Biography
Martin Bejerano, an accomplished and expressive jazz pianist based in Miami, fuses post-bop and fusion idioms through his extensive command of Latin and Cuban traditions. Part of Roy Haynes’ ensemble since the early 2000s, he has issued his own inventive trio recordings: Evolution/Revolution in 2007, Potential Energy in 2013, and Trio Miami in 2016. He also serves on the faculty of Miami’s Frost School of Music and has collaborated with Russell Malone, Ignacio Berroa, Christian McBride, Roxana Amed, and additional artists. All these strands converge on the vibrant 2022 release #CubanAmerican.
Born in Miami, Florida, Bejerano began piano lessons in childhood and made his professional debut at fifteen, performing George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” concerto with the Mexican-American Bi-National Symphony. After attending the New World School of the Arts he entered Florida State University on a full scholarship, studying classical piano with Leonidas Lipovetsky and jazz piano, composition, and arranging with Bill Peterson. He subsequently earned a master’s degree from the University of Miami, where he placed third in the 1999 Great American Jazz Piano Competition. Shortly afterward he moved to New York City and joined Roy Haynes’ quartet, making his recorded debut on the group’s Grammy-nominated 2004 album Fountain of Youth. In addition to his continuing association with Haynes, he has belonged to Russell Malone’s quartet and performed with Christian McBride, Dave Holland, Pat Metheny, Ron Carter, Bryan Lynch, Arturo Sandoval, the Mingus Big Band, and many others.
As a leader, Bejerano introduced his trio—bassist Edward Perez and drummer Ludwig Afonso—on the 2007 album Evolution/Revolution; the same musicians reconvened for Potential Energy in 2013. He has also partnered closely with vocalists, appearing on recordings by Stevie Holland and Roxana Amed. Parallel to his performing career, he directs the jazz piano department at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, teaching jazz piano, improvisation, and composition. As a composer he has twice received Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works grant, in 2010 and 2017. Trio Miami, issued in 2016, united him with fellow University of Miami alumni bassist John Allen and drummer Michael Piolet. He has further recorded internationally with Ignacio Berroa and with Armando Gola’s Gola Elektrik. The fusion-oriented #CubanAmerican, released in 2022, featured a guest appearance by vocalist Amed and presented his working group of bassist Perez, drummer Afonso, and percussionist Samuel Torres.
Born in Miami, Florida, Bejerano began piano lessons in childhood and made his professional debut at fifteen, performing George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” concerto with the Mexican-American Bi-National Symphony. After attending the New World School of the Arts he entered Florida State University on a full scholarship, studying classical piano with Leonidas Lipovetsky and jazz piano, composition, and arranging with Bill Peterson. He subsequently earned a master’s degree from the University of Miami, where he placed third in the 1999 Great American Jazz Piano Competition. Shortly afterward he moved to New York City and joined Roy Haynes’ quartet, making his recorded debut on the group’s Grammy-nominated 2004 album Fountain of Youth. In addition to his continuing association with Haynes, he has belonged to Russell Malone’s quartet and performed with Christian McBride, Dave Holland, Pat Metheny, Ron Carter, Bryan Lynch, Arturo Sandoval, the Mingus Big Band, and many others.
As a leader, Bejerano introduced his trio—bassist Edward Perez and drummer Ludwig Afonso—on the 2007 album Evolution/Revolution; the same musicians reconvened for Potential Energy in 2013. He has also partnered closely with vocalists, appearing on recordings by Stevie Holland and Roxana Amed. Parallel to his performing career, he directs the jazz piano department at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, teaching jazz piano, improvisation, and composition. As a composer he has twice received Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works grant, in 2010 and 2017. Trio Miami, issued in 2016, united him with fellow University of Miami alumni bassist John Allen and drummer Michael Piolet. He has further recorded internationally with Ignacio Berroa and with Armando Gola’s Gola Elektrik. The fusion-oriented #CubanAmerican, released in 2022, featured a guest appearance by vocalist Amed and presented his working group of bassist Perez, drummer Afonso, and percussionist Samuel Torres.
Albums
Live
