Five-time Grammy nominee Terrace Martin, one of the most versatile figures in hip-hop, doesn’t care much about labels.
“I do art, and under that umbrella I create music. I’m a music creator. I create everything,” the producer, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and composer said in an interview before his his set on Aug. 31 at the Blue Note Festival: Black Radio Experience in Napa.
Martin, slated to appear at Yoshi’s in Oakland this week, grew up in South Los Angeles, listening to a diverse range of music at an early age. Over the years, he has collaborated with Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Stevie Wonder, Kamasi Washington and Kendrick Lamar on the albums “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City” and “To Pimp a Butterfly.”
Although Martin has made a name for himself producing and collaborating in hip-hop and rap circles, jazz remains one of his first loves. He counts Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock and Sonny Stitt as influences.
At the Black Radio Experience, produced by jazz pianist Robert Glasper, Martin energetically played saxophone, one of the first instruments he learned as a young man.
Martin enjoys every part of the music-making process, whether he’s singing, playing an instrument or producing behind the scenes. The role doesn’t matter, as long as he can help create the sound.
“If I’ve got to be in the front, in the back, if I’ve got to hold the camera, I’m creating the vibe and the music,” he said. “At this point, I don’t care what people call me. Call me neo-soul, jazz, hip-hop, whatever. I just make music. Hopefully it’s good enough that people understand it, and if not, I’ll keep trying.”
-
Five-time Grammy nominee Terrace Martin performs at the Blue Note Jazz Festival: Black Radio Experience at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif., on Sunday, August 31, 2025. (Sydney Fishman/Bay City News) -
Rapper Lupe Fiasco performs at the Blue Note Jazz Festival: Black Radio Experience at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif., on Sunday, August 31, 2025. (Sydney Fishman/Bay City News) -
(L) Nai Palm with Haitus Kaiyote performs at the Blue Note Jazz Festival: Black Radio Experience at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif., on Sunday, August 31, 2025. (Sydney Fishman/Bay City News) -
(L) Nai Palm with Haitus Kaiyote performs at the Blue Note Jazz Festival: Black Radio Experience at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif., on Sunday, August 31, 2025. (Sydney Fishman/Bay City News) -
Nai Palm with Haitus Kaiyote performs at the Blue Note Jazz Festival: Black Radio Experience at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif., on Sunday, August 31, 2025. (Sydney Fishman/Bay City News) -
Attendees listen to a performance at the Blue Note Jazz Festival: Black Radio Experience at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif., on Sunday, August 31, 2025. (Sydney Fishman/Bay City News)
Martin said he felt honored to be part of the all-star lineup of musicians, producers and artists appearing in the Black Radio Experience. The event, a space where people from different backgrounds carve out their own styles and come together for the love of music, also showcased Black-owned businesses in food and wine highlighting the North Bay’s culinary scene.
Terrace Martin appears at 8 p.m. Oct. 2-3 at Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. Tickets are $47-$102 at yoshis.com.
The post Fresh from Napa festival, versatile Terrace Martin plays two-night Yoshi’s stand appeared first on Local News Matters.