Canary Islands' Héctor Martín Among Three Spaniards in DownBeat Poll
Canary Islands jazz radio host Héctor Martín has been selected as one of only three Spaniards to participate in the prestigious annual survey for DownBeat magazine, often called the "bible of jazz."
During his university days, Héctor Martín fell in love with jazz. The Canary Islands Jazz Festival opened his eyes to a whole new world, and he soon wanted to explore it further. Now, he's one of only three Spaniards chosen to be part of the annual survey for DownBeat magazine, often called the "bible of jazz."
To understand how big a deal this is, you need to know about DownBeat. Since 1934, this American magazine has been the go-to source for jazz, blues, and improvised music. It features deep interviews, sharp reviews, and its famous surveys of critics and readers, which highlight the year's most important musicians.
As the magazine itself puts it, "Reading DownBeat is like sitting front row in an imaginary smoky club, where every page vibrates to the rhythm of an eternal trumpet and a drum kit that never misses a beat."
When his radio show, Canción a quemarropa (Song at Point-Blank Range), started in 1999, Héctor Martín never imagined he'd reach this point. He produces and directs the show, which is currently broadcast on Canarias Radio. "The program slowly changed, and focusing on jazz became essential. It was a special kind of music where the Canary Islands had a unique position compared to the rest of Spain, and the Islands truly have a clear place in it."
Since last summer, DownBeat has included him in its respected annual survey. "This is a foundational and important magazine in the jazz world. It has covered almost the entire history of the genre, considering jazz began in the early 20th century. It's an honor to be included, because very few people worldwide are chosen. From Spain, there are only three of us."
Canción a quemarropa was also ahead of its time with social media. Before Facebook even existed, the show had a presence on the old MySpace. "For us, being online is very important because it's a natural way to connect with people; for example, we've never paid for followers. Now we're thinking about new ways to reach even more jazz lovers."
Héctor receives about four new jazz albums every week. He's a true researcher with a curious mind and, naturally, has his favorite artists. However, it's not easy for him to name just a few when asked directly.
For instance, John Coltrane and Miles Davis are his two favorite artists from the past – he can't pick just one. Vibraphonist Patricia Brennan is another artist he often turns to.
When asked about new and local talents, he champions Sara Lilu from Tenerife, who he believes has a "very strong" present and future.