Today we’d like to introduce you to Diego Martinez.
Hi Diego, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Well, I knew how to sing before I could talk. At a certain point, my mom finally had enough of me singing around the house she pushed me to sing on a stage. I developed the Jazz bug in middle school, listing to the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, and many more.
In high school, I had dreamed of performing live with a Big Band behind me and was finally given the opportunity to with a local group, which I am still a part of, the Beethoven Big Band here in San Antonio. From there on, I have worked on developing my own sound, while still staying true to the history of the music.
I now have a full-time career performing these Jazz vocal tunes all across Texas. I have gigs almost every day of the week as a solo singer, Jazz Combo, or Big Band.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest struggle has been to steer away from imitation. In a genre like Jazz, every song has been interpreted by many and it can be difficult to take what’s been done a million times and make it your own.
This is something I will have to work on for a long time, but it’s an exciting process.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Entertainment. I perform popular Jazz standards to audiences of all sizes. The Jazz scene is growing in San Antonio and other parts of Texas and I’m proud to be a part of it.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I believe this industry will remain a staple in live musical enjoyment. Seeing a live Jazz band can really set the mood like no other. I don’t foresee any big shifts in the industry any time soon.
It will always have this unspoken high level of respect amongst its listeners and creators, no more, no less.
Contact Info:
- Website: diegojazz.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/diegosatx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiegoJazzSA
