ABOUT PETER

Peter Martin is an acclaimed jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator. His touring career has taken him to six continents numerous times. In January 2011 Peter performed with a select group of jazz artists at the White House for a State Dinner hosted by President Obama, and he returned to perform for the Governor’s Dinner in February 2012 for the first family and other guests.

Peter performed on and arranged Dianne Reeves’ Grammy® winning release A Little Moonlight. He also appeared in George Clooney’s 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck as well as being the featured pianist and an arranger on the Grammy® winning soundtrack. Peter has performed, toured and recorded with Wynton Marsalis, Chris Botti, Betty Carter, Christian McBride and Joshua Redman as well as the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. In 2014 Peter was selected to tour with “Newport Now 60”, an all-star ensemble that toured nationwide in celebration of the iconic festival’s 60th anniversary.

Peter attended the Juilliard School of Music and is a former member of the faculties of Northwestern University and Southern Illinois University (Edwardsville). He has performed workshops and master classes at institutions worldwide, including Oberlin College, Northwestern University, Duke University, the Carnegie Hall Professional Training Workshops, Steinway Piano Gallery, the Rotterdam Conservatory, and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music in Glasgow.

Raised by parents who are both classical musicians, Peter began studying violin and piano at age three. After graduating from high school, Peter received the Presidential Scholar in the Arts award from President Reagan. He then attended The Juilliard School in New York on scholarship, studying with Martin Canin, until moving to New Orleans in 1990.

While in New Orleans Martin honed his skills working with key musicians such as Nicholas Payton, Germaine Bazzle, Chris Thomas, Alvin Batiste, Brian Blade and Victor Goines. He also embarked on an active solo career and toured and recorded with artists such as Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Chris Botti, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. 

Peter has also performed with the Berlin Philharmonic with Simon Rattle, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony as well as numerous other orchestras around the world.

Peter performed on and arranged Dianne Reeves’ Grammy winning release A Little Moonlight as well as co-produced her 2004 Blue Note CD Chrismas Time Is Here. Peter appeared in George Clooney’s 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck as well as being featured on the Grammy® winning soundtrack.

Martin was named “Best Jazz Artist” of 2010 and 2012 in ST. Louis’ Riverfront Times, and was honored with the Arts & Education Council’s Excellence in the Arts award in 2012. In 2013 he was awarded one of the inaugural Artist Fellowships by the Regional Arts Commission in St. Louis.

In February 2010, Peter premiered a unique Jazz concert series in St. Louis, Peter Martin Music: LIVE!, bringing in legends in the jazz community that he has played with around the world for intimate concerts at the renowned Sheldon Concert Hall.  The series has been raved as some of the best jazz concerts in St. Louis, described by the St. Louis Post Dispatch as “the kind of crowd-pleasing event that proves that, when performed with energy and style, jazz can indeed connect with folks who aren’t necessarily diehard fans of the music.”

In January 2011, Peter was honored to have played with a select group of American jazz musicians for a featured performance at the White House State Dinner with President and Mrs. Obama welcoming China’s president.

Martin’s latest release is WHAT LIES AHEAD, his first trio recording in 8 years. Peter Martin is a Steinway Piano Artist and a former member the faculties of Southern Illinois University (Edwardsville) and Northwestern University in Chicago, IL as well as a permanent Artist-in-Residence with Jazz St. Louis’ JazzU program.