Martha Bassett’s caramel-toned alto sounds right at home in music of many varieties; from Americana to jazz, folk to country gospel, she sounds exactly like herself. As a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, Martha’s emotionally honest performances partner with her uncanny ability to 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 Pied- mont Triad. She has performed in most of the festivals and concert venues throughout the region, as well as touring nationally. Her bands have been as eclectic as her tastes, com- bining 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 be- fore moving off to begin their own projects. Each iteration of her band has reflected Martha’s musical interests at the time. In short, she is hard to pin down. Common threads throughout her career include strong groove, strong singing, and her collabora- tions 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 twice a month 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 women musicians. As an expression of her cheerfully in- novative hospitality, Martha relishes this ever-expanding community.
Martha has released 11 records to date (including 2 with Martha and the Moodswingers and 2 with The Carolina Chamber Jazz Players). Her current band released it’s second record in May 2019, called “Hot Pepper Queen.” To see their calendar, visit marthabassett.com.