Paul San Martín
Blues
Boogie Woogie
& Jazz Piano
Born in San Sebastian (1979). Paul has a bachelor's degree in Jazz piano, and his great passion has been Blues, ever since he began with the classical piano at the age of twelve. His first contact with Blues was through the groups of Rhythm & British Blues of the 60s. Playing live since the age of 15, he is currently immersed in the tradition of the Blues piano styles, such as Stride or Boogie Woogie. In 2011, his first solo work, 'Tracks', on piano and voice, on the label Gaztelupeko Hotsak Recording, came to light. Standing out among his influences are, among others, Alan Price, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roosevelt Sykes, Memphis Slim, Otis Spann, Sunnyland Slim, Dr John, Professor Longhair and James Booker.
Along with his group Stay Blues, he took part in various Blues festivals and participated, for five consecutive years, in the Jazz festival in San Sebastian. In the summer of 2007, the band released their first album.
Over the course of his already wide-ranging career, Paul San Martin has collaborated with artists of great relevance, among whom are the likes of, Nico Wayne Toussaint, Otis Grand, Lluís Coloma, James Armstrong, Ñaco Goñi, Slam Allen, Sax Gordon, Chris Ruest and the legendary Blues legend, Billy Boy Arnold. In 2013, Paul, once again, recorded, his latest work on piano and voice, 'Paul's Mood', a new pianistic venture into the different styles of the Blues. His last album 'A French Session' (2019), has been recorded in France with international musicians.
Playlist
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A French Session
Paul San Martin, Abdell B.Bop & Romain GratalonRecording: 2019
- What Can I Do / 0:00
- What Can I Do / 0:00
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Own discography
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A French Session
Paul San Martin, Abdell B.Bop & Romain Gratalon2019
Different circumstances and events have led to a representative portion of my musical life transcurring in France. It has been quite a while since Nico Wayne Toussaint first invited me to play with him at La Luna Negra in Bayona. Since then, the forays are too numerous to tell. In 2013 I met the drummer Romain Gratalon, with whom I worked as a duet for a long time until the opportunity to play at the emblematic Caveau de la Huchette in Paris called for the incorporation of a double bass. I immediately thought of Abdell B.Bop, with whom I had already played and who has played for the likes of Lynwood Slim, R.J Mischo, The Cashbox Kings, Joel Patterson, Rod Piazza or Sean Costello, to name but a few. And that’s what led me to thinking of doing an album forming a trio with Romain and Abdell, recorded in 2 flying visits to Abdell’s house, where he has his studio, Big Spoon Records. The takes were respected from start to finish without editing, capturing the feeling of the moment. On starting the first day, one of the hammers in the piano broke and we had to wait until the following day for it to be repaired. Even so, we had to make the most of that day and record what wecould – without that hammer !... All very Cassavettes. The great sax player, Tejerizo Sylvain blew the hot stuff we needed into 2 tracks and Chris Ruest, one of the top guitar players in Austin, transmuted into Earl Hooker on ‘This little voice’. The result is a ‘live’ record, true to the bone. A true reflection of those endless nights at the Caveau de la Huchette.
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Single
Paul San Martín & Romain Gratalon2016
In 2011, while touring with the great French harp player, Nico Wayne Toussaint, Paul San Martin met drummer Romain Gratalon (Dax, France, 1989). They immediately hit it off and decided to create a duet inspired by Memphis Slim and Michel Denis. Over the last few years they have performed numerous concerts in France and in Spain.
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Paul's Mood
2013
Paul San Martin makes use of Blues, Boogie Woogie, Jazz themes composed and/or performed by artists/authors such as Jelly Roll Morton, Memphis Slim, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Evans: a list of first-rate musicians. The bottom line in a record of this kind is not only the skill of the musician (he play the piano very well and his singing is evocative) but also the ability to leave his personal stamp on the tracks, and give the recording a conceptual sense of unit assembly, something which is achieved from beginning to end.
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Tracks
2011
First solo work conceived in a piano-blues style, which includes 12 compositions, interspersing instrumental pieces with songs. Eleven of them are Blues, Boogie Woogie, Gospel or Jazz classics composed during the first half of the twentieth century. The recording opens with "44 Blues", chosen by San Martin as his favorite of this work, and It also includes the original composition "Oihana".
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Stay Blues
2007
Founded by Alvaro Fdez Gaviria (harmonica) and Paul San Martin (piano and vocals), Stay Blues was musically active for over 10 years, recreating the tradition of blues in the countless gigs performed in small honky-tonks as well as in the various festivals held in and around the Basque Country. Soon afterwards, they were joined by Fernando "Lucho" Neira and more recently by Karlos Aranzegi (drums). Their long-awaited debut album was released in the summer of 2007.
Colaborations
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Rafael Berrio
EP2020
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Mingo Balaguer
Blue Shadow2020
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Mojo Hand
2019
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Rafael Berrio
Niño Futuro2019
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Verteramo Trio
#EuropaBluesTour2018
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Velma Powell & Bluedays
Blues To The Bone2018
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Billy Prince
Live!2017
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Blues Train
2017
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Javi Fermín
Soy un Antiguo2015
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Triz3ps
Buenas Nuevas2014
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The Romanticos
My Time2012
Vídeos
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Roll 'em Pete
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I Can't Sleep
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"I Just Called" (Aaron Moore)
Paul & Friends
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San Telmo
San Sebastian / Donostia
Photo: Lolo Vasco
2020
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19. Schl8hof Bluesfestival
Wels (Austria)
Photo: Klaus Weingartner
2020
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Jazzland
Viena
2020
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Visiting Martin Pyrker
Wels (Austria)
2019
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Stage et rencontres music Blues
Villeneuve sur Lot
Photo: Gérard Gouyou
2018
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With Carl Sonny Leyland & Lluís Coloma
Boogie Woogie Jubilée (Hospitalet)
Photo: Njoan
2017
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Constitution Square
51 Jazzaldia
2016
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Playing Hammond B-3 Organ for Betty Harris
Mojo Workin, Donostia R&B Weekend
2017
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With Henry Gray
2016
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Playing in La Coquette with Edu “Big Hands”
Madrid
2016
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Recording at Jacques Morgatini's House
Gan, France
2016
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With Christoph Rois
Laroquebrou
2015
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Hondarribia Blues Festival
Photo: Aitor Izaguirre
2015
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At Jazzaldia
San Sebastian / Donostia
2015
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Jazzaldia
Donostia / San Sebastian
2015
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With Chris Ruest
Contis, France
2015
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Laroquebrou
France
2015
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Le Caveau de la Huchette
Paris
2014
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Paul San Martin & Romain Gratalon
2015
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Accompanying Billy Boy Arnold
Mojo Workin, Donostia R&B Weekend
2014
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Presenting Paul's Mood
2014
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French tour
2013
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With Axel Zwingenberger in Son Bauló
Lloret de Vistalegre, Mallorca
2011
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With David Maxwell at Hondarribia Blues Festival
Hondarribia
2011
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Jazzaldi / Stay Blues
Donostia / San Sebastian
2010
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With Pinetop Perkins
Hondarribia
2010
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Visiting Barrelhouse Chuck
Libertyville, Illinois
2009
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Gerry Hundt Band
Tournon d' Agenais, Francia
Photo: Michel Cambon
2008
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At Erwin Helfer´s House
Chicago
2009
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Piano duo with Lluís Coloma, in Nova Jazz Cava Terrassa
Tarrasa
2008
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Stay Blues
2008
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Stay Blues
2008