Martha Bassett’s caramel-toned alto sounds right at home in music of many varieties; from Americana to jazz, folk to country gospel, she always sounds exactly like herself. As a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, Martha’s emotionally honest performances make people feel as if she is singing directly to them.
A native of West Virginia, Martha has made a home for herself in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad. She has performed at Merlefest, the Eastern Music Festival, the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, and concert venues throughout the region, as well as touring nationally.
Her bands have been as eclectic as her tastes, combining talented players from classical, jazz, folk, and rock traditions. She has taken great delight in mentoring young musicians, many of whom have filtered through her band before moving off to begin their own projects. Each iteration of her band has reflected Martha’s musical interests at the time. Common threads throughout her career include vim and vigor in her singing and her collaborations with some of the strongest talent in North Carolina.
This penchant for making music with others lead to her most recent project, The Martha Bassett Show, which she hosts monthly at the historic Reeves Theater in Elkin, NC. Martha serves as band leader and curator, playing her own music and collaborating with guests. Each show features national, regional, and local artists of varying genres, with a particular interest in presenting female musicians. Martha relishes this ever-expanding community as an expression of her cheerfully innovative hospitality.
Martha has released eleven records to date (including two with Martha and the Moodswingers and two with The Carolina Chamber Jazz Players). Her current band released its second record in May 2019, called “Hot Pepper Queen.” To see their calendar, visit marthabassett.com.
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