
York Calling
"There’s a real sense of joy and freedom to Trips for Piano that is unmatched by many of Martin’s peers, marking him as a musician to watch for the future!"
Discovery: Martin Graff
Pianist Martin Graff has been creating music ever since he was four years old. Despite having no formal music training at first, he learned to play the piano by ear, with his latest album release, Trips for Piano, showcasing his talent in fine fashion. As regular readers will know, I’ve shared a lot of classical music recently, so I couldn’t help but write about Martin when I discovered his music!
Trips for Piano is a wonderful album, with opener "Prism" being one of my favourite songs on the record. It opens slowly, sounding rather simple at first. However, Martin’s composition and performance skills are surprisingly effective, changing the lovely piano notes performed here as the track goes through several different movements. it’s an instrumental piece, but there’s no need for vocals here, as it’s absolutely beautiful as it is.
"Flowers Open" is another key track from Trips for Piano. It’s got a slightly more playful sound than Prism, sounding effortless from the very start, as the pretty piano notes play across each other in perfect style. There’s a real sense of joy and freedom to the piece that is unmatched by many of Martin’s peers, marking him as a musician to watch for the future!
—JH, March 30, 2024
Jane Howkins is a staff writer for York Calling, a blog focused on music and culture, primarily highlighting the scene in York, England, with a mission to promote local artists and connect with musicians worldwide.