Biography

Martin France has played with many of the world's finest musicians. He has performed in four continents including concerts and tours in over forty countries worldwide.

Martin began performing at the age of twelve backing singers in Working Men's clubs with Organ trios in and around Manchester. He studied under Geoff Riley, Kenny Clare, Joel Rothman, and Richard Smith, Principal Percussionist with the Halle. In 1983 he began his recording career performing on several records for ECM.

A turning point in his early career was his role within the Eighties big band LOOSE TUBES where he began long standing partnerships with many of its members. His association with Django Bates has led to many diverse projects away from the "Jazz" environment they normally occupy with HUMAN CHAIN and DELIGHTFUL PRECIPICE. These include film soundtracks, Jazz theatre, cross cultural collaborations and recording projects involving orchestras such as The London Sinfonietta, BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra and ASKO Ensemble in Amsterdam.

He is also active as a studio musician working on TV and Film soundtracks and is involved in programming and composing for many projects and artists, including his own band, SPIN MARVEL.

Along the way Martin has performed and recorded with some of the world's best musicians including Elvis Costello, David Gilmour, John Taylor, Kenny Wheeler, Ralph Towner, Lee Konitz, Dave Holland, Arild Anderson, Mark Johnson, Steve Swallow, Bob Mintzer and The Yellowjackets, Nils-Petter Molvaer, Bugge Wesseltoft, Mike Gibbs, Maria Schneider, Sidsel Endresen and Maria Joao. He is also a regular performer with NDR Radio Orchestra in Hamburg. In England he has performed and recorded with the very best of his generation and is currently preparing to tour his band SPIN MARVEL in which he plays mostly electronic and sequenced drums.