Biography
Throughout a career spanning over thirty five years Martin France has performed and recorded with some of the world's finest and creative musicians. He has performed in all five continents including concerts and tours in over forty countries worldwide. He is currently Professor of Jazz - Drums/Percussion at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Martin began performing at the age of twelve backing singers in Working Men's clubs with Organ trios in and around Manchester in the North of England. He studied under Geoff Riley, Kenny Clare and Richard Smith - Principal Percussionist with the Halle Orchestra. After moving to London in 1983 he began his recording career performing on several records for Manfred Eicher’s ECM label. He has since gone on to record over one hundred CD’s for a variety of different artists since his ECM debut.
He has been invited to perform with many orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, London Sinfonietta, BBC Concert Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Wales, Liverpool Philharmonic, City of London Sinfonia, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Radio Big Band, BBC Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, ASKO Ensemble - Amsterdam, Danish Radio Big Band - Copenhagen, HR Big Band – Frankfurt, WDR Symphony Orchestra – Cologne, MDR Sinfonieorchester Leipzig, Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra, The European Jazz Orchestra – Portugal. He is also a regular performer with NDR Big Band in Hamburg.
He has been active for many years as a studio musician in London performing on numerous recording sessions with many of the world’s leading composers, conductors and arrangers for both European and American Film and TV productions. He is also involved in composing music for KPM/EMI Music in London, the music from which has been used extensively for worldwide TV and commercial broadcast.
Along the way Martin has performed and recorded with some of the world's most diverse and finest musicians including Elvis Costello, Evan Parker, David Gilmour, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, Ralph Towner, John Dankworth, Lee Konitz, Dave Holland, Arild Anderson, Mark Johnson, Steve Swallow, Bob Mintzer and The Yellowjackets, Norma Winstone, Nils-Petter Molvaer, Bugge Wesseltoft, Arve Henriksen, Mike Gibbs, Maria Schneider, Gwilym Simcock, Sidsel Endresen, John Paul Jones, Stephen Warbeck, Anders Jormin, Victor Bailey, Eivind Aarset, J. Peter Schwalm, Charles Hazelwood, Palle Danielsson, June Tabor, Claire Martin, Dave McKean, David Binney, Adam Rogers, Django Bates, Jason Rebello, Joanna MacGregor, Liane Carroll, Charlie Mariano, Charles Hazlewood, Paul Englishby, John Surman, Joe Lovano and Mark Feldman to name but a few.
His pioneering use of electronic and sequenced Drums/Percussion has resulted in performances and recording sessions for many contrasting musical projects for a variety of artists. He has also released two critically acclaimed CD’s with his own band - Spin Marvel. They recently performed a “return” performance at Cheltenham Jazz Festival in the UK with the line up featuring amongst others Nils-Petter Molvaer (tpt) and John Paul Jones (bass) of Led Zeppelin fame.
Martin began performing at the age of twelve backing singers in Working Men's clubs with Organ trios in and around Manchester in the North of England. He studied under Geoff Riley, Kenny Clare and Richard Smith - Principal Percussionist with the Halle Orchestra. After moving to London in 1983 he began his recording career performing on several records for Manfred Eicher’s ECM label. He has since gone on to record over one hundred CD’s for a variety of different artists since his ECM debut.
He has been invited to perform with many orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, London Sinfonietta, BBC Concert Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Wales, Liverpool Philharmonic, City of London Sinfonia, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Radio Big Band, BBC Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, ASKO Ensemble - Amsterdam, Danish Radio Big Band - Copenhagen, HR Big Band – Frankfurt, WDR Symphony Orchestra – Cologne, MDR Sinfonieorchester Leipzig, Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra, The European Jazz Orchestra – Portugal. He is also a regular performer with NDR Big Band in Hamburg.
He has been active for many years as a studio musician in London performing on numerous recording sessions with many of the world’s leading composers, conductors and arrangers for both European and American Film and TV productions. He is also involved in composing music for KPM/EMI Music in London, the music from which has been used extensively for worldwide TV and commercial broadcast.
Along the way Martin has performed and recorded with some of the world's most diverse and finest musicians including Elvis Costello, Evan Parker, David Gilmour, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, Ralph Towner, John Dankworth, Lee Konitz, Dave Holland, Arild Anderson, Mark Johnson, Steve Swallow, Bob Mintzer and The Yellowjackets, Norma Winstone, Nils-Petter Molvaer, Bugge Wesseltoft, Arve Henriksen, Mike Gibbs, Maria Schneider, Gwilym Simcock, Sidsel Endresen, John Paul Jones, Stephen Warbeck, Anders Jormin, Victor Bailey, Eivind Aarset, J. Peter Schwalm, Charles Hazelwood, Palle Danielsson, June Tabor, Claire Martin, Dave McKean, David Binney, Adam Rogers, Django Bates, Jason Rebello, Joanna MacGregor, Liane Carroll, Charlie Mariano, Charles Hazlewood, Paul Englishby, John Surman, Joe Lovano and Mark Feldman to name but a few.
His pioneering use of electronic and sequenced Drums/Percussion has resulted in performances and recording sessions for many contrasting musical projects for a variety of artists. He has also released two critically acclaimed CD’s with his own band - Spin Marvel. They recently performed a “return” performance at Cheltenham Jazz Festival in the UK with the line up featuring amongst others Nils-Petter Molvaer (tpt) and John Paul Jones (bass) of Led Zeppelin fame.
Educator
Martin has taught and conducted masterclasses at many institutions throughout the world, which include continuing associations and affiliations with:
Royal College of Music, London
Trinity College of Music, London
Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London
Middlesex University – Trent Park, London
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
Leeds College of Music, Leeds - External Examiner
Birmingham Conservatoire - External Examiner
The University of York, York
Rhythmic Conservatoire, Copenhagen
Dartington International Summer School, UK
For the last five years Martin has held the position of Professor of Jazz Drum Kit at The Royal Academy of Music in London. The high standards set by this institution have resulted in a number of his students going on to become some of the most sought after and successful Drummers currently on the UK and European music scene, while others have continued to secure prominent teaching and orchestral positions both within the UK and abroad.
Royal College of Music, London
Trinity College of Music, London
Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London
Middlesex University – Trent Park, London
Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
Leeds College of Music, Leeds - External Examiner
Birmingham Conservatoire - External Examiner
The University of York, York
Rhythmic Conservatoire, Copenhagen
Dartington International Summer School, UK
For the last five years Martin has held the position of Professor of Jazz Drum Kit at The Royal Academy of Music in London. The high standards set by this institution have resulted in a number of his students going on to become some of the most sought after and successful Drummers currently on the UK and European music scene, while others have continued to secure prominent teaching and orchestral positions both within the UK and abroad.
Endorsements
Martin has been featured and reviewed in numerous articles and magazines and has been interviewed for publications such as “Rhythm”, “Drummer” , "Sound on Sound" and "Mike Dolbear" here in the UK. He is an endorsee for Vic Firth/Korg, Paiste Cymbals and Evans Drum Heads.
