It with great sadness and a heavy heart that we learn of the death of Martin Hummel. After a year long battle with cancer, Martin passed away in the early hours of January 10th, and in the words of his family had “experienced a rapid and unexpected decline in his health over the last week. He left this world peacefully surrounded by his close family and loved ones”.
A life long jazz enthusiast and supporter of the music, Martin was truly a force to be reckoned with. Through Ubuntu Music, the record label he founded in 2015, Martin worked tirelessly to record and promote musicians that he admired. In doing so he was able to give many of the young and aspiring musicians a helping hand, and was also keen to release albums by older, established jazz artists whose music he enjoyed.
The musicians who released albums on Ubuntu under Marin’s careful supervision and expert ear were not just the finest in the UK but came from all corners of the globe to create a truly Internation family of artists.
In my capacity with Jazz Views, I never met Martin, and perhaps spoke to him on the phone on just a handful of occasions. Whenever we did have a conversation, he was extremely knowledgeable and willing to offer advice. Above all his passion for the for the music was immediately apparent.
Martin Hummel will be much missed in jazz circles around the world, and his legacy will live on in the wonderful recordings he curated and released through his label, many of which our contributors at Jazz Views have taken much pleasure in writing about.
