benny Golson, Roy Hargrove, and Ed Thigpen, who was the first drummer with the Oscar Peterson Trio. Martinez has worked as pianist and musical director for Joan Rivers and Bob Newhart.

Also appearing in the concert will be vocalist Laura Didier, also from Rocklin, has been performing steadily with the… Show more Jim Martinez Trio since early 2007. Didier has performed at major Jazz festivals in California, Idaho, and Canada including the famed Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

Martinez and Didier have also co-developed a jazz concert titled "A Tribute to the Music of Doris Day," with performances scheduled nationally. In October 2009, they headlined the Doris Day Festival in Frankenmuth, MI.

This concert will feature Martinez's unique arrangements like "Amazing Grace" ala Dave Brubeck's "Take Five", "Nothing But the Blood" ala "Linus & Lucy" from the Charlie Brown animated specials and a Bossa-Nova version of "Holy, Holy, Holy." Rounding out the trio will be bassist Giulio Cetto and drummer Tim Metz.

In 2002, Clint Eastwood had this to say in an interview with the L.A. Daily News: "Last night, we went to a church in Carmel where a guy named Jim Martinez was playing very contemporary jazz versions of religious hymns. They were great."

Reserved seats are $20 adults and $10 children 17 and under.

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