Chris Martin

Chris Martin was the house pianist at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Chicago from 1989 to 2007. He played the tea at the Four Seasons Chicago from 2004 thru 2008. At these venues he has performed for, amongst others, President H. W. Bush, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, The Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, and Cardinal George. The list is as wide and varied as are the eminent guests who stay at these establishments. In addition to his hotel playing he has played corporate functions in every major venue in the city. He was voted best ambient music in Chicago Magazine's 2002 Best Of Chicago issue.

Chris has covered the gamut musically in his career. Classically trained at the American Conservatory of Music, he has been a keyboard player in top forty bands, a pianist in jazz ensembles, and piano player and singing solo artist for the last twenty years. His repertoire is vast, and his playing styles range from blues to Bach with a consummate knowledge of the American Songbook.

• Chicago Piano Player Chris Martin performs Whiter Shade of Pale - Procul Harem
• Terms of Endearment - Movie Theme
• Linus and Lucy Theme - Vince Geraldi
• Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
• Gymnopedie - Erik Satie
• Lady in Red - Chris Deburgh
• Beatles Medley - The Beatles
• Phantom of Opera Medley - A. Loyd Webber
• Your Song - Elton John
• A Whole New World - Disney
• Greenhouse Shuffle - Chris Martin
• You Lift Me Up - Josh Groban
• Blue Rhondo\Take Five - Dave Brubeck
• Nearness of You - Hoagy Carmichael
• Moonlight Serenade - Glen Miller
• Rhapsody In Blue - Gershwin
• What is This Thing Called Love - Cole Porter
• Sophisticated Lady - Duke Ellington
• Begin the Beguine - Cole Porter
• Our love is Here To Stay - Gershwin
• So In Love - Cole Porter
• Dindi - Carlos Jobim
• Secret Love - Doris Day
• Blue Monk - Thelonius Monk
• Bluesette - Toots Thielman
• Sunrise Sunset/If I were a Rich Man - Fiddler On The Roof
• Morning Has Broken - Cat Stevens
• Always A Woman to Me - Billy Joel
• Piano Man - Billy Joel
• She's Got a Way About Her - Billy Joel
• New York State of Mind - Billy Joel
• Up On The Roof - Drifters
• Deep Purple\Smoke Gets in Your eyes - Platters
• Breezin - George Benson
• Twin Peaks - Movie Theme A. Baldimante
• Sailing - Chris Cross
• Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
• Love Walked In\But Not For Me - George Gershwin
• Here Comes The Sun - Beatles
• Black Bird - Beatles
• Somewhere In Time - Movie Theme
• Prelude in C - Bach
• Joy Of Man's Desiring - Bach
• Someone To Watch Over Me - Gershwin
• Crazy\I'm So Lonesome - Willie Nelson
• Last Date - Floyd Kramer
• Will You Still Love Me Tommorow - Carole King
• The Little Mermaid - Disney
• On The Street Where You Live - My Fair Lady
• Lullaby of Birdland - George Shearing
• It had to Be You - Theme from Sleepless in Seattle
• What's New - Linda Ronstadt
• Canadian Sunset - Eddie Heywood
• A Man And A Woman - Movie theme
• Strangers in the NIght - Sinatra
• All the Way - Sinatra
• It Was a Very Good Year - Sinatra
• Softly as I Leave You - Sinatra
• The Summer Wind - Sinatra
• Night and Day - Sinatra
• The Way You Look Tonight - Sinatra
• I've Got the World On a String - Sinatra
• Paper Moon - Sinatra
• One For My Baby - Sinatra
• Witchcraft - Sinatra
• Learning the Blues - Sinatra
• You Make Me Feel So Young - Sinatra
• Young at Heart - Sinatra
• My Way - Sinatra
• New York New York - Sinatra
• Let's Get Away From It All - Sinatra
• Body and Soul - Sinatra
• Fools Rush In - Jazz Standard
• Lady Is a Tramp - Sinatra
• What is This Thing Called Love - Jazz Standard
• Where Or When - Jazz Standard
• Stella By Starlight - Jazz Standard
• Nightingale Sang in Barclay Square - Jazz Standard
• How High the Moon - Jazz Standard
• Fly me to the Moon - Jazz Standard
• Makin Whoopee - Jazz Standard
• Stormy Weather - Jazz Standard
• Let's Face the Music and Dance - Jazz Standard
• These Foolish Things - Jazz Standard
• East of the Sun - Jazz Standard
• Canon in D - Pachabel
• Variation on a Theme from Paganini - Rachmaninoff
• Reverie - Debussy
• Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring - Bach
• Love and Marriage - Sinatra

Anniversaries, Awards Nights, Banquets, Bar Mitzvahs, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Clubs, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Country Clubs, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Halloween Parties, New Year's Eve Parties, Picnic, Private Parties, Restaurants, Reunions, School Assemblies, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.

• We hired Mr. Martin for our wedding ceremony and reception and he was delightful! We requested a special song that he learned last minute and was able to play and sing beautifully. He's an incredibly talented musician, very accommodating and very professional. He made several announcements for us, brought his own equipment, and just made my day that much easier. We heard so many great comments from our guests and are so happy with out choice to go with Mr. Martin. We would absolutely recommend him to anyone considering entertainment for an event and will certainly keep him in mind for our future events! -- Erica G, Chicago, IL, 9/25/2011
• Chris played at our company Open House and I have to say that he was unbelievable. The music was wonderful. I will recommend Chris to all of my associates. His professional and talent is something that is not readily found! Thanks Chris!!! -- Joan R, Westchester, IL, 3/17/2011
• I have been a meeting planner for C-level and VIP events for 24 years and never have I experienced such professionalism and talent. Chris understood that this was a business networking function and played with panache and grace as background for our evening. He played a wide and varied array of music for nearly three hours without a single sheet of music. A wonderful, talented gentleman that would be a chart topper at any event! -- Victoria W, Chicago, IL, 3/23/2011
• Chris was delightful both in his playing and in his interaction with our guests ...he made our event very special and would highly recommend him to anyone wanting piano music at an event. -- Heather S, Hinsdale, IL, 3/25/2011
• Great musician, wonderful personality. Chris was in tune to the conversation... As my guests talked he pick up on the subject and jumped in with a tune. For example, we were talking about the university of motte dame, Chris jumped right with the fight song . Chris is a delight, -- John L, Chicago, IL, 10/29/2011
• Chris was a wonderful addition to our Holiday Gathering. He was set up and ready to go early and ready for any requests. He is professional and I will recemmend him for any event small or large. He met all my need for the party. Thank you Chris. -- Joyce D, Oak Brook, IL, 12/15/2011
• Chris Martin was wonderful. Set the perfect tone for the party! -- Jackie B, Chicago, IL, 12/14/2011

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