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Martin Iaies

Martín Iaies is an Argentinian jazz guitarist, composer, arranger and educator currently based in Vienna, Austria. With a musical language rooted in jazz tradition but always exploring new forms, he’s part of a generation of emerging jazz artists pushing the boundaries of the genre — blending contemporary jazz, Latin American influences, and modern ensemble writing.
 

Born into a family of musicians, Martín started playing piano at age 4, guided by his grandmother and his father, Adrián Iaies — a respected jazz pianist and composer. As a teenager, driven by his love for rock, he picked up the guitar and soon realized that music was more than a passion — it was his path.
 

Over the years, he has studied with renowned teachers in Argentina, Austria, and New York, and has collaborated with a wide range of inspiring and influential musicians. These experiences shaped his voice as a guitarist and composer, both in small formats and in large jazz ensembles.
 

In 2022 he recorded his second album, New Beginnings — released in October 2023 by the US-based label Ears & Eyes Records — an album that showcases his work as a jazz composer and bandleader. That same year, he founded the Martín Iaies 11tet, a modern jazz large ensemble that explores expansive textures, rhythmic experimentation, and ensemble-driven improvisation. Their debut album "PEOPLE. PLACES. Music for Large Ensemble"  was recorded in February 2025 and will be released in 2026.
 

Currently, Martín divides his time between composing for large ensembles, performing across Europe and Latin America, recording new projects, and teaching jazz guitar, composition, and ensemble work. Whether leading his own projects or producing for others, his focus remains clear: to keep exploring the edges of sound through jazz.


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6
Album Review

Martin Iaies featuring Julian Arguelles: New Beginnings

Read "New Beginnings" reviewed by Chris May


Born in Argentina but resident in Graz, Austria since 2019, Martin Iaies' aptly titled New Beginnings is the guitarist's second album, following Rewind & FF (El Club del Disco, 2018). And it is a zinger. In Graz, Iaies completed formal guitar studies in 2022, and recorded New Beginnings the same year. He leads a quartet of Austrian-based musicians: Serbian bassist Miloš Čolović, drummer Andreas Reisenhofer and British saxophonist Julian Argüelles, the eldest player in the lineup, who ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

New Releases From Martin Iaies, Claudio Scolari Project, Ahmad Jamal, Cal Tjader, And More

Read "New Releases From Martin Iaies, Claudio Scolari Project, Ahmad Jamal, Cal Tjader, And More" reviewed by Bob Osborne


On this show we present new releases from Martin Iaies, Claudio Scolari Project, Ahmad Jamal, Cal Tjader, Chet Baker, Wes Montgomery, Darren Pickering, Loren Stillman, Anenon, Benjamín Vergara & Amanda Irarrázabal, Nikki Iles, and Elton Dean. Playlist Show Intro 00:00 Martin Iaies feat. Julian Argüelles “Pascanas # 1" from New Beginnings (ears&eyes) 00:55 Claudio Scolari Project “Light Through The Mirror" from Light Through The Mirror (Self Released) 09:18 Ahmad Jamal “Mr Lucky" from Emerald City Nights: Live ...

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"Iaies also pays attention to emotional breaks that slow things down and create a really comfortable feeling and atmosphere, condensing the album into a little delicacy that will not only appeal to fans of mainstream jazz in the classic style, but also to all those who simply find well-made musicianship a real joy and a lot of pleasure"
Gregor Poschorek - Soultrain (DE)

“Iaies also wrote all eight tunes, which have character, and which together span straight-ahead and more experimental jazz along with the Argentine and Brazilian forms.”
Chris May - All About Jazz (UK)

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Primary Instrument

Guitar, electric

Location

Vienna

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

I've been teaching guitar and music for over 17 years — and I still enjoy it as much as when I started at 18. Teaching is not only something I do with passion; it’s also a key part of my growth as a musician.

While I help students develop their skills, I also learn from them: new artists, new sounds, fresh perspectives. Teaching has made me a better listener, a more thoughtful musician, and, in many cases, it’s even led to lasting friendships. I believe a good class is not just about technique — it’s a space to connect, get inspired, and bring music closer to your life.

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

New Beginnings

Ears And Eyes Records
2023

buy

Rewind & FF

Club Del Disco
2018

buy

Graz

From: New Beginnings
By Martin Iaies

El Mineirazo

From: New Beginnings
By Martin Iaies

Castelar

From: New Beginnings
By Martin Iaies

Videos

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