The annual Cal State Jazz Jam features possibly the most in-demand trombone in the world. Andy Martin's schedule is simply "booked," no matter which way you look, from any angle of the music business. He fits in his performance in Bakersfield with the CSUB Jazz Ensemble on Friday, March 9 in the Doré Theatre starting at 8 p.m. Earlier on Friday at 4 p.m. in the Music Building, Martin will present a clinic on "Living Jazz" that is free and open to the public.

Certainly, looking at his schedule, "living the jazz life" must include being able to handle the lead or jazz trombone duties in 20 of L.A.'s most well respected recording big bands, including with former Jazz Jam guest artists Sammy Nestico, Wayne Bergeron, and Jack Sheldon, plus the likes of Horace Silver, Gordon Goodwin, Quincy Jones, and Tom Kubis.

Andy Martin has long been one of L.A.'s first call trombonists for commercial recordings, television, motion pictures, and live theater. He has contributed on albums for many popular artists, including the Pussycat Dolls, Coldplay, and Michael Buble. His television credits include every major awards show: the Grammys, the Emmys, the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has also appeared regularly on the soundtracks of hit TV shows such as "American Idol," "Dancing With The Stars," "Family Guy," "American Dad," and "King of the Hill." Andy's motion picture credits include the soundtracks of more than 75 major films, including a recent project with Grammy Award winning rap artist Kanye West for the soundtrack of "Mission Impossible III." Andy is also first call trombonist at Hollywood's Pantages Theater, where he has played for Broadway hits such as Mel Brooks' "The Producers," Disney's "The Lion King," "Wicked," "Hairspray," and more.

In addition, Martin has already released eight albums as either leader or co-leader. These albums showcase his dazzling improvisation alongside other top jazz artists such as the late Carl Fontana, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Shew, and Eric Marienthal. He has also collaborated as a sideman with jazz greats such as Stanley Turrentine and Horace Silver and has a long association with Vic Lewis. Martin has a personal style that is a balance of accuracy and spontaneity, discipline and creativity. He covers the whole range of the instrument with the same warm tone and impeccable articulation, and is equally adept in all styles, with a vocabulary of ideas that never grows stale. His exciting improvisations and melodic fluidity showcase a level of technique hardly matched among trombonists.

The CSUB Jazz Ensemble is honored to showcase this extraordinary talent on the Doré Theatre stage. The concert will feature ten compositions including seven written or arranged by Tom Kubis. There will also be works written by Louis Bellson, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Benny Carter. General admission is $15, student/seniors (60+) are $5, and children under 12 and CSUB students are free. For more information, contact the CSUB Music Department at 661-654-3093.