Toronto’s Latin jazz sensation Amanda Martinez puts her cross-cultural heritage to great use this month with a special concert at the historic Winter Garden Theatre.
Tell me about your recent album. Did anything in particular inspire you?
Mañana is a collection of songs that I wrote over the last few years collaborating with my band as well as some amazing songwriters in Miami. I didn’t really have an idea of what the album theme was before I recorded, but when I looked back on the songs we chose, I realized the lyrics all had to do with hope and the optimism that a new day brings.
What can we expect from your show this month at the Winter Garden?
This will be a very unique show in honour of Mexico and Canada's 70th anniversary of friendship. I will be performing music from my new album and I will also be performing songs that I grew up with from Mexico. Along with my long-time band, I have invited some special Mexican-Canadian musical guests: Quique Escamilla — a Mexican singer-songwriter from Chiapas, Mexico; Café Con Pan, a Son Jarocho group originally from Veracruz, Mexico; and Mexican guitarist Jorge Lopez. I hope that people will feel like they have taken a trip to Mexico without having to pack a bag!
You recorded this album coming off of childbirth. Tell me about how that impacted your music and the direction of the album.
Yes! My last two albums I actually recorded with babies in the studio! Not sure what I will do for the next album — I can’t keep this up! When I found out I was giving birth to twins, I had to postpone the actual recording as I was put on bedrest and had to wait until the babies were safely delivered. I had written most of the material before I was pregnant, but I also wrote some songs when Javier [producer Javier Limon] came to Toronto, and my babies were with us in the kitchen where we worked on most of the arrangements. I would have to say that the twins were just part of the magic that happened.
What first inspired you to pursue music?
Music has always been in my heart — something that has captivated me ever since I was a little girl. However it wasn’t until I had taken what I thought was the safer route in completing my masters in international business, and was working in the corporate world that I realized I didn’t want to regret not having taken my real dream seriously. So it was circuitous path but eventually I started following my instincts and my heart.
Tell me about your collaboration with acclaimed producer Javier Limon?
Javier Limon is a producer from Spain who has worked on so many of my favourite albums. I was introduced to Javier through pianist Ivan Melon who was in from Spain to perform with Buika at Toronto's Koerner Hall a few years ago. He put me in touch with Javier’s team and a few months later, after sending my music down to Spain, I got a call from Javier's manager that he would love to work together. He ended up coming down to work with me and the band with my longtime engineer and co-producer George Seara and the rest is history!
And what's next for you?
I am very excited to be launching Mañana in the USA this spring. I will be launching the CD at Joe’s Pub in New York City, and doing a tour including Chicago and Cleveland. I will also be heading down to Mexico to perform and film another episode of a series I am producing with my director cousin called Ingredients for a Good Life.
Amanda Martinez, Winter Garden Theatre, April 5, www.amandamartinez.ca.
