Kevin Martinez

A native of Northampton Ohio, Kevin grew up in a home filled with music thanks to his father Chuck, a blues/rock Guitarist in the NEO music scene since the late 70s.  He attended Woodridge High School, there receiving his introduction to Jazz and Orchestral music thanks to several amazing music teachers.

 In 2001 Kevin moved to Chicago, where he earned a BA in Music Performance from Columbia College Chicago (2005) and a Master’s of Music Composition from DePaul University(2007). He spent the entirety of his time there immersed in that city’s unique jazz scene but also branched out, touring nationally with the Chicago Afrobeat Project. Since returning to Northeast Ohio in 2010 Kevin has recorded with Chris Coles, The Speedbumps, Roger Hoover, and Honeybucket, among others. He has also become a mainstay in the NEO Jazz scene performing with his original group Reclamation Band, as well as a sideman for many other acts.  In addition to performing Kevin is also the orchestrator for the Canton Symphony Orchestra's Divergent Sounds and Pops series.