PREORDER The Upstate Project (Release date: April 14, 2017)
VISIT The Upstate Project’s website for more information
The Upstate Project is a landmark collaboration that unites a group of world-class musicians who’ve already distinguished themselves in their individual creative pursuits.
Rebecca Martin is widely recognized as one of her generation’s most talented and versatile vocalists and songwriters, effortlessly bridging the world’s of jazz and songwriting while working alongside some of the music’s most esteemed players. Argentine-born pianist-vocalist-composer-arranger Guillermo Klein is renowned throughout the jazz world for his inventive, eclectic compositional approach and his distinctive harmonic sensibility. Their rhythm section is composed of bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard, two of jazz’s most in-demand players.
The four participants’ distinctive talents interact in unexpected and inspiring ways on The Upstate Project, which offers exquisite, gently intoxicating melodies, vivid, haunting lyrics, and effortless instrumental interactions. Read more
https://rebeccamartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rm04brown.png00rebeccamartinhttps://rebeccamartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rm04brown.pngrebeccamartin2017-03-10 15:35:262025-07-13 13:33:28Rebecca Martin and Guillermo Klein’s THE UPSTATE PROJECT available to pre-order.
“Our group’s initial objection was that an enormous amount of the city of Kingston’s public water supply—1.75 million gallons per day—was to be sold to a bottling company to bottle and to sell without enough evidence that our water source could maintain that amount over the long haul,” she explained. “We were also disturbed that a multimillion-dollar corporation was allowed to purchase our water at a fraction of what local residents and businesses pay.” Generations of families in the area had invested in the local water infrastructure for a century, but, without warning, a water board could decide what would happen to a public resource without consulting the community. Martin and her fellow-activists began organizing public meetings to make residents aware of what was happening, and they went to meetings of the Kingston Common Council and Kingston Water Board to interrogate members on their decision-making. “That’s what we were managing—from my bedroom,” Martin said, laughing.
https://rebeccamartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rm04brown.png00rebeccamartinhttps://rebeccamartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rm04brown.pngrebeccamartin2016-07-08 20:58:482016-07-08 20:58:48“A Jazz Singer Fights Niagara Bottling” in The New Yorker.
UPSTATE in Today’s New York Times Arts & Leisure Section.
“BACK IN TOWN WITH TRICKY TUNES: A composer doesn’t necessarily mean a songwriter, especially in Jazz. Guillermo Klein, originally from Argentina, who has written brilliantly for his jazz groups in New York and Barcelona since the mid-90’s, never made a distinction. He creates pieces full of tricky counterpoint and canon, but h also writes emotionally direct, harmonically complex, circular songs to bee sung by himself and others….Not long ago, Mr. Klein moved back to the New York area and started collaborating with the singer Rebecca Martin and the bassist Larry Grenadier. The idea was to put lyrics to Mr. Klein’s compositions, but the repertory expanded to include other composer’s work, too. At the Rockwood Music Hall on Wednesday’s in February.”
The group is set to record in May of 2015 joined by the drummer Jeff Ballard. Recorded and Produced by Pete Rende.
https://rebeccamartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rm04brown.png00rebeccamartinhttps://rebeccamartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rm04brown.pngrebeccamartin2015-01-31 14:05:102016-05-25 16:54:32Rebecca Martin’s Collaborative Group with Guillermo Klein Called UPSTATE in New York Times.
DON’T MEAN A THING AT ALL (from the album TWAIN)
R. Martin
When all of the house lights are taken down
And all of the people there
That traveled for hundreds of miles around
To hear their songs fill the air
Their beauty, the quiet and heaviness
The shadows they recall
Don’t mean a thing at all Read more
https://rebeccamartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rm04brown.png00rebeccamartinhttps://rebeccamartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rm04brown.pngrebeccamartin2014-09-16 00:19:022025-07-13 13:35:45New Video: “Don’t Mean A Thing At All” By Rebecca Martin
What’s true for some
Just like a song could break your heart
When the sum is framed
To mislead them all
The fated cast
With the chances slim to none
Whenever the moment comes
To it may they rise. Read more
https://rebeccamartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rm04brown.png00rebeccamartinhttps://rebeccamartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rm04brown.pngrebeccamartin2014-08-25 03:26:282025-07-13 13:37:34“On a Sunday Morning”. A new original by Rebecca Martin.
I’ve seen all kinds of pictures
Most of the beauties of the world
From places I’ve traveled I still recall
This quaint melody as I thrill Read more
https://rebeccamartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rm04brown.png00rebeccamartinhttps://rebeccamartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rm04brown.pngrebeccamartin2014-08-25 02:21:552025-07-13 13:38:41Rebecca Martin & Larry Grenadier. “Portrait” by Charles Mingus.
https://rebeccamartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rm04brown.png00rebeccamartinhttps://rebeccamartin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/rm04brown.pngrebeccamartin2014-08-23 21:00:572025-07-13 13:40:18Rebecca Martin Tour Dates Fall, 2014
Rebecca Martin and Guillermo Klein’s THE UPSTATE PROJECT available to pre-order.
PREORDER
The Upstate Project (Release date: April 14, 2017)
VISIT
The Upstate Project’s website for more information
The Upstate Project is a landmark collaboration that unites a group of world-class musicians who’ve already distinguished themselves in their individual creative pursuits.
Rebecca Martin is widely recognized as one of her generation’s most talented and versatile vocalists and songwriters, effortlessly bridging the world’s of jazz and songwriting while working alongside some of the music’s most esteemed players. Argentine-born pianist-vocalist-composer-arranger Guillermo Klein is renowned throughout the jazz world for his inventive, eclectic compositional approach and his distinctive harmonic sensibility. Their rhythm section is composed of bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard, two of jazz’s most in-demand players.
The four participants’ distinctive talents interact in unexpected and inspiring ways on The Upstate Project, which offers exquisite, gently intoxicating melodies, vivid, haunting lyrics, and effortless instrumental interactions. Read more
TILLERY (Rebecca Martin, Gretchen Parlato, Becca Stevens) Available on Bandcamp Exclusively.
Now you can purchase the Tillery recording, a collaborative project by Rebecca Martin, Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens on Band Camp.
PURCHASE ON BAND CAMP
4 1/2 Stars in Downbeat Magazine (October, 2016)
“A Jazz Singer Fights Niagara Bottling” in The New Yorker.
“Our group’s initial objection was that an enormous amount of the city of Kingston’s public water supply—1.75 million gallons per day—was to be sold to a bottling company to bottle and to sell without enough evidence that our water source could maintain that amount over the long haul,” she explained. “We were also disturbed that a multimillion-dollar corporation was allowed to purchase our water at a fraction of what local residents and businesses pay.” Generations of families in the area had invested in the local water infrastructure for a century, but, without warning, a water board could decide what would happen to a public resource without consulting the community. Martin and her fellow-activists began organizing public meetings to make residents aware of what was happening, and they went to meetings of the Kingston Common Council and Kingston Water Board to interrogate members on their decision-making. “That’s what we were managing—from my bedroom,” Martin said, laughing.
READ Full Article in The New Yorker
Rebecca Martin’s Collaborative Group with Guillermo Klein Called UPSTATE in New York Times.
UPSTATE in Today’s New York Times Arts & Leisure Section.
“BACK IN TOWN WITH TRICKY TUNES: A composer doesn’t necessarily mean a songwriter, especially in Jazz. Guillermo Klein, originally from Argentina, who has written brilliantly for his jazz groups in New York and Barcelona since the mid-90’s, never made a distinction. He creates pieces full of tricky counterpoint and canon, but h also writes emotionally direct, harmonically complex, circular songs to bee sung by himself and others….Not long ago, Mr. Klein moved back to the New York area and started collaborating with the singer Rebecca Martin and the bassist Larry Grenadier. The idea was to put lyrics to Mr. Klein’s compositions, but the repertory expanded to include other composer’s work, too. At the Rockwood Music Hall on Wednesday’s in February.”
The group is set to record in May of 2015 joined by the drummer Jeff Ballard. Recorded and Produced by Pete Rende.
CLICK on the FACEBOOK EVENT for ticket links to their performances.
New Video: “Don’t Mean A Thing At All” By Rebecca Martin
DON’T MEAN A THING AT ALL (from the album TWAIN)
R. Martin
When all of the house lights are taken down
And all of the people there
That traveled for hundreds of miles around
To hear their songs fill the air
Their beauty, the quiet and heaviness
The shadows they recall
Don’t mean a thing at all Read more
“On a Sunday Morning”. A new original by Rebecca Martin.
On A Sunday Morning
R. Martin
What’s true for some
Just like a song could break your heart
When the sum is framed
To mislead them all
The fated cast
With the chances slim to none
Whenever the moment comes
To it may they rise. Read more
Rebecca Martin & Larry Grenadier. “Portrait” by Charles Mingus.
Portrait
Words and music by Charles Mingus
I’ve seen all kinds of pictures
Most of the beauties of the world
From places I’ve traveled I still recall
This quaint melody as I thrill Read more
Rebecca Martin Tour Dates Fall, 2014
Rebecca Martin will be performing this fall as a duo with Bassist Larry Grenadier.
Thursday, August 28th
Soundwaves Concert Series
Westport, NY
Thursday, October 30th
Palm Jazz Festival
Gilwice, Poland Read more