Pianist Jim Martinez, based in the Sacramento, California area, began his musical career at the age of four, receiving 18 years of classical training. He has amassed a list of musical accomplishments encompassing nearly all styles of music.
Martinez, 54, is a Steinway Piano Artist and has performed/recorded with Jazz notablesLionel Hampton, Christian McBride,Roy Hargrove, Cheryl Bentyne (of the Manhattan Transfer), and many others. His performances have taken him from New York to Sydney, Australia. Martinez worked as pianist/musical director forJoan Rivers and Bob Newhart at Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe. Jim’s annual jazzy holiday concert, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” has been featured with symphony orchestras around the US, from California to Florida.
Jim has thirteen CD's to his credit as a leader. Four of these are “Jazz Praise,” his arrangements creatively combining church hymns and jazz. His 2015 CD, “Good Grief! It’s Still Jim Martinez - A Tribute to Vince Guaraldi, Charles Schulz & Peanuts” peaked at #10 on the national radio jazz charts, and was on the JazzWeek charts a total of 26 weeks.
To help you get prepared and in the spirit, every year I post my jazz trio arrangement of this old hymn from 1707. It has become synonymous with Easter. The words are awesome, and the tenderness of the melody lends itself to the most beautiful of ballads. Please take a peek and allow yourself to fall into the music. If you pray, please do. Let me know below in the comments if this helps you to relax, meditate, worship, etc. If you would like the sheet music and/or lead sheet, I'm happy to share with fellow pianists this weekend. It's taken out of my piano book, "Praise Him With Jazz", published by Hope Publishing. Video song also featuring Bill Douglass (bass), and Tony Savage (drums).