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.

Martin Fondse has released twelve albums under his own name and appeared on many more as a composer, arranger or sideman. 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 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 2018 he wrote the score for the highly acclaimed documentary film WAD.

As a composer/arranger Martin collaborated with artists like 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, Limburgs Symfonisch Orkest, 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.

He has been awarded several international prizes, ranging from orchestral work to film music.

Discography

as main artist:

• 1995 8 x g! – Martin Fondse Oktemble (Rollercoaster Records)
• 1998 Upperground – Martin Fondse Oktemble (BV Haast)
• 2001 Ere Ibeji – Martin Fondse Oktemble (BV Haast)
• 2003 Two Suites – HR Big Band (HR)
• 2003 Zoom Zoo – Groove Troopers (JJ-Tracks)
• 2008 Fragrant Moondrops – Martin Fondse & Starvinsky Orkestar (Basta Music)
• 2009 Martian Art – XLJAZZ (BK Disk)
• 2010 Key Figures – Martin Fondse & Wolfert Brederode (Orgelpark)
• 2010 Martian Club – XLJAZZ (BK Disk)
• 2011 Martian World – XLJAZZ (BK Disk)
• 2012 Testimoni – Martin Fondse, with Eric Vloeimans & Matangi Quartet (Basta Music)
• 2013 Talismã – Morais & Martin Fondse Project (BK Disk)
• 2013 Sensitive Material – BEAM feat. Markus Stockhausen – producer, pianist

as a composer/arranger/side man:

• 2014 Memento – Remy van Kesteren (Kes Think Big Music) – composer, arranger
• 2014 Beatrix met hart en ziel (DVD) – Nederlands Blazers Ensemble (NBECD) – composer
• 2014 De Waan van de Dag – Nederlands Blazers Ensemble (NBECD) – composer
• 2013 Evensong – Eric Vloeimans (Challenge Classics) – composer, arranger
• 2013 Kross Over – Tania Kross (Challenge Classics) – composer
• 2013 Still Listening – Phaedra Kwant – vibrandoneonist
• 2013 Zonde – Freek de Jonge – pianist
• 2012 Impulse – Clint Allen – composer, pianist, producer
• 2012 Gunder – Daniel Lohues – arranger
• 2011 Basement Jaxx vs Metropole Orkest – arranger
• 2011 Oud? – Nederlands Blazers Ensemble (NBECD) – composer
• 2011 Radio Berlijn – Bløf (EMI Music) – arranger
• 2011 Amstel Raga – Amstel Quartet – composer
• 2010 The Midge – Andy Bruce & the Rigidly Righteous – piano, flute, melodica
• 2010 On The Other Hand – Ties Mellema – composer
• 2008 Eraze Una Vez – Tango Extremo – composer
• 2006 The Bauer Melody of 2006 – arranger, composer
• 2005 Chamber Works – Terry Bozzio – arranger
• 2000 Me, Myself and I – Eric van der Westen (EWM Music) – composer, producer
• 2000 I Eye Myself – Mete Erker/Blink (EWM Music) – producer
• 1994 First Floor – Eric Vloeimans (Challenge Records) – composer

Filmography

• 2004 Vent – Erik van Schaaik (Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2007 Soufiane – Natasja André de la Porte (Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2007 Dennis P. – Pieter Kuijpers (arrangement title song: Martin Fondse)
• 2008 The Phantom of the Cinema- Erik van Schaaik (Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2010 Witte Hond – Natasja André de la Porte (Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2010 Pecker – Erik van Schaaik (Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2010 Overmorgen – Natasja André de la Porte (Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2011 My Long Distance Friend – Carina Molier (additional music: Martin Fondse)
• 2011 Audition – Udo Prinsen (Music: Eric Vloeimans & Martin Fondse)
• 2013 Fallin’ Floyd – Albert ‘t Hooft & Paco Vink (Music: Martin Fondse)

Awards

• 2014 Best Short Film Adult Jury & Young Jury Young About International Film festival, Bologna. Fallin’ Floyd – (Albert ‘t Hooft & Paco Vink Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2013 VNAP Vakprijs Holland Animation FIlm Festival Fallin’ Floyd – (Albert ‘t Hooft & Paco Vink Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2013 Audience Award Holland Animation Film Festival, Fallin’ Floyd – (Albert ‘t Hooft & Paco Vink Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2013 Best 2D Animation Neum Animated Film Festival, Fallin’ Floyd – (Albert ‘t Hooft & Paco Vink Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2012 Edison Award Jazz National
• 2011 Best International Film Black Rock Animation Film Festival, Dublin, Ireland – Audition (Director: Udo Prinsen Music: Eric Vloeimans & Martin Fondse)
• 2011 Best Animation Award Leids Film Festival – Audition (Director: Udo Prinsen Music: Eric Vloeimans & Martin Fondse)
• 2009 Dutch entry for the Oscars, Animated Shorts (USA) – Phantom of the Cinema (Direction: Erik van Schaaik Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2009 Grand Prize and Trophy at Anim’est international film festival Romania – Phantom of the Cinema (Direction: Erik van Schaaik Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2009 Winner of the Grand Prize and Trophy at Anim’est international film festival Romania – Phantom of the Cinema (Direction: Erik van Schaaik Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2007 Award Francisco Garcia De Paso, Huesca International Short Film Festival (ES) – Soufiane (director: Natasja André de la Porte Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2006 International Working Animated Film Festival RFAF 2006 (Bosnia- Herzegovina) – Best music (Vent)
• 2005 Cinanima Espinho 2005 (Portugal) – Best music (Vent)
• 2004 Fipresci award, Annecy, France – Vent (Direction: Erik van Schaaik Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2004 1st prize at the International Festival of animationfilms Bimini in Latvia Vent (Direction: Erik van Schaaik Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2004 Nominated best short film and best sound design at the Holland Film Meeting 2004 – Vent (Direction: Erik van Schaaik Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2004 Grand Prix for best short film at The Kyoto Kinder Film Fest – Vent (Direction: Erik van Schaaik Music: Martin Fondse)
• 2002 Nominated for Bird Award, artist deserving wider recognition, North Sea Jazz festival
• 1998 2nd Prize Euror’ Jazz Big Band Association, Paris, France
• 1996 1st Prize Julius Hemphill Award (Jazz Composers Alliance), Boston, USA
• 1993 3rd Prize Euro Jazz Contest, Hoeilaart, Belgium

Composition commissions

• 2014 ‘Rosefire’: new songs for mezzo soprano, trumpet, piano & string quartet
• 2014 Zomer Orkest Nederland – new work
• 2014 World Trombone Quartet – new work
• 2014 Matangi Quartet – new work
• 2013 ‘The Bridge’ for Martin Fondse Orchestra & Lenine: new instrumental music and arrangements of Lenine’s favourites
• 2011 ‘Far, East, South’ for Doelenensemble Rotterdam & Steffen Schorn
• 2010 New Composition for Clazz Ensemble, in collaboration with Jacob TV
• 2009 ‘Uncle M.’ for Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra & Eric Vloeimans
• 2009 ‘4 Seasons in 1 Day’, composition for Doudou N’Diaye Rose, Saxophone Quartet (Artvark), Drums (Peter Erskine), Bass (Eric van der Westen), Percussion Ensemble (Anumadutchi)
• 2009 Half/Half for Gelders Fanfare Orkest & eric Vloeimans
• 2009 Bollywood Medley for Amstel Saxophone Quartet & [Niti Ranjan Biswas]
• 2009 Theatre Music for Boogaerdt/vanderSchoot: Martha Loves George
• 2008 Composition for ‘Sintonize’, project of modern dance company Cisne Negro, São Paulo and Silent Disco (NL)
• 2006 ‘Primer Dark’ for Symphonic Orchestra & Clarinet Solo for Holland Symfonia (NL) & Claudio Puntin
• 2006 ‘Swinging Old Lady’ for Nederlandse Muziekdagen – Work for Tania kross, Izaline Callister & Metropole Orchestra
• 2005 ‘Fester’ for Doelenensemble Rotterdam & Eric Vloeimans
• 2004 ‘City Lights’, Suite for Jazz Orchestra & Trumpet Solofor HR Big Band, Frankfurt (De) & Eric Vloeimans
• 2003 ‘All in the Family’, composition commission from Jazz international Rotterdam (NL)
• 2003 ‘Cottacatya!’, Suite for Jazz Orchestra for HR Big Band, Frankfurt (De)
• 2002 ‘Cactus’, The Annual Composition Commission from North Sea Jazz Festival (NL)

Collaborations

• 2013 Martin Fondse Orchestra & Lenine: ‘The Bridge’
• 2012 Martin Fondse Orchestra & Roberto Sion: ‘Homelands’
• 2012 Gregory Porter & Metropole Orchestra – arrangements
• 2011 Martin Fondse Orchestra & Matthew Herbert, November Music (NL)
• 2004 Vernon Reid & Metropole Orchestra – Holland Festival (NL), compositions, arrangements
• 2004 Manu Dibango & Metropole Orchestra – Dunya Festival (NL), compositions
• 2003 Pat Metheny & Metropole Orchestra – arrangements
• 1999 Carleen Anderson & Metropole Orchestra – arrangements