"...slice of life (original) songs that ring with truth, wit and experience" The Washington Post, Barbara Martin's music is a rich stew of earthy blues and folk peppered with sassy, swinging jazz.  Her performances are rooted in a healthy respect for the traditions of American music from Josh White to Bessie Smith to Billie Holiday.  Her sultry, soulful voice interwoven with the bending, sliding strings of guitar wizard Mac Walter create an experience that covers a full emotional palate, moving audiences from tears to laughter and back again.

From the time she bought her first guitar at the age of 13, Barbara Martin has never been afraid to explore and experiment. She moved from the folk coffeehouse circuit in her native Iowa to the new wave rock scene in Boston, to discovering her true love, blues and jazz, in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. From her decision in 1990 to give up her job as a social worker and embark on a career as a full time musician she has never looked back. Her journey has taken her to festivals and concert venues throughout the United States and Europe, five recordings and critical acclaim from presenters and reviewers alike.

Guitarist, Mac Walter, began his musical career at 16 when Marianne Price, formerly with Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, convinced him to give up the ukulele and try the guitar.  Three months later Mac was playing in Marianne's band and has not put the guitar down since.  Over a 35 year career Mac has studied with guitar greats Roy Buchanan, John Knowles and Woody Mann.  He has performed with Danny Gatton and Deanna Bogart, touring the United States and Europe.  Claiming influences from Wes Montgomery to Django Reinhardt to Frank Zappa, Mac is a fluid master of many styles.

In addition to her regular concerts Martin offers several specialty and educational programs. Earthy to Elegant: Great Ladies of Blues and Jazz is a presentation about the music, life and times of the great women blues and jazz artists from the 1920s through the 40s and is  perfect for Women's History Month.  Swingin' Into the Season is a holiday program that combines secular seasonal favorites with original compositions.  From Ragtime to Rock and Roll an American musical history program.  Jivin' Jazz and Blues is a history of blues and jazz from 1750 to 1930.  She also offers blues and jazz vocal workshops and songwriting workshops for middle and high school students and school residencies.

Check out Barbara's other recordings, including the critically acclaimed A Different View (1999), Between White and Black (1996), and A Matter of Time (1993). Barbara's children's CD, From Ragtime to Rock and Roll, earned the Parents' Choice Silver Honor for Fall 2000 Audio.