WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL SITE OF JAMES MARTIN
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CD Release |
Latest Reviews & Accolades for the recently released recording album:
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“[A] varied, moving and entertaining album…” - Seth Colter Walls, The New York Times
“Every song listened to and listened to again is one splendid discovery or rediscovery. Every song shines. Powerful voices of music that American history has, deliberately or not, 'forgotten'. The listener will not be disappointed." - Kathodik webzine “Martin projects a dramatically vivid presence throughout, always attentive to the sense of story contained in each song. His expressive diction and finely calibrated vocal coloration underscore the singer’s admiration for the poets whose work is likewise represented on ‘Wide as Heaven’.” - Gramophone “[James Martin] uses his attractive lyric baritone with great flexibility. In his pianism Raley demonstrates the same kind of flexibility in responding to the range of styles and moods on…a wide-ranging and powerful recital. Five stars: A beautiful and moving collection of songs by Black American composers” - Henry Fogel “Five stars: A thought-provoking, superbly annotated, well-recorded and finely performed disc of must-hear music… that begs to be heard. These are songs of the highest integrity.” - Colin Clarke "The piano sonata is a stunning, spacious work. Walker is at his finest in the songs. Each one is a gem. ...James Martin's warm baritone, concise diction, and wide variety of colors are a perfect match for these songs." - (American Record Guide) "Martin's baritone is quite rich..." - Richard Covello, Chicago Tribune |
"And opera buffs should watch for James Martin, a baritone with a big, beautiful easy rolling voice. Mr. Martin also tap-dances, as he showed in "Mo 'Lasses," by Charles Roberts; the program cited a 'tap-dancing Papageno.' Bring it on." - Anne Midgette, NY Times
"The versatile...brilliantly talented...Martin may be the only baritone who sings Falstaff, Figaro, Don Giovanni, and would also be at home in a production of Ain't Misbehavin'." - Alan Gomberg, Talkin' Broadway.com "Mozart's frosting on the cake is James Martin, who can sing, dance and do slapstick with equal agility." - Highland Park News "The Burleigh arrangements were given with fine artistry and seriousness by ...James Martin, a lyric baritone...bravely confronting lyrics from a long-gone era of racial stereotyping, gave a smart, wildly comic rendering of ["I May be Crazy, but I Ain't No Fool" sic.]" - Paul Griffiths, NY TImes "Smouldering convincingly as Matthew Henson." - William Littler, Toronto Star "James Martin...[was] excellent...and effective Henson, clear-voice and subtle." - Robert Harris, The Globe and Mail, Toronto "Martin,...in excellent voice...breathed warmth into the role of Henson." - Tamara Bernstein, National Post, Toronto "The two soloists here were excellent: James Martin an engaging and nicely light-toned baritone." - Paul Griffiths, NY Times "Martin practically steals the show, between his opulent voice and keenly comic performance," - Leah A. Zeldes, Lerner Newspapers, Chicago |
Reviews/Articles:
N.Y. Region/Arts/Westchester
Dec. 6, 2014 From Rags to Religion in a Holiday Concert By Phillip Lutz “For all the richness of its offerings, Copland House, the organization devoted to showcasing American music, was perennially lacking in programming ideas when the December holidays rolled round. “We could never get a handle on it,” Michael Boriskin, a pianist and the group’s artistic and executive director, said last month. That changed in October 2011, when Mr. Boriskin experienced what he called a “thunderclap” moment during a rehearsal for Copland House’s annual fund-raising gala. It occurred as he and the baritone James Martin began running through the bracing spiritual “Ride On, King Jesus,” a highlight of the African-American-themed event….”
November 13, 2014
On Elite Campuses, an Arts Race By James S. Russell “By contrast, many public institutions are struggling to do more with less. James Martin, who teaches music at the private Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., and has taught at the state’s public colleges as well, said that the public schools “are trying to get their culture offerings up to speed, but they are hard to fund.”” |
NY Culture
Oct. 13, 2004 Music to Feed the Soul (and Stomach) By Corinne Ramey “When the baritone James Martin finished performing and finally tucked into dessert (“preserved summer fruits in CONCERT with sheep’s milk ricotta and almond macaroon shard”), the Broadway composer Jeffrey Stock, who was Ms. Bernstein’s date, had his line ready. “You really sang for your supper,” he said to Mr. Martin.” 
Performing arts reviews
Monday, February 14, 2011 New York Festival of Song "...the evening's splendid performances - by soprano Sari Gruber, mezzo-soprano Liza Forrester and baritone James Martin (with a cameo appearance by tenor Joe Shadday, a University of Maryland graduate student) - were as notable for their musical subtlety as they were for their sharp and deliciously spicy theatricality." 
OCTOBER 15, 2012
History and Song at the Gardner by Cashman Kerr Prince “The final artist to appear was James Martin, baritone, who sang with solid support and a sweet voice which had the virtue of seeming natural and wholly unaffected. (It is a true testament to artifice, high mastery of artistic training, that it effaces itself and seems natural.)” |
EXPERIENCE AND ACCLAIMBaritone James C. Martin has won critical acclaim for his performances in opera, musical theater, and concert as a versatile singer, actor, and entertainer.
Always an audience favorite, his artistic repertoire spans from Bach to be-bop, Busoni to Burleigh, and Berg to Bernstein. He has appeared with leading musical organizations throughout the United States and abroad, including the opera companies of Mississippi, Chicago, San Francisco, Santa Fe, St. Louis, New York, Toronto, Strasbourg, Basel, and Oslo; the music festivals of Marlboro, Ravinia, Aspen, Moab, Colmar, and Tel Aviv; and concert appearances at the Concertgebouw, the Library of Congress, Washington National Cathedral, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall. Read More... |
INSPIRING THE YOUTH In addition to a successful performance career Mr. Martin is an accomplished teacher, coach, director, producer, facilitator, and arts education advocate.
As a Teaching Artist he has toured classrooms and educational performance venues for The Metropolitan Opera Guild, New York City Opera, New York Festival of Song, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Opera in the Neighborhoods, and Mississippi Opera. James has served on voice faculty as Teaching Artist in Residence at Jackson State University and Millsaps College where he was director/founder of the Lyric Performance Practicum and chair/founder of the Millsaps Music Symposiums. Read More... |
Contact James Martin: 62 W. South St., Carlisle, PA 17013 • 601-212-0063 • [email protected]