About Eddie

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“The stuff of legendGuitarist Magazine “Absolutely Superb” BBC Radio 2

with house-rocking slide and Buddy- Guy-like pyrotechnics..he is among the UK’s most respected blues musicians....” The Times

One of the UK’s best, whether solo/acoustic or loud/electric, he’s a master of bothPenguin Eggs, Canada

London-born Martin was weened on a folk, electric blues and classic rock soup that left him as at home with acoustic as electric instruments and imbued him with deep respect for the music’s Afro-American roots.

A prolific songwriter since the age of 16, his albums have ranged from One-Man-Band to Big Band to Power-Rock trio as he has wrung every drop of inspiration and instrumental technique out of Blues tradition and pushed it ever outwards with his own writing.

Touring 35 countries with 17 acclaimed original albums and a string of National and International Awards and Nominations (including Winner, Best Solo Artist category in 2018 European Blues Awards) he has become known as “The Ambassador of British Blues”.

A browse of his work shows a broad sweep across genres from quiet folk to loud slide guitar-led Blues Rock but always with intelligent lyrics and arrangements and top-drawer collaborators. His latest release was the best European Blues Album of 2021 according to MOJO magazine.

He has pushed and explored the blues tirelessly over his long professional career.  His songs have graced TV and film soundtracks, and his live performances continue to be awe-inspiring. He is frequently broadcast on international radio, has performed many times on TV and recorded 3 sessions for BBC Radio 2, including at the famous Maida Vale Studios.

2019 saw the release of “THIRST” , judged by Music Republic Magazine as one of the best releases of 2019.  This is a band album which shines with a confident maturity. Bringing together his many sides over 11 original songs it ranges across blues-rock, funk, country blues hops to deep, layered slow-burners and always, of course, with lashings of harp and guitar thrills.

In 2016 he exploded back into Blues Rock with his trio on “Black White and Blue” which has received accolades for its originality and musicianship.

2015 brought the release of  “Live in Tuscany” with a new Anglo-Italian project Big Red Radio  which has been described as “one of the best blues albums of the decade“. In 2014 he released his “Best-of” compilation album, “Blues Took Me By The Hand” celebrating 25 years of recordings. This went straight in at No1 of the Blues download charts staying there for over a month.

Born in London, Eddie was writing and performing songs in his early teens with Classic Rock and Singer songwriters like Bob Dylan as key influences until he first heard Freddie King and Robert Johnson. Realising its role as the foundation stone of Western popular music, he immersed himself in studying the Afro-American music heritage from then on. He has kept up a world-wide touring schedule since. For two years he played the US “chitlin circuit” from a base in Texas, and has had one-man band residencies on Beale St in Memphis and in the Jook Joints of Clarksdale, Mississippi.

His Electric and Slide guitar-playing has seen his recordings commended by the Guitar Press all over, receiving “excellent” tags from Guitar, Guitarist in the UK, Vintage Guitar USA, and Guitar and Bass in Germany. But he is also widely regarded as a top harmonica player. Listed as one of the world’s excellent contemporary players on the Modern Blues Harmonica website, he was lauded as an Innovator for his rack-harmonica skills by the World Harmonica Festival in Germany where he performed solo, held a Masterclass and co-judged the World Blues Harmonica Competition.

He has been commended for the “originality..and intelligence in his music” by the Penguin Book Of Blues Recordings.

He has invested most of his life in studying and contributing to the blues legacy and he is keen to pass this on, not just as a recording artist but also through masterclasses.

Even if many are still to find out, there can be no doubt that Martin’s quarter century career of recording and performing merits a reputation as one of the most innovative and creative artists coming out of the Blues tradition alive today.

A Blues MasterNew Jersey Times

Phenomenal Guitarist..the stuff of legendGuitarist

ExcellentPaul Jones BBC Radio 2

a UK Blues TreasureBlues in Britain

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, this guy is brimming with talentJUKE BLUES

Easily the best blues guitarist this country has produced since ClaptonWhat’s On In London

whether it be cool acoustic blues or in-your-face electric blues, Eddie Martin knows his chops.. excellent” Guitar Magazine

 

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