“I sing in the tradition of a Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington and Ella Fitzsgerald ….I come from all of them...You have to have a child’s spirit to be a part of the music” - Abbey Lincoln  “I tell them stories - I write them and I compose them -And I act them out on stage - I just sing about my life that’s all. My music is mine - My name is Abbey Lincoln” A passionate and soulful songstress & prolific composer, Heidi Martin makes each tune her own.  In Martin’s program “Abbey!” she pays tribute to words and music from Abbey Lincoln’s rich career, combining Lincoln’s musical repertoire with her words presented as monologues interspersed through the music. Songs include: Bird Alone, Throw it away, The Music is the Magic, Storywise, Nature Boy, Tamborine Man, Down Here Below. Martin’s all star band includes some of the brightest stars of jazz.   Heidi Martin - vocals Larry Willis - Piano Kris Funn - bass Paul Bollenback - guitar Steve Williams - drums In the words of Vanessa Rubin; “soaring soulful riffs, bending notes, and high notes that are so focused so right, they ring! It’s a wonderful experience for the listener!”  "Martin has a vision-oneness with all-and she promotes it with her lyrics. She cuts to the chase with little converstion, more Hemingway than Faulkener...demanding inventive recording that pays the listener dividends in the thoughtful consideration and insight." ~All About Jazz Tickets:  $38.00/General- $33/BJA Members (per registered member) - $18.00/Students Tickets are posted at : http://www.jazzway6004.org/products.html All tickets include soft drinks and an elegant dessert, fruit and cheese buffet - plus a chance to mingle with the artists.   Heidi Martin Bio:

  A  Washington D.C. Native who studied music at the University of the District of Columbia with Professor Calvin Jones and continued at Howard University studying privately with drummer/vocalist Grady Tate (Sarah Vaughn, Quincy Jones). Martin credits both legends with facilitating her finding her “voice” as an artist.   Martin honed her craft in New York City at the legendary Venues & Festivals:  The Zinc Bar (w/Ron Affif), Blue Note, Cleapatra's Needle, Smoke, Smalls, The knitting factory's Brice Rosenbloom's Winter Jazzfest. A creative collaborator, Martin has performed and/or recorded with Larry Willis, Helen Sung, Sylvia Cuenca, Jennifer Vincent, Russell Gunn, George Colligan, George Burton, Aaron Walker, Richie Goods, Alvester Garnett, Raymond Angry, Reuben Brown, Steve Williams, James King, Kris Funn, Eric Revis, John Lamkin, Gregoire Maret, the late Keter Betts, Nicholas Payton and Orrin Evans since making her debut on the New York jazz scene at Birdland.  A sought after performer having returned to her native Washington, DC Heidi Martin performs regularly at Bohemian Caverns, Twins Lounge, Blues Alley, and on the top Festivals: Charlie Fishman's DC Jazzfest, Luke Stewart & Gio Russonello's Capital Bop Jazz loft series and Wine and JazzFest.   "Four of her compositions have made their film debut in the Documentary Revolution '67. A documentary on the 1967 Newark rebellion by Emmy award winning team: Jerome Bongiorno and Marylou Tibaldo-Bongiorno which aired on PBS July 10th 2007. Recent creative works include: "ABBEY!" tribute in her own words.  The Race Card which premiered at The Atlas Intersections Festival Feb 2013. The Race Card