Martin Uherek

Though not growing up in family of solely musical profession, Martin Uherek came in touch with music since the earliest age, through a church choir led by his father. He soon showed a lot of interest in music, having a good time figuring out and self-teaching different instruments, such as piano, guitar, flute, or drums. A change in his musical life came in 2004/2005, his 3rd year of high school, when he participated in a 1-year exchange study program at SMC High School in Menasha, Wisconsin. Here, after hearing a recording of Charlie Parker called Confirmation, Martin fell in love with jazz music more than ever before and decided to pursue music career, with focus on jazz. He went on to study saxophone at Conservatory of J.L.Bella and later Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica. At this time he  attended private music lessons with the great jazz pianist Klaudius Kováč. In 2008 he founded his band Martin Uherek Quartet, with strong roots in jazz tradition, in October 2008 Martin competed with his band in the 1st Tarnow International Jazz Contest in Poland, where their band won 2nd prize in the younger category and in addition, Martin was awarded as soloist in this category. In December 2008, their band became the laureate of Slovak national jazz competition “New Faces of Slovak Jazz 2008”. During 2009-2010, he was also a member of a stable jazz group, Ľuboš Brtáň Quartet. Martin with his band won a contest of young talents on Bratislava Jazz Days 2012 and in October 2013, he and his band opened on the main stage of Bratislava Jazz Days 2013 with his project "Remembering Monk" focused on Monk's compositions.

In the past few years Martin has played with many of the leading jazz players and formations in Slovakia as well as abroad, such as Gregory Hutchinson, Klaudius Kováč, Róbert Ragan, Peter Solárik, Juraj Bartoš, Milo Suchomel big band, Matúš Jakabčic CZ/SK Big Band, Cotatcha Orchestra.

In the present, Martin is one of the leading figures on the Slovak jazz scene, actively playing with several formations - his own SO-UH-RA (pianoless) trio, Martin Uherek Quartet, Matúš Jakabčic CZ/SK Big Band and others. In addition, he regularly composes and arranges for saxophone ensembles and big bands. He also teaches saxophone and jazz improvisation at the Conservatory of J.L.Bella in Banská Bystrica and leads an educational series called Príbehy jazzu/Stories of Jazz, which combines spoken word with live jazz music played with his band.

Discography:

As leader:
Príbehy jazzu vol. 3 - Začiatky moderného jazzu (2021)
Príbehy jazzu vol. 2 - Ako vznikal jazz (2018)
Príbehy jazzu (2016)
Walkin' My Own Way (2015)

As sideman:
Matúš Jakabčic CZ/SK Big Band - Room #555 (2022)
Milo Suchomel Orchestra - From My Colours (2019)
Peter Korman - Root System (2019)
Peter Palaj - News for Peter (2019)

As arranger:
Lukáš Oravec Orchestra - TBA
Lukáš Oravec Orchestra - Light Of Blue (2020)

Awards

2nd prize at Tarnow International Jazz Contest in Poland, also awarded as a soloist, Laureate of Slovak national jazz competition “New Faces of Slovak Jazz 2008”, Winner of young talents in jazz at Bratislava Jazz Days 2012

Gear

Past equipment:

Tenor:
Mark VI 68,xxx, Conn New Wonder I 45,xxx
Metal Otto Link Florida NO USA 8* mouthpiece with original ligature
Ishimori Woodstone #3-3,5 reeds

Alto:
Schagerl Amadeus Model 66 alto sax,
Brilhart Tonalin mouthpiece serial no. 81xxx with François Louis ligature
Gonzalez reeds #2,5-3

Baritone:
Conn Lady Face 1935