SHORT Bio
I shape my artistic trajectory around the sonic exploration of the baritone saxophone, placing the instrument at the center of contemporary and newly created music.
I have premiered more than eighty works by composers from around the world in a wide range of formats (including concertos for soloist and orchestra), actively contributing to the expansion of the instrument’s repertoire and language.
My practice moves between performance, improvisation, and interaction with electronics. My projects have been presented on stages across Europe, America, and Australasia.
I am co-founder of Morphosis Duo (2016), a project with Joan Bagés i Rubí on electronics, which is part of Morphosis Ensemble, of which I am also a member. I was co-founder of the quartet SAX 3+1 (1994–2013) and have collaborated with specialized ensembles (Barcelona Modern, Lucilin) as well as orchestral formations such as the Franz Schubert Philharmonic.
My discography, spanning national and international labels, combines solo, chamber, and collaborative projects, reflecting my commitment to contemporary repertoire and to the development of a personal language for the baritone saxophone.
In parallel, I have been teaching saxophone at the Conservatory of Reus since 2003 and regularly give workshops on baritone saxophone performance and contemporary music. Since 2023, I have been co-artistic director of the CONTEMPO[R]AN[EUS] Festival, dedicated to newly created music.
What is been said on me:
- “It is no exaggeration to affirm that the music potential of Joan Martí-Frasquier is worthy of note due to his interpretations will be a precious legacy for next generations of saxophonists”(Sonograma Magazine, 2019)
- “With no doubt, all of this places Joan Martí-Frasquier as one of the references in the contemporary saxophone and new music”(Toda La Música, 2019)
PRESS RELEASES JOAN
(in chronological order)
JOURNALS & MAGAZINES (digital & printed)
2023-11-01. REVISTA MUSICAL CATALANA (CAT) > Review of “Suites”: http://www.revistamusical.cat/critica/el-saxofon-de-marti-frasquier-homenatja-bach/
2023-05-25. MELÓMANO DIGITAL (ESP) > Interview about the release of “Suites”: https://www.melomanodigital.com/entrevista-marti-frasquier/
2023-05. BRÍO CLÁSICA (ESP) > Release of “Suites”: https://www.brioclasica.es/actualidad/joan-marti-frasquier-presenta-suites-un-tributo-a-las-suites-de-cello-de-bach/
2023-05. TODA LA MÚSICA (ESP) > Release of “Suites”: https://www.todalamusica.es/joan-marti-frasquier-presenta-suites-un-tributo-a-las-suites-de-cello-de-bach/
2023-05-20. SETMANARI L’EBRE (CAT) > Release of “Suites”: https://setmanarilebre.cat/el-music-rapitenc-joan-marti-frasquier-presenta-suites-el-seu-disc-homenatge-a-sebastian-bach/
2023-05-19. SCHERZO (ESP) > Interview about the release of “Suites”: https://scherzo.es/joan-marti-frasquier-busco-en-el-saxofon-la-sonoridad-del-violonchelo-barroco/? s=joan+marti+frasquier#
** It also appears at the physic edition of SCHERZO May 2023, number 395, p. 62
2023-05-19. PLATEA MAGAZINE (ESP) > Interview about the release of “Suites”: https://www.plateamagazine.com/entrevistas/15119-joan-marti-frasquier-siempre-me-pregunte-que-hubiera-escrito-bach-para-el-saxofon-de-haber-conocido-el-instrumento
2023-05-18. Blog ACIMC (CAT) > Release of “Suites”: https://acimc.cat/noticies/joan-marti-frasquier-presenta-suites-un-tribut-a-les-suites-de-cello-de-bach/
2022-07. WOXX (FRA) > Review of “Dreamlover”, the new album by Albena Petrovic: https://www.woxx.lu/musique-contemporaine-dreamlover/?fbclid=IwAR09LY4RsTjJ1ia68ek-H3f40ll-bVnc_7EA3t2NRGsvXXKj_RJ4nKYsiHw
2022-06. VIEILLE CARNE (FRA) > Review of “Dreamlover”: https://vieillecarne.com/saxophones-fabien-chouraki-joan-marti-frasquier/
2022-05. REVISTA RITMO (ESP) > Review of “Dreamlover” (recommended album of May): https://www.ritmo.es/discos/discos-recomendados/dreamlover-obras-de-albena-petrovic
2022-05. MELÓMANO DIGITAL (ESP) > Review of “Dreamlover”: https://www.melomanodigital.com/dreamlover/
2022-03. KLASSIK HEUTE (DEU) > Review of “Dreamlover”: http://www.klassik-heute.com/4daction/www_medien_einzeln?id=23907&Kompo45691
2022-03-14. MUSICOLOGIE.ORG (FRA) > Review of “Dreamlover”: https://www.musicologie.org/22/dreamlover_la_musique_pour_saxophone_d_albena_petrovic.html
2022-02. BERTRAND FERRIER, BLOG (FRA) > Review of “Dreamlover”: https://www.bertrandferrier.fr/dreamlover-musique-pour-saxophone-albena-petrovic-solo-musica/
2022-02. REVISTA RITMO (ESP) > Cover and interview about the release of “Dreamlover”: https://www.ritmo.es/revista/en-portada/albena-petrovic
2022-02-01. KLASSIK BEGEISTER (DEU) > Review of “Dreamlover”: https://klassik-begeistert.de/cd-tipp-dreamlover-music-for-saxophone-by-albena-petrovic-klassik-begeistert-de/
2020-07-01. BCN CLÀSSICA (CAT) > Review of my project “Music from my Lockdown”: https://www.barcelonaclasica.info/un-saxo-confinat/
2020-06-14. Blog de la ACIMC (Catalan Association of Classical Music Performers (CAT) > Review of my project “Music from my Lockdown”: https://acimc.cat/noticies/musica-des-del-meu-confinament-per-joan-marti-frasquier/
2020-06-11. MELÓMANO DIGITAL (ESP) > Review of my project “Music from my Lockdown”: https://www.melomanodigital.com/joan-marti-frasquier-musica-desde-mi-confinamiento/
2020-06-10. TODA LA MÚSICA (ESP) > Review of my project “Music from my Lockdown”: https://www.todalamusica.es/musica-desde-mi-confinamiento-grabaciones-de-obras-ineditas-de-y-por-joan-marti-frasquier/
2019-12-29. SONOGRAMA MAGAZINE (CAT) > Review of my album “Made in BCN”: http://sonograma.org/suplement-de-discos/made-in-bcn/
2019-12-11. KLASSIK BEGEISTERT (DEU) > Review of the operas “The Lovers” and “Jealousy” by Albena Petrovic in Luxembourg: https://klassik-begeistert.de/albena-petrovic-the-lovers-und-jealousy-theatre-national-du-luxemburg-6-dezember-2019/#more-15569
2019-12-05. MELÓMANO DIGITAL (ESP) > Collaboration with Lucilin Ensemble in Luxembourg: https://www.melomanodigital.com/joan-marti-frasquier-colabora-con-united-instruments-of-lucilin/
2019-05-26. NÚVOL (CAT) > Review of the concert by Barcelona Modern Ensemble at Auditori (Barcelona): https://www.nuvol.com/noticies/el-talent-de-barcelona-modern-conquereix-lauditori/
2019-05-15. MELÓMANO DIGITAL (ESP) > Concerts in Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca: https://www.melomanodigital.com/joan-marti-frasquier-en-el-festival-barcelona-modern-el-me_mmix-y-el-sampler-series/
2019-05-01. TODA LA MÚSICA (ESP) > Performance of “Concierto” by Albena Petrovic in Sofia (Bulgaria) and review of the album “Made in BCN”: https://www.todalamusica.es/el-saxofonista-joan-marti-frasquier-graba-en-bulgaria-una-obra-de-albena-petrovic-vratchanska/
2019-04-24. REVISTA MUSICAL CATALANA (CAT) > Performance of “Concierto” by Albena Petrovic in Sofia (Bulgaria): http://www.revistamusical.cat/el-saxofonista-joan-marti-frasquier-grava-a-bulgaria-una-obra-dalbena-petrovic-vratchanska/
2019-04-13. EPICENTER (BLG) > Performance of “Concierto” by Albena Petrovic in Sofia (Bulgaria): http://epicenter.bg/article/Istinata-e-zad-notite/180117/6/0
2019-03-19. MELÓMANO DIGITAL (ESP) > Notification of OFF Liceu (Barcelona): https://www.melomanodigital.com/grandes-apuestas-del-barcelona-modern-ensemble-para-el-off-liceu/
2019-03-18. MELÓMANO DIGITAL (ESP) > Interview: https://www.melomanodigital.com/entrevista-al-saxofonista-joan-marti-frasquier-con-motivo-de-su-participacion-en-el-off-liceu-del-gran-teatre-del-liceu/
2019-03-18. REVISTA MUSICAL CATALANA (CAT) > Notification of OFF Liceu (Barcelona): http://www.revistamusical.cat/xavier-pages-corella-estrena-dillie-a-loff-liceu/
2019-01-23. MELÓMANO DIGITAL (ESP) > Review of the album “Made in BCN”: https://www.melomanodigital.com/resena-made-in-bcn/
2018-11-14. REVISTA MUSICAL CATALANA (CAT) > Announcement of the International Course of Composition and Festival Barcelona Modern: http://www.revistamusical.cat/comenca-el-curs-de-composicio-i-el-festival-barcelona-modern/
2018-11-14. NÚVOL (CAT) > Announcement of the International Course of Composition and Festival Barcelona Modern: https://www.nuvol.com/noticies/torna-barcelona-modern/
2018-07-23. BARCELONA CLÀSSICA (ESP) > Interview: http://barcelonaclasica.info/news/es/2018/07/23/0002/joan-marti-frasquier-quotquiero-transformar-el-mundo-de-la-clasica-a-traves-del-saxo-baritonoquot
2018-06-21. THE NEW BARCELONA POST (ESP) > Festival Mixtur. The art of experimentation: https://www.thenewbarcelonapost.com/es/mixtur-el-arte-de-la-experimentacion/
2017-08-21. SURT DE CASA (CAT) > Interview: https://surtdecasa.cat/ebre/activat/entrevista-joan-marti-frasquier
2016-08-07. SAXRULES.COM (ESP) > Interview: https://saxrules.com/2016/08/07/entrevista-a-joan-marti-frasquier/
2015-09-05. NÚVOL (CAT) > Report at Eufònic Festival 2015: https://www.nuvol.com/noticies/joan-marti-frasquier-a-leufonic/
2015-08-31. NÚVOL (CAT) > Presentation of Eufònic Festival 2015: https://www.nuvol.com/noticies/un-eufonic-prometedor/
2014-07-25. REVISTA MUSICAL CATALANA (CAT) > Report of Sirga Festival: “21st Century Music for Baritone Saxophone” and “Colours”: http://www.revistamusical.cat/el-sirga-festival-captiva-lebre/
2014-07-24. NÚVOL (CAT) > Report of Sirga Festival: https://www.nuvol.com/noticies/festival-sirga-final-de-festa-amb-balanc-positiu/
2014-07-23. NÚVOL (CAT) > Review of Sirga Festival: https://www.nuvol.com/noticies/lexit-del-festival-sirga-1/
2014-05-31. NÚVOL (CAT) > Announcement of Sirga Festival: https://www.nuvol.com/noticies/sirga-noves-musiques-a-les-terres-de-lebre/
2014-05-13. REVISTA MUSICAL CATALANA (CAT) > Announcement of Sirga Festival: http://www.revistamusical.cat/el-sirga-festival-fomenta-el-dialeg-entre-patrimoni-historic-paisatge-i-creacio/
2013-12-20. NÚVOL (CAT) > Report of Eufònic Urbà Festival: https://www.nuvol.com/noticies/un-eufonic-prometedor/
2013-12-17. REVISTA MUSICAL CATALANA (CAT) > Report of Eufònic Urbà Festival: http://www.revistamusical.cat/critica/la-versio-urbana-deufonic-aterra-amb-exit-al-santa-monica/
2012-06-12. REVISTA MUSICAL CATALANA (CAT) > Announcement of “Diàlegs”: http://www.revistamusical.cat/concert-i-encontre-internacional-de-musica-contemporania-a-reus-i-taula-rodona-a-barcelona/
2012-05-17. REVISTA MUSICAL CATALANA (CAT) > Report of Contemporànica Festival: http://www.revistamusical.cat/concert-i-encontre-internacional-de-musica-contemporania-a-reus-i-taula-rodona-a-barcelona/
2012-05-11. NÚVOL (CAT) > Presentation of Contemporànica Festival 2012: https://www.nuvol.com/noticies/alex-sansofestival-contemporanicareusmiquel-ripeu/
**Review of the album “Made in BCN” at Revista Musical Catalana, by Miquel Gené (PDF)
**Participation at the post about at Revista Musical Catalana, by Miquel Gené (PDF)
**Review of the album “Believer” at Revista Musical Catalana, by Miquel Gené (PDF)
**Review of the concert at series “Nous Repertoris” (Barcelona) at Revista Musical Catalana, por (PDF)