Martin Zarzar

Born in Lima, Peru is an American singer-songwriter, producer, composer, and multi-instrumentist, best known for his version of Moliendo Café and his work with the group Pink Martini. He has written many songs including the Pink Martini original "Mar Desconocido". He has lived and studied in many countries. When he was two years old, his family moved to the UK. Martín’s musical interest was sparked at a young age by his exposure to South African musicians while living in London, including members of the jazz group District Six, as his mother (dancer Luciana Proaño) would take him to rehearsals where he would often fall asleep under the piano. He began studying piano at age six and later guitar and drums as a teenager. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston (MA), where he attended on a scholarship and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Having lived in the UK, France, Peru, Spain, and the USA, he speaks and sings in several languages, including English, Spanish, and French. Career He began to formally study drum-set and hand percussion at age thirteen, and his professional music career began at age fifteen in Portland, OR when he met the group Al-Andalus Ensemble with whom he traveled, performed, and recorded. For over ten years, he performed and contributed to musical arrangements on six albums with the acclaimed group Pink Martini. One of his original compositions, “Mar Desconocido”, appears on third album [m126639]! Many other collaborations include working alongside Simon Shaheen, Jamey Haddad, Oscar Stagnaro, Essiet Essiet, Al-Andalus Ensemble, John Butler, Eugene Skeef, Women Of The World, Leo Blanco, Benny Green, Sean Ghazi, Rufus Wainwright, Fared Shafinury, Mario Frangoulis, Dan Gaynor, Edna Vazquez, Mario Diaz, and Dave Eggar, to name just a few. His solo work has won him several international awards and has been well received among critics, musicians, and audiences alike. Martin's work is inspired by a life of travel, a multicultural upbringing, and the commitment to an open and pluralistic society with equal opportunity for all people. As a producer, he has co-written many songs and produced albums for several other artists. Between May 17-19, he held three live performances with the title "El Muro / The wall" in collaboration with Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company, organized by the Smithonian Institution at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC