Martin Metzger
Guitar, Director
Martin Metzger is a versatile guitarist and composer based in Evanston, Illinois. With decades of dedication to Flamenco, Jazz, Brazilian Jazz, Afro-Cuban Jazz, and Classical Guitar, Martin has established himself as both a passionate performer and an exceptional educator.
Martin has performed and recorded with numerous ensembles, including The Martin Metzger Flamenco Quartet, Ensemble of Ragas (Indian/Flamenco Fusion), and Wood To Water (World-Influenced Jazz), which released their debut album in 2006. In 2007, he recorded as a sideman with The Chicago Grace Consort. He currently leads and performs with several groups, including The Martin Metzger Flamenco-Jazz Ensemble, The Martin Metzger Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble, The Martin Metzger/John Moulder Guitar Duo, and regularly appears as a soloist and freelance musician.
Martin earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from DePaul University in 1994 and a Master’s in Education from National-Louis University in 2010. Deeply committed to lifelong learning, he travels to Spain annually to immerse himself in the traditions of Flamenco. He has studied at the renowned Carmen de las Cuevas school in Granada, as well as in Sevilla, Madrid, Cádiz, and other Andalusian cities. His Flamenco mentors include Jorge Sánchez Martinez, Marcos Palometas, Rubén Campos, Alfredo Mesa, Flavio Rodrigues, Tino Van Der Sman, and Diego Alonso. He has also studied Jazz with noted musicians including John Moulder, Akio Sasajima, Larry Gray, and Alan Swain.
For over 35 years, Martin has shared his love of the guitar with students of all ages. Drawing on his experience in both music and education, Martin’s teaching blends technical mastery with creativity, mindfulness, and inspiration. His approach is also informed by his personal practices of Tibetan yoga and meditation, helping students cultivate joy, discipline, and artistic expression in their studies.
Martin was the head of the guitar program at Baker Demonstration School for 14 years and currently teaches at Evanston Township High School and at his private Metzger Music Studio in Evanston. His students come from across the North Shore and greater Chicago area, including Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Northbrook, Northfield, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, and the City of Chicago.
A deeply compassionate and experienced educator, Martin provides his students with a strong foundation in musicianship while nurturing their individual voice and direction. Through his teaching and professional ensembles, he continues to bring together diverse communities in pursuit of musical excellence and artistic growth.
To contact/schedule a lesson with Martin email metzgermusicstudio@gmail.com or call 773-744-1156
Wood To Water CD
Collectively the group combines the rudimental genres of rock, jazz, and classical with traditional Eastern European, Indian, South American and Middle Eastern music. Instrumentation includes acoustic and electric guitars, saxophones, acoustic and electric violin, acoustic and electric bass, and Irish, African and Middle Eastern hand drums and percussion.
Not only does the group utilize individual improvisation, but it also has developed its unique sound of group improvisation through esthetics and explorations, focusing on color, breath, depth and timbre. This mixture incorporates elements that are brooding, melodic, rhythmic, and dissonant.
Original compositions suggest a “coming home” feel all inspired by such diverse groups and artists such as Shakti, Bill Frisell, Pat Metheny, Anouar Brahem, and Paco DeLucia–yet offer an off slant view to the new.
