Born and raised in Madrid, Spain, pianist and composer Marta Sánchez is a prominent figure in the contemporary creative music scene in New York City and around the world. Her innovative and original music has gained her significant international recognition and established her as a leading voice in modern jazz and creative music.
Marta’s main project, her quintet, was formed shortly after her move to New York. The group has released four critically acclaimed albums: Partenika (2015), Danza Imposible (2017), and El Rayo de Luz (2019) on the Spanish label Fresh Sound, and SAAM (Spanish American Art Museum) (2022) on Whirlwind Recordings. All four records have been praised by the American press.
Partenika earned glowing reviews from The New York Times, DownBeat, All Music, All About Jazz, and many others. The New York Times included it on its list of the 10 Best Albums of 2015 (across all genres) and it was also highlighted by the Jazz Journalists Association, DownBeat, and All Music as one of the year’s best jazz recordings. Danza Imposiblewas reviewed on NPR’s Fresh Air, received 4 stars from DownBeat, and was featured on Nate Chinen’s WBGO program. It appeared on multiple “best of 2017” lists.
El Rayo de Luz was included in The New York Times’ list of the 10 Best Jazz Albums of 2019, selected as the editor’s pick in DownBeat’s December issue, and received a 4-star review in DownBeat by Giovanni Russonello. The album was also spotlighted on WBGO’s The Checkout and many other platforms. Marta’s latest quintet release, SAAM (Spanish American Art Museum), continued this trend, earning praise from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, DownBeat, Jazzwise, and more.
Following the success of Danza Imposible, Marta’s work has been widely featured in major publications such as Jazziz and The New York Times, cementing her reputation as a creative force in contemporary jazz.
In addition to her quintet, Marta recently released a trio album, Perpetual Void, on the Intakt label, featuring Savannah Harris on drums and Chris Tordini on bass. This record has also received widespread acclaim, including a 4.5-star review from DownBeat.
Marta has toured extensively across the United States, Europe, South America, and Central America, performing at prestigious venues and festivals such as the North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands), Jazzaldia (San Sebastián), Inntone Jazz Festival (Austria), Eurojazz (Mexico City and Athens), the Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival, the Winter Jazz Festival (New York), and
Madrid Jazz Festival. In the U.S., she has graced stages at Carnegie Hall, the Blue Note, Village Vanguard, Birdland, Roulette, Dizzy’s Jazz Club, The Jazz Gallery, Smalls, Mezzrow, and more.
Marta has also actively collaborated with renowned artists, playing and recording with David Murray's Quartet, Maria Grand's duo, and the Anna Webber & Angela Morris Big Band, among others.
As a film composer, Marta has scored music for several short films, including El Puzzle (directed by Belén Mejías), Ya no Puede Caminar (directed by Luiso Berdejo), Irritz (directed
by Maider Oleaga), and others. Her compositions have won awards for Best Soundtrack at festivals in Alcalá de Henares, Curtficcion in Barcelona, and Palma de Mallorca.
Marta’s achievements also include two prestigious MacDowell Colony residency grants, in 2017 and 2021, where she composed repertoire for prepared piano.
Currently, Marta is an adjunct professor at NYU and is active as a performer, educator, and composer.
She is also involved in other creative endeavors, including the upcoming release of "Altered Visions," a collaborative project under the new label Lilaila Records, a label created by Marta in collaboration with Camila Nebbia and Maria Grand.