The Squid's Ear Magazine

Escalante, Martin

Playing Harsh Noise on the Saxophone since 2012

Escalante, Martin: Playing Harsh Noise on the Saxophone since 2012 (Wash and Wear Records)

An uncompromising solo debut from Mexican saxophonist Martin Escalante, recorded live in Japan and presenting an unrelenting storm of harsh acoustic noise without electronics, his ferocious technique transforming the saxophone into a raw conduit of layered textures, tones, and vocalizations for an intensely passionate and overwhelming performance.
 

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Personnel:



Martin Escalante-saxophone


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UPC: 0634240352171

Label: Wash and Wear Records
Catalog ID: W&W03
Squidco Product Code: 36632

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2025
Country: Mexico
Packaging: Digipack
Recorded at At Hall in Oita, Japan, on November 25th, 2023.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"This is Martin Escalante's solo CD debut (not counting a few homemade CDrs and tapes or a 12" produced by Lasse Marhaug). The title of the album and the liner notes tell us that its content is harsh noise played on a saxophone acoustically without any electronic effects or manipulations, an extraordinary claim! Martin indeed has been doing this for almost 15 years and has released albums with Otomo Yoshihide, Weasel Walter, Sissy Spacek, Toshiji Mikawa, Tete Leguia, MoE and others. The digipack cover shows 4 photos of Martín, 3 are relaxed portraits of him in a garden with a tropical vibe, joyful, observing, smelling bright yellow flowers and drinking fresh coconut water and then there is the 4th: a live concert photo of him on the dirty floor of a bar, playing the saxophone shirtless, sweat dripping from his body, the veins in his neck bulging, he blows into the horn with such intensity that it looks like his head is about to pop off.

There have been many extreme saxophone noise makers before, but it is clear that his motives and style are much more tied to noise music than to the improv and free jazz saxophonist that have come before him. After listening to his playing for a while it becomes easier to hear past the intensity and it is clear Martin has created a rich sound made from many layers of textures, tones, articulation and vocalizations all happening at the same time. The performance is arguably the most intense for a solo saxophone ever. Overwhelming, exhausting, and like a drunken master, it's disorienting and a bit disturbing, does he hurt himself while playing? I guess not since he's been at it for so long if he was he surely would have stopped by now, right?"-Wash And Wear


Artist Biographies

Born in Lakewood in the US, Martín Escalante is a photographer, film maker and self taught musician. In 2012 he founded Sploosh Records, publishing various solo and collaborative works. Escalante is associated with Lasse Marhaug's Best Studio in Oslo, where he recorded the soundtrack for his brother Amat Escalante's film The Untamed.

-Squidco 8/25/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Playing Harsh Noise On Saxophone Since 2012 31:04

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Jazz
Mexico, Central & South Americas + Islands
Recordings by or featuring Reed & Wind Players
Solo Artist Recordings
New in Improvised Music
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Wash and Wear Records.


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