Pianist
Composer
Arranger
Conductor
Musical omnivore Martin Fondse is a jazz and contemporary music pianist, composer and arranger. The customarily accepted boundaries between genres like classical music, jazz, Latin and world music simply do not exist in his world.
Biography
Musical omnivore Martin Fondse (February 20, 1967, Bergen Op Zoom) is a jazz and contemporary music pianist, composer and arranger who won the prestigious Dutch Boy Edgar Prize in 2017. The customarily accepted boundaries between genres like classical music, jazz, Latin and world music simply do not exist in his world.
Fondse’s creativity in composing and arranging is distinctive. It reveals a humorous and narrative style ranging from poetic, empathetic to delicate. He often devotes the fruits of his wide-ranging interests in large ensembles in which he can portray the full scope of his writing capacity.
In 2022 and 2023 Martin held the position of Composer Laureate of the Netherlands.
Martin Fondse has released several albums under his own name and appeared on many more as a composer, arranger or sideman. Recent works include the opening composition for the celebration of 50 years Bimhuis, Amsterdam, the Hello Cello Orkest of the Cello Biënnale 2024,Commissions from Bach Festival Dordrecht (Morningstar Cantata), Bimhuis 2022 (Diamonds) and a well received project Stop de Tijd! in collaboration with Margriet Sjoerdsma, Vrouwkje Tuinman and Matanagi Quartet. He has composed film scores for several animation and feature films, and has received both national and international awards for these as well as for his orchestral work, including Buma Music in Motion Award 2023, Buma Classical Award 2022, the Prémio da Música Brasileira (2018), Zilveren Notenkraker (2016, NJJO), the Edison National Jazz Award (2012) his score for the Dutch entry for the Oscars (2009), Phantom of the Cinema, Animated Shorts category). In 2023 Martin wrote the film score to the documentary Vogels Kun Je Niet Melken. Also he contributes regularly music to the art installations and films of environmentalist and filmer Adam Sébire. In 2018 he wrote the score for the documentary film WAD.
As a composer/arranger Martin collaborated with artists like Gregory Porter, Pat Metheny, Terry Bozzio, Lenine, Peter Erskine, Doudou N’Diaye Rose, Vernon Reid, George Duke, Christina Branco, Claudio Puntin, Eric Vloeimans, Ernst Reijseger, Mariza, Sezen Aksu, Nils Wogram, Basement Jaxx, Matthew Herbert.
Furthermore, Martin received composition commission from orchestras like Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Holland Symfonia, NDR Big Band, Matangi Quartet, Phion, hr-Bigband Frankfurt, Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, The Meridian Arts Ensemble, Metropole Orchestra.
His music has been featured on North Sea Jazz Festival, Holland Festival, Nederlandse Muziekdagen, November Music, Dutch Jazz Meeting, Elb Jazz, Rock in Rio, Tromp Percussion Festival, Cello Biënnale.
Awards
2024 BUMA Music in Media Award (MiMA)
Original Film Score for Documentary Vogels Kun Je Niet Melken (Barbara Makkinga | Witfilm )
MiMA celebrates musical achievements in film, television, advertising and other forms of media and the contribution of Dutch composers is to both national and international media productions.
2022 Buma Classical Award
Buma director Frank Helmink: “Buma Cultuur started a few years ago by annually awarding the Buma Classical Award. This is an award for a composer of contemporary classical music who had a highly successful year. We can certainly say this about this year’s winner. Not only as the hyperactive Composer Laureate, but also as the creator of diverse, beautiful, quirky, and powerful works. Therefore, it will come as no surprise that the Buma Classical Award goes to one of the most versatile composers our country has: Martin Fondse!”
2017 Boy Edgar Award
The Boy Edgar Award is the most prestigious award in Dutch jazz and improved music.
Excerpts from the jury’s report:
“The award goes to Martin Fondse in recognition of his diverse and richly colourful contribution to Dutch jazz and the music scene, his numerous ensembles, his compositions and arrangements, his contribution to film and theatre and for his role as motivator, source of inspiration for and mentor to countless young musicians and ensembles.”
2017 Prémio da Música Brasileira, category MPB
The Prémio da Música Brasileira has two main objectives: to recognize the immense variety of musical expressions in the country, encouraging the discovery of new talents, and to foster productive encounters among the various trends in contemporary native music, aiming for the highest quality across all facets of Brazilian music.
2016 NJJO has won the Zilveren Notekraker
This award was granted by peers, including musicians and actors. The NJJO was chosen by them as the most relevant new act of this season! We are proud of this achievement!
We played a special set for this occasion at Paradiso, Amsterdam.
The award was handed out by the legendary Peter Guidi, the founder and first artistic director of the NJJO. He remains one of my greatest inspirations for encouraging young people to embrace a love for jazz music. He is deeply missed to this day.
2012 Edison Award
In de categorie Jazz Nationaal is de keuze gevallen op het album ‘Testimoni’ van Martin Fondse. De jury roemt Testimoni, een suite in twee delen: ‘Interiori’ ,een introspectief deel en ‘Exteriori’: een loflied op de expressie. Prachtige composities van Martin Fondse, met de muzikale verbeeldingskracht van trompettist Eric Vloeimans en het sublieme spel van het Matangi Strijkkwartet. .
Commissions
2024 HOME
Especially for the 50th Birthday of Bimhuis Amsterdam, Martin Fondse composed the composition HOME, performed by a special large line-up under the name BigBim50. This line-up, consisting of 15 horns and a rhythm section, represents a cross-section of the (jazz) musicians who have taken the stage in recent years. BigBim50 is both a marching band, a jazz orchestra, a chamber ensemble and a powerful improvisational instrument, featuring wood, saxophones, brass, percussion, piano and guitar. HOME embodies this spirit and opens the anniversary month with a powerful and multifaceted musical spectacle.
2023 Zilver
Commissioned by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands.
Composer Laureate Martin Fondse composed a piece in honor of the posthumous award for resistance hero Jan Zwartendijk. The musical work, titled ZILVER (SILVER), premiered on Thursday, September 14. On this day—exactly 47 years after his passing—Zwartendijk was finally awarded the Golden Medal of Honor for Humane Assistance.
During the broadcast of Podium Klassiek on Sunday, September 17, Martin performed the piece live together with Jörg Brinkmann.
2022 Kitchen Stories
Commissioned by Konstantyn Napolov & Orkest De Ereprijs.
For Kitchen Stories, I was inspired by this connection between music and food culture. You will be taken to nearly all the continents of the world (Europe, Asia, North and South Americas, Africa, and Antarctica). A special place has been dedicated to Ukraine and the newly discovered continent of Zeelandia. Regional dishes are featured, such as Hoosh (Antarctica), Borscht (Ukraine) and Fast Food Fantasy (North America), alongside melodically conceived presentations by TV and online chef stars (including Zanele van Zyl from South Africa), Saito – the Sushi God of Tokyo, and Ievgen Klopotenko from Ukraine.
2022 Diamonds
Bimhuis Composition Commission.
Together with his Voice Orchestra and acclaimed Norwegian saxophonist Trygve Seim, Martin Fondse presents new music from his suite Card Games. In this suite, he uses the card game as a metaphor for life. The suite consists of five movements: Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, Clubs, and Joker. Each movement is given its own character, personality, and meaning.