Tag: phil martin

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Martin & Garp – Sentimental Fools – Debut Album

Cover art Sentimental Fools - Martin & Garp

Dutch musician and producer Phil Martin has always been interested in the West Coast music scene and distinctive sounds from the late 70s era. Artist like Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, The Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles all featured heavily in his diet of music when he was growing up. As a producer and songwriter, Phil has historically been more active in Soul & Jazz music. He has produced albums for successful projects such as The Jazzinvaders, Laura Vane & the Vipertones and The Soul Snatchers, all busy touring bands with international radio support.

After working on a project with singer Lo van Gorp (Garp) from the Netherlands, Phil found the perfect vocal fit to his recordings for his own West Coast flavored pop album. Together with other songwriters like Joel Sarakula and Laura Vane he began writing and producing songs. Lo van Gorp is a well known backing singer and saxophonist in Holland, recognized for his work backing many bigger artists like Marco Borsato, Paul Carrack, Roger Hodgson, Chaka Khan, Trijntje Oosterhuis and Al Jarreau, to name a few.

The sound of Martin & Garp can best be described as feel-good, radio friendly melodies romantically looking back to California in the 70s. In amongst the catchy guitar and synth licks and luxurious harmonies, the theme is the unifying effect of music in the quest for sunny optimism. This album spills groovy rhythms like in the first single “Making Up”, together with jazz harmonies and smooth vocals as in the second single “Told You Straight”. Imagine that ‘feel-good record’ that has to be played loudly in your convertible, recorded by super-pro musicians on original analog equipment. Cruising down the coast with the wind in your hair, darting in and out of the shade created by beach-side palm trees: That’s “Sentimental Fools”.

After previously releasing 2 singles (Making Up & Told You Straight) at the end of 2020, It’s now time for the debut album by Martin & Garp. ‘Sentimental Fools’ will officially be released on Légère Recordings from Hamburg on January 15th 2021 and be available on all major digital streaming platforms, compact disc and vinyl. At Légère Recordings Martin & Garp will be in good company with Westcoast label mates and popular artists Young Gun Silverfox, Mama’s Gun and Joel Sarakula a.o.

CREDITS

  • Lo van Gorp (vox), Phil Martin (drums), Edwin in ‘t Veld (guitars), Ton van der Kolk (bass), Govert van der Kolm (keys), Joel Sarakula (keys), Maarten Teekens (backing vox) & Kees Elsman (mouth harp).
  • Album was recorded, mixed an produced by Phil Martin.
  • Mastering by Edwin in ‘t Veld

Het debuut album van Martin & Garp ‘Sentimental Fools’ is vanaf nu te koop bij Socialbeats.com. Zolang de voorraad strekt 😉

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Rheintraum debut album coming up

Social Beats is planning on releasing several new albums, singles and EP’s this year. First up is the digital release of Rheintraum’s self titled debut album out on April 3rd 2020. Social Beats label boss Phil Martin is a busy man but managed to complete a brand new album by a brand new group called Rheintraum.

Rheintraum

Rheintraum, the band: two Dutch funk musicians who discovered a shared obsession with the experimental German underground rock and proto-techno of the 70s. Phil Martin on ‘motorik’ drums, keyboards, bass and percussion. Tim den Heijer on guitars. No script, no rules, no pre-made compositions: just spontaneous playing and rigorous editing.
 
Rheintraum, the album: 13 instrumental tracks. Inspired by NEU!, Harmonia, Can, Cluster and early ‪Kraftwerk‬, with shades of Bowie & Eno in Berlin. From the ‘immer gerade aus’ drive of opener BAB57 to the peaceful, yet uneasy piano and feedback closer Zeitraum, the album wears its influences on its sleeve. Yet mixes these up in often unexpected ways. 
 
Rheintraum, the elevator pitch: this album has much to offer to fans of the genre formally (and to some, problematically) known as Krautrock. But fans of Bowie, Eno or ‪Radiohead‬ will also surely recognize and enjoy the influences and sounds on this album. File under: instrumental music for driving through imaginary landscapes.

On april 3rd 2020, the album will be available on all digital platforms and this website. Till then the following Youtube playlist will be your best friend giving you a sneak peak 😉

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Phil Martin: Socialized Jazz Beats Vol 2

Press Release :
To get a strong idea of what is taking place on the European Nu-jazz dance floors at the moment the second edition of ‘Socialized JazzBeats’, the successful compilation from the Dutch label Social Beats, would be a great example. With tracks & remixes by artists including Diesler, The Jazzinvaders, Idea6, Solo Moderna, The Houdini, Monsieur Dubois and DJ Maestro, ‘Socialized JazzBeats 2’, compiled by Phil Martin, also highlights how Social Beats interoperates jazz; Modern, danceable electronica production combined with traditional jazz instruments. This is indeed new jazz!!

Track-by-track commentary :

1. Praful – Corpo Suado (Phil Martin remix)
This track was on the album One Day Deep by the Dutch / German saxophone player Praful. He had a big success in the US with this record. I love the vocals on this track that were done (of de vocal part is done) by Lilian Vieira of the group Zuco 103. Samba meets the jazz sound of The Jazzinvaders. Great piano playing by Erwin Hoorweg (The Jazzinvaders) on this remix.

2. Diesler – Revelations (Draaikolk ft. Jazzinvaders remix)
This remix is done by Ton van der Kolk alias Draaikolk. Bassplayer of the Soul Snatchers and my musical partner in lots of other productions. After he came up with the groove and bass line, we asked the Jazzinvaders to fill in all the instruments. It’s one of my favourite remixes we done so far, also available on 7″ on freestyle records. We are crazy about the voice of Laura Vane!

3. The Houdini’s – My Lost Hands Crumbles (Eddie Roberts remix)
In 2007 I produced an album with the Houdini’s called Unleashed and Remixed. One of my favourite jazz groups in Holland. I asked my favourite producers / musicians to fool around with the Houdini’s music. This is the track that guitar player Eddie Roberts of The New Mastersounds came up with. So funky and groovy and what a great guitar solo!

4. Frank Montis – Illusions
Frank has been a friend of mine for some years now. Besides being a great organ player in The Soul Snatchers, Frank has got his own jazzy pop style when playing his own music. Right now I am producing his debut album. We’re definitely going to hear more from him!

5. The Beets Brothers – Reunion Blues (Phil Martin remix)
Marius Beets – one of the well-known Beets Brothers – gave me the tracks of this song that they had just recorded. He asked me to do something with this tune. Well, I just gave it the right groove and the right sound, so let’s boogaloo!

6. Monsieur Dubois – Spy’s Methaphor (Phil Martin remix)
I did this remix two years ago but they couldn’t release the track, so we thought we could better do it ourselves! Monsieur Dubios released two great Nu-Jazz albums, this track was taken from their first album ‘Ruff’. Their style is described as danceable hard jazz. Please check out this great Dutch Nu-Jazz Movement!

7. DJ Maestro and Sven Vigee – Damn that Beat (Phil Martin remix)
DJ Maestro is well known for his Blue Note compilations but he has also produced some music. This is one of my favourite tracks with Tineke Postma on saxophone and Peter Beets (The Beets Brothers) on the piano.

8. The Houdini’s – No More Yesterdays
Not too many people have heard about Gianni de Luca but after this remix that might change! Once again he delivered a very nice remix of a song that was already very danceable. The track was originally for the Houdini’s Remixed album but it deserves more attention. A drivin’ beat, great guitar playing by Eelco van de Meeberg and some superb saxophone playing by Rolf Delfos! A killer track.

9. Jaffa – An Echo Remains
Jaffa is a new project I started with the Dutch vocalist Christel Meijer. I love her voice and she’s full of great ideas for songs. We’re aiming to get a complete album together next year. On this track trumpet player Jan van Duikeren, of the Jazzinvaders, is playing along.

10. Solo Moderna – Bop the Ragtop
A jazzy tune taken from Solo’s debut album Boogalookalikes on SocialBeats. Solo has got some good dancefloor stuff and there’s always a strange twist and funny vibe to his songs. This one got a good jazz flavour.

11. The Jazzinvaders – Day by Day
It’s one of the popular songs on The Jazzinvaders second album ‘Blow!’ Just a good jazzy bossa track with vocals by Frank Montis.

12. Idea6 – New Born
Paolo Scotti asked me to do a remix on this one. He just delivered ‘Metropoli’, a great album by the Italian group Idea6. I liked the tune already, so I only changed the groove and added some new piano parts by Erwin Hoorweg and some saxophone by Tom Beek, both Jazzinvaders members.

13. The Houdini’s – Catch 22 Hot (The Jazzinvaders remix)
It’s the mighty Houdini’s again. As a remixer you just can’t go wrong on this stuff. What a pleasure it is to work with such great tracks. Having that kind of material, it’s inevitable: a steaming beat and some hardbop licks: jazzy satisfaction on the dance floor!

14. The Jazzinvaders – Perugia (Diesler Remix)
I’ve been in contact with Jonathan (Diesler) for several years now. Over time we did quite a few remixes for each other. It’s always nice to work with this talent. Once again he added his trademark: getting tunes into a tempting dancefloor vibe. You just can’t sit down on this one!