Musical omnivore Martin Fondse (February 20, 1967, Bergen Op Zoom) is a jazz and contemporary music pianist, composer and arranger who won the prestigious Dutch Boy Edgar Prize in 2017. The customarily accepted boundaries between genres like classical music, jazz, Latin and world music simply do not exist in his world.

Fondse‘s creativity in composing and arranging is distinctive. It reveals a humorous and narrative style ranging from poetic, empathetic to delicate. He often devotes the fruits of his wide-ranging interests in large ensembles in which he can portray the full scope of his writing capacity.

Martin Fondse has released twelve albums under his own name and appeared on many more as a composer, arranger or sideman. He has composed film scores for several animation and feature films, and has received both national and international awards for these as well as for his orchestral work, including the Prémio da Música Brasileira (2018), Zilveren Notenkraker (2016, NJJO), the Edison National Jazz Award (2012) his score for the Dutch entry for the Oscars (2009), Phantom of the Cinema, Animated Shorts category). In 2018 he wrote the score for the highly acclaimed documentary film WAD.

As a composer/arranger Martin collaborated with artists like Pat Metheny, Terry Bozzio, Lenine, Peter Erskine, Doudou N’Diaye Rose, Vernon Reid, George Duke, Christina Branco, Claudio Puntin, Eric Vloeimans, Ernst Reijseger, Mariza, Sezen Aksu, Nils Wogram, Basement Jaxx, Matthew Herbert.

Furthermore, Martin received composition commission from orchestras like Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Holland Symfonia, Limburgs Symfonisch Orkest, hr-Bigband Frankfurt, Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, The Meridian Arts Ensemble, Metropole Orchestra.

His music has been featured on North Sea Jazz Festival, Holland Festival, Nederlandse Muziekdagen, November Music, Dutch Jazz Meeting.

He has been awarded several international prizes, ranging from orchestral work to film music.