Remember the name Amanda Martinez because we're going to hear a lot more from this very talented Canadian Latina artist. She captures the raw emotion and passion of Latin music that is well beyond her years, making the rest of us sit up and listen."
Claudia Garcia de la Huerta, Host Big City Small World, CBC Radio 99.1FM
Amanda’s debut album, SOLA, captures the heart and draws you into the moment with her sensuous, soulful voice accompanied by soothing guitar under a gentle pulse of percussion. The collection of her original and traditional songs have beautiful lyrics sung in Spanish, English and Portuguese.
”Music is in my blood. It was always a part of family gatherings” says Martinez, born to a Mexican-born father and South African Jewish mother. Traveling to Mexico and Cuba gave her a feel for the jazz, Latino and Afro Cuban music scene in which she has been performing since 2001. “It was there that my family saturated me with the music of Cuban trovadores like Pablo Milanes, Sylvio Rodriguez, and Latin American greats like Mercedes Sosa, Elis Regina and Chavela Vargas.” Martinez also credits Mexican Lila Downs and Canadian Lhasa de Sela, as inspiring her to pay tribute to her roots by introducing the traditional folkloric elements of her album.
Having been immersed in the melodies of Latin jazz giants, Amanda’s own stylized mixes of bossa-infused Afro Cuban rhythms, Mexican folk, and jazz leave Latin music lovers enthralled, amused and blissfully mesmerized.
Supporting Toronto’s music scene has been very important to Amanda. She is a vital force for the Latin music community, promoting both local and international artists through her weekly radio show Café Latino on JAZZFM91 that she hosts and produces. (www.jazz.fm) In return, Amanda has gained a great reputation as a valuable part of the growing community. Says Hilario Duran, internationally renowned Latin jazz pianist and band leader, this year’s Latin Jazz Artist of the year, “Amanda Martinez tiene una voz muy calida y llena de pasión. Su disco SOLA es un derroche de sensualidad, dulzura y buena musica latina. Un verdadero regalo para los oídos.” ( Amanda Martinez has a voice filled with warmth and passion. Her album Sola bursts of sweet sensuality and great Latin music. A real gift for the ears.) Multiple Juno award winning saxophonist Jane Bunnett agrees “I love Amanda’s record Sola. She has a soulful moving voice. Whatever life throws at you, Amanda’s record will wash it away.”
Since entering Toronto’s jazz and Latin music scene as band leader and singer, Amanda Martinez has performed in duo to octet formations at festivals such as TD Canada Trust Jazz Festival, The Distillery Jazz Festival, and Harbourfront's Ritmo y Color Festival. A regular at jazz clubs in the downtown core, the rising vocalist has been featured on CBC’s Big City Small World, Metro Morning with Andy Barry, as well as OMNI Culture and Bravo!.