Martinez Brothers & Hristo Yotsov Project

• Miguel Martinez-saxophone
• Huan Martinez-saxophone
• Hristo Yotsov-drums
• Veselin Veselinov-eco bas
• Rob van Bavel – piano

Miguel Martinez was born in 1968. He graduated the Amsterdam’s Sweelinck Conservatorium. He continued his education in NY tutored by Kenny Garrett, Lee Konitz, Jackie Mclean, Donald Harrison and Dick Oatts. He is one of the leaders of the Martinez Move, a band that won international recognition. He teaches at the Jazz Faculty of the Prince Clause Conservatorium , the Netherlands.

Huan Martinez was born in 1965. He studied alto saxophone at the Groningen Conservatorium and Hoge School voor de Kunsten in Maastricht. He started playing baritone saxophone influenced by Pepe Adams and Jerry Malligan, becoming one of the most popular artists performing this instrument in the Netherland.

Hristo Yotsov was born in 1960 in a family of musicians. The graduated the musical school and academy in the percussion instruments class lead by Professor Dobri Paliev. His military service (1979-81) he spent at the Construction Forces Ensemble, where he played at the brass orchestra. There he made his first arrangement steps.

Since 1982 he’s been performing with different jazz bands in Bulgaria and throughout Europe. His “Acoustic version” won the two most prestigious European jazz awards – in 1985 in Belgium, and in 1986 in Germany. In the 1982-89 period he played drums and was the arranger of the Bulgarian radio’s Big Band.

As of 1989 he’s been leading the percussions instruments class at the Pop and Jazz Department of the “Pancho Vladigerov” Musical Academy, as a professor. He performed with Simeon Shterev, Milcho Leviev, Yildiz Ibhrahimova, Teodosii Spasov, Toni Smith, Andy Scofield, Eric Pro, Steve Hamilton, Adam Pieronchik, Tim Garland, Alexia, Reggie Workman, Bennie Maupin, Steve Slagle, Tom Harrell and many others.

Currently he is one of the most active and creative musicians on the Bulgarian jazz scene and also the main trigger of many projects.

Being a busy instrumentalist and pedagogue, he is famous for attracting young musicians.

Since 1995 he mainly performs his own projects, wherein he invites Bulgarian and foreign musicians, for whom he writes original music. He has over 30 albums for Bulgarian and international companies.