Bassist and composer Martin Wind was born in Flensburg, Germany in 1968 and has been living in the New York City area since 1996. He earned a diploma as Orchestra Musician at the Cologne Conservatory and completed his Master’s degree in jazz composition and performance at NYU. In 1995 Martin came in third at the International Thelonious Monk Bass Competition in Washington, D.C., and in 1996 he won the first Cognac Hennessy/Blue Note Jazz Search in Germany. In 2000 he was the first jazz musician to win the Cultural Award of his home state Schleswig-Holstein.
Martin has released more than 20 albums as leader/co-leader including his recent recording My Astorian Queen in celebration of the 25th anniversary of his move to New York City. Martin has recorded and/or performed with Monty Alexander, Pat Metheny, Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Toots Thielemans, Buddy DeFranco Michael and Randy Brecker, Eddie Daniels, Phil Woods, Johnny Griffin, Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Wess, James Moody, Hank Jones, Ann Hampton Callaway, Anat Cohen, Benny Green, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and others. Since 2015 he’s been part of the Kennedy Center Honors Gala, backing up world stars such as James Taylor, Reneé Fleming, John Legend, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock and others. In 2018 he premiered his bass concerto “Legacy” with his hometown orchestra; he has also written the sonata “Into the Light” for bass and piano, plus many arrangements and original compositions for bass ensemble and about 100 jazz tunes and concert pieces. He returns to The Jazz Cruise as a member of Ann Hampton Callaway’s group.