Phillip 'Doc' Martin

How often is one lucky enough to recognize the signs of a unique, soulful musician on the verge of a long and promising creative career…..Meet Phillip ‘Doc’ Martin; a rising alto saxophone stylist who’s heartfelt, humble melodies are wooing live audiences across the country. And if Martin has his way, music fans all of world.

Phillip ‘Doc’ Martin’s third and latest CD release REALIZATION, features 14 new songs that don’t passively fit the traditional smooth, instrumental or funky rhythm genres. His tunes flex, bounce and bend offering audiophiles a “new sax” diagnosis. Martin plays his horn with a warm and clear tone supplemented by a chronic range that takes you on a soulful and energetic journey with the likes of classical soul crooners like Donny Hathaway, Gerald Lever and James Brown.

Jazz superstar Jeff Lorber says “Doc Martin’s horn always blows with the energy of a live club recording something sadly missing from most smooth jazz artists these days”. Legendary George Benson proclaims Doc Martin is “Someone to watch!”

Born in Indiana of Jamaican parents, Martin grew up in South Florida and first began playing music in the Broward County public school band program. By 14, observers began to recognize that Phillip’s talent lay in his mastering of the intricacies of his horn, the music and the performance. He became a leading soloist at South Plantation High School Jazz Band and was honored as a first chair selection to Florida’s All State Jazz Band. In following his ambition, he went on to study at the University of Central Florida where he was soon invited to play as a sideman with Grammy Award winner Sam Rivers, Grammy nominee Kirk Whalum, Sunnie Paxton, Wes Hamrick, Davonda Simmonds and Susaundra Lewis and the Sounds of Soul.

As Phillip continued to hone his skills he became more influenced by noted saxophone players such as Charlie Parker, Everette Harp, Grover Washington Jr., Dave Koz and Gerald Albright. In 2003, he recorded his first CD, Saxappeal, with rising music producer, noted keyboardist and former member of Sounds of Soul, Tony Hemmings. Although the album produced limited sales, several of its tracks became popular on Internet radio and continue to be played on cable television’s Weather Channel.

After Martin moved to Washington, D.C. and successfully graduated from Howard University College of Dentistry (hence the moniker “Doc”). Along the way, Martin became a member of The Marcus Johnson Project. While in dental school, Martin realized he was able to do it all, through studying on a plane between gigs and writing notes between practicing dentistry, REALIZATION became a reality and vision for the new CD. Now on his own label, Saxtime Entertainment “Doc” Martin REALIZATION, is a toe-tapping, finger-snapping, get-out-of-your-seat groove CD. Martin’s unique eclectic style takes you on a musical journey from smooth to straight ahead jazz; breaking from traditional smooth jazz genres.

Phillip enjoys performing and continues to perform in many festivals and venues both in the U.S. and Caribbean including the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, the Bahamas Jazz Festival, Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival, Washington, D.C.’s venerable Blues Alley, Philadelphia’s Dell East, the Carolina Music Festival and the Trenton Jazz Festival.

Martin says:
“I want my music to be heard by people near and far,
but not only just heard but respected and loved”.

A growing host of fans would concur that he has already played his way into their soul. Martin’s music is food to the soul: a prescription for true, lasting and soulful success.