KCC Productions and the Van Dyke Cafe present the Martin Bejerano Quartet, with special guest Ludwig Afonso, Thursday, January 20, at 9 PM. The Van Dyke is located at 846 Lincoln Road, South Beach. For more information, call 305-534-3600 or visit thevandykecafe.com.
Martin Bejerano, a native of Miami, Florida, has been active as a professional musician since the age of fifteen. A graduate of the esteemed New World School of the Arts, he received full scholarships to Florida State University, and to the University of Miami, where he received a M.M. in Jazz Piano Performance. After winning third place in the prestigious 1999 Great American Jazz Piano Competition, Martin moved to New York City in the summer of 2000 to pursue a career in jazz. In less than a year, he was asked to join the quartet of legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes, earning a Grammy nomination in 2004 for Best Instrumental Jazz Album. In January 2002, Martin also joined internationally acclaimed guitarist Russell Malone’s quartet, and continues to tour and record with both these groups, as well as being a highly in-demand sideman. Martin has performed most of the major jazz festivals, clubs and venues around the world with such jazz luminaries as the Christian McBride Band, Kenny Garrett, Roy Hargrove, Adam Nussbaum, Lonnie Plaxico Group, Ignacio Berroa, Mingus Big Band, Arturo Sandoval, and even traded choruses with the legendary Chick Corea. Martin’s career as a solo artist has also begun to blossom with his debut CD as a leader, Evolution/Revolution (Reservoir) released in 2007 to high critical praise. Martin has performed with his group at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Arturo Sandoval’s Jazz Club, The Kitano, The Jazz Gallery, and was recently awarded the prestigious New Jazz Works composer/ensemble grant from Chamber Music of America. Currently Martin spends his time between Miami and New York City, and holds teaching positions at the University of Miami and Broward College He is featured on several recent recordings, including Evolution/Revolution, Roy Haynes’s A Life In Time and Fountain of Youth, Russell Malone’s Live at Jazz Standard Vol. 2, and Lonnie Plaxico Group’s Live at Jazz Standard.
