G John Martin

G JOHN MARTIN “AKA” BLACKICE is an artist who personifies art. His music as well as his being creates unified melodies manifested with balance, life and wisdom. Hailing from DETROIT MICHIGAN, a place known for pioneering R&B, Gospel, jazz, and blues as well, innovative artists like Miles Davis. At age seven BLACKICE discovered the Bass Guitar and like a dove from the sky the vision of his life’s destiny was born. By the age twelve he found an interest in creating and producing songs of his own, he formed a local band, taught himself several other instruments and studied further the development of his unique sound. Not only did he manage to play the drums, bass and guitar, he realized his voice. Soon it would be clear his personal testimony and the beginning of his musical career. His professional journey began at age eleven during a visit to Hollywood. He quickly caught the ear of performer James Mitchell of the Detroit Emeralds. Offering him a role in the development of musical pieces for several projects including his first tour. With his encouragement he quickly moved to study music and began what would become a long history of music production, Groups to his name, 7 mile under the Sony label, it wasn’t long before he was afforded many opportunities to master his craft. Within the next ten years, black ice felt the pressures and practices of the music business overshadowed his passion of music. Deciding he would no longer work under the influences of corporate ideals and demands, he chose to quiet himself, find spiritual solace and honor his soul. This led him to Japan, a culture based on divination, deriving from a culture of people that was made of order. Black Ice would embark on what is now his dream come true JP Entertainment & Nitram Records. Recognized as one of the most important dance music production labels soon to be known worldwide, JP Entertainment is purely a source of music created to elevate the spirit. With less than a year and two singles, he would receive praises from his peers and found the love he sought for years within the singing music community. As the success of the production grew, so did the demand for Black ice to expand. With the support of dj’s and his music now introduced to a wider spectrum of listeners, this veteran musician/composer/producer becoming the artist finally achieved balance within. A year later, Black ice moved to the island JAPAN and relocated. While he still produces and remixes for other labels and artists, his passion is in JP ENTERTAINMENT maintaining its reputation of its unparallel quality in the music business. With its own family of talented producers and artists developing and bridging sound, the labels’ evolution is endless and bright. As he embarks on what has been his personal aspiration to date, Black ice has evolved and is currently sharing his vision alongside a new band. With a new album project in the works, fans will finally hear the voice of the man and feel the honesty and conviction of his spirit.

A voice of silky smoothness and emotion conveyed, velvety, and touched with honesty and conviction...

Welcome to the world of G John Martin, whose wonderful style compliments a voice which cuts through the air like a cold knife then melts it's way into your heart like warm butter. Uh Ohhh!...WATCH OUT LADIES!!!!!
- Soul Searching Mag

SmoothJazzTherapy.com
Review by Denis Poole
September 14, 2008
G John Martin - Black Ice

Under siege from lack of radio play and in need of a fresh identity, there are many (me included) who consider that to survive as a viable genre, contemporary jazz must move closer to an urban R & B format. This being the case vocalist G John Martin seems ideally placed to reap the benefit. After touring the world and opening a record label in Japan, Martin has released his debut CD ‘Black Ice’ which, although widely described as “a familiar sounding smooth soul mix that recalls Motown greats such as Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye”, is in fact replete with hugely relevant jazz tinged urban vibes.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Martin’s musical adventure began with the bass guitar and, while demonstrating a gift for writing and production, he quickly developed his own distinctive vocal style. A chance encounter with James Mitchell of the Detroit Emeralds led to his first tour and, from that, the chance to travel the world with artists such as Earl Klugh, the Clark Sisters and George Benson. He reflects how the stage etiquette he learned from Mitchell has stayed with him always and now feels the time is right to use ‘Black Ice’ as the vehicle by which to articulate his life experiences.

Throughout the album Martin relies heavily on his family as collaborators, backup singers and musicians. His daughter Bria has a cameo slot on the romantic ‘From The Heart’ and wife Angie adds sexy backing vocals to the hypnotic title cut. He shares the majority of the writing credits, including those for the silky smooth ‘Baby Girl’ and the stunningly sensual ‘Something Special’, with his boyhood friend Luther ‘Squeaky’ Jackson. In fact a cool vibe permeates the entire collection and although Martin admits that he would have loved to have shared the vocal on ‘Quiet Time’ with his idol Stevie Wonder he makes a superb job of this tender tune all on his own. With ‘Beg & Plead’ there is more of the sumptuous same while when he takes the music to the street he blends the intense ‘N My World’ with the more restrained ‘Rock Me Baby’.

‘Hey Pretty Girl’ is feisty with a Latin twist while ‘Tick Tick Tock’ is sure to get in your head and not go away. It segues handsomely with the urgent ‘VIP’ which, in the best traditions of mellow soul, includes an excellent simulated telephone call intro. Martin’s ultra atmospheric spoken word beginning sets the tone for the spine tingling ‘In Love Again’ and with the excellent ‘There’s No I In We’ he keeps the vibe decidedly seductive. In terms of quality it is a clear contender for best track on the album but right there with it is the wonderful ‘If Only You Knew’. With a groove to die for, and a smattering of familiar sampled rhythms, this is just about as good as urban jazz gets.

Martin believes that ‘Black Ice’ can be a springboard to even more success. His talent is colossal and his ambition to follow in the footsteps of musical greats such as Stevie, Luther and Donny Hathaway is far from fanciful. Above all G John Martin is grounded. He remembers the advice that singer-songwriter Roberta Flack provided to him one day as they both waited backstage. “Keep it clean, learn the business, and know your craft. You will go far”. With ‘Black Ice’ G John Martin is on his way.

For more information go to www.myspace.com/glynismartin
- SmoothJazzTherapy.com

<excerpts of review>

"After a few listens, it was imperative I gave this CD a moment of my time. In an ever-increasing efflux of new R&B male vocalists entrenching the R&B scene, one cat that may stand out of them all is the vocal reach of G. John Martin. His latest release "Black Ice" stays on track with the Urban R&B listener, while it seduces the ear with honey dripping slow melodies & serenades..."

"...Just at a time when I was beginning to wonder where the slow crooners went, here comes Mr. Martin. Hanging in there to offer another option to the R&B genre. Many of those fast tracks were predictable, as for the many I have reviewed for The Urban Music Scene. But he made up for it on the slow cuts. With the harmonies, exceptional productions & overall vocal appeal, G. John Martin may have a hot one on his hands..."
- Terrill Hanna

G JOHN MARTIN “AKA” BLACKICE is an artist who personifies art. His music as well as his being creates unified melodies manifested with balance, life and wisdom. Hailing from DETROIT MICHIGAN, a place known for pioneering R&B, Gospel, jazz, and blues as well, innovative artists like Miles Davis. At age seven BLACKICE discovered the Bass Guitar and like a dove from the sky the vision of his life’s destiny was born. By the age twelve he found an interest in creating and producing songs of his own, he formed a local band, taught himself several other instruments and studied further the development of his unique sound. Not only did he manage to play the drums, bass and guitar, he realized his voice. Soon it would be clear his personal testimony and the beginning of his musical career. His professional journey began at age eleven during a visit to Hollywood. He quickly caught the ear of performer James Mitchell of the Detroit Emeralds. Offering him a role in the development of musical pieces for several projects including his first tour. With his encouragement he quickly moved to study music and began what would become a long history of music production, Groups to his name, 7 mile under the Sony label, it wasn’t long before he was afforded many opportunities to master his craft. Within the next ten years, black ice felt the pressures and practices of the music business overshadowed his passion of music. Deciding he would no longer work under the influences of corporate ideals and demands, he chose to quiet himself, find spiritual solace and honor his soul. This led him to Japan, a culture based on divination, deriving from a culture of people that was made of order. Black Ice would embark on what is now his dream come true JP Entertainment & Nitram Records. Recognized as one of the most important dance music production labels soon to be known worldwide, JP Entertainment is purely a source of music created to elevate the spirit. With less than a year and two singles, he would receive praises from his peers and found the love he sought for years within the singing music community. As the success of the production grew, so did the demand for Black ice to expand. With the support of dj’s and his music now introduced to a wider spectrum of listeners, this veteran musician/composer/producer becoming the artist finally achieved balance within. A year later, Black ice moved to the island JAPAN and relocated. While he still produces and remixes for other labels and artists, his passion is in JP ENTERTAINMENT maintaining its reputation of its unparallel quality in the music business. With its own family of talented producers and artists developing and bridging sound, the labels’ evolution is endless and bright. As he embarks on what has been his personal aspiration to date, Black ice has evolved and is currently sharing his vision alongside a new band. With a new album project in the works, fans will finally hear the voice of the man and feel the honesty and conviction of his spirit.

A voice of silky smoothness and emotion conveyed, velvety, and touched with honesty and conviction...

Welcome to the world of G John Martin, whose wonderful style compliments a voice which cuts through the air like a cold knife then melts it's way into your heart like warm butter. Uh Ohhh!...WATCH OUT LADIES!!!!!
- Soul Searching Mag