Martha Baartz is an Australian alto saxophonist, composer and arranger working across jazz, funk and blues. Her interest in improvised music began as a student at Southern Cross University in Lismore, NSW (1993-1997), after which she based herself in Melbourne, studying with players such as Ian Chaplin and Jim Glasson. In 2000 she formed the Baartz Freeman Sextet, which released “South East” (2003, Move Records) and “12 Salutations” (2005). She was a founding member of the Saltwater Saxophone Quartet and was shortlisted for the 2006 APRA Professional Development Award (Jazz). Baartz later completed a Master of Music in saxophone performance at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, receiving an award for academic excellence in 2010. Now based in the Northern Rivers region, she co-leads the Denson-Baartz Quartet with pianist Louise Denson and teaches saxophone at Southern Cross University and Lindisfarne Grammar School.
