Geoff has a visit from an old friend – the wonderful jazz saxophonist, composer and educator Martin Hathaway.

What does it take to forge a path in jazz that spans performing, teaching, and leading one of the UK's most prestigious jazz education programs? In this captivating conversation, Martin opens up about his musical journey from curious child to influential jazz pedagogue.

Martin's story begins with a recorder, an innate ability to play by ear, and an uncle who introduced him to the sounds of West Coast jazz through cherished vinyl records. These early experiences of recording jazz albums onto cassette tapes from the library and learning solos by ear would later form the foundation of his approach to jazz education. There's something wonderfully authentic about his recollection of performing Gerry Mulligan's ‘Walkin’ Shoes’ as a school assembly solo - cobbling together improvisations he'd learned from recordings without truly understanding the theory behind them.

The conversation delves deep into the art of teaching jazz improvisation, with Martin reflecting on his years leading the Guildhall School of Music's jazz program. He thoughtfully explores the tension between academic approaches to jazz education and the more organic, ear-based learning that characterised his own development. His balanced perspective acknowledges multiple pathways to improvisation - from melody-based approaches inspired by Louis Armstrong to vocabulary-building "licks" methods - offering invaluable insight for players at any stage of development.

Martin demonstrates his improvisational approach to the 1930s Irving Berlin standard ‘How Deep is the Ocean?’ (accompanied by the Quartet app of course), revealing how an experienced improviser navigates harmony in real-time while maintaining melodic coherence.

His reflections on career highlights - from debut performances at Ronnie Scott's to sharing stages with heroes like Harry Beckett - remind us that jazz is ultimately about human connection and the passing of a torch from one generation to the next.

Whether you're a jazz student seeking guidance or a seasoned player looking for fresh inspiration, Martin's journey offers both practical wisdom and the reassurance that even the most accomplished musicians continue learning throughout their careers.

Presenter: Geoff Gascoyne
Series Producer: Paul Sissons
Production Manager: Martin Sissons
The Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.