Biography
Martin Hathaway is a British jazz performer, composer and music educator who works with many ensembles covering a wide range of styles. He plays saxophones, clarinets and flutes, and occasionally gigs on piano. He composes and arranges his own music for small and large ensembles and leads his own occasional groups.
As a performer, he is probably best known for his long associations with the late British jazz pianist / composer Michael Garrick, trumpeter Loz Speyer, and with the London Jazz Orchestra, where his playing and compositions are regularly featured.
Martin has worked alongside many noted international and UK jazz musicians including; Wynton Marsalis, Randy Brecker, Billy Cobham, Dave Holland, Dave Liebman, Dame Cleo Laine, Alec and Jacqui Dankworth, David Friesen, Marcus Roberts, Julian Joseph, Jason Rebello, Kenny Wheeler, Alan Barnes, Sarah Gail Brand, Zoe Rahman, Clifford Jarvis, Stacey Kent, Claire Martin, Mick Hutton, Martin Speake, Liam Noble, Julian Siegel, Phil Robson, Christine Tobin, Tom Challenger, Simon Purcell, Clark Tracey, Harry Beckett, Jason Yarde, Nikki Iles, Tina May, Digby Fairweather, Jim Mullen, Brian Dee, Bobby Worth, Pizza Express Modern Jazz Sextet.... and many others.
He has also performed with Big Bands led by Kenny Wheeler, John Surman / Karin Krog, Stan Sulzmann, Mike Westbrook, Alec Dankworth, Henry Lowther, Pete Hurt, Duncan Lamont, Gabriel Garrick and Keith Nichols, and in the early 1990s was a member of the swing orchestra Vile Bodies.
Martin also works as a session musician, including touring and recording with Radiohead, performances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and recording music for radio, television and film.
As an educator, Martin is perhaps best known for his continuing long service (since 1991) as a professor of jazz studies at the Guildhall School in London. He led jazz curricula at the school for 21 years, as Coordinator of Undergraduate Jazz 1994-2007 and Head of Jazz Studies 2007-2015, and was awarded a fellowship of the school in recognition of his work in 2011.
He is also a long serving tutor for Essex Music Services (since 1989), Musical Director of the Essex Youth Jazz Orchestra (since 1991) and the Essex Youth Jazz Quintet and Sextet, and is professor of saxophone, clarinet and keyboard at the University Centre, Colchester.
Martin is a regular tutor and leader on many short courses and workshops in the UK and internationally. He has also been a jazz consultant for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, external examiner, adjudicator at music festivals, a professor of jazz arranging, composition and jazz history at Goldsmiths’ College, London, tutor of musicianship at Junior Guildhall, and a professor of saxophone at City University, London.