Ian is a multi instrumentalist born in Toronto Canada, who went to college in Boston, and now resides in Los Angles. He started with piano lessons at 7 (which he says at the time was "torture") then took up drums in his father's church at age 8.  At 16 he switched to bass and made it his principal instrument.

Since moving to Los Angeles in 2001, Ian has been bassist to artists' like Maxwell, Res, Ronny Jordan, and now Barry Manilow. "Playing with such different artists' has been such a privilege and a great musical learning experience.  It gives me the unique perspective of how different artists' approach their music, weather performing, writing, or producing. Barry is an artist that I admire immensely because he has followed his own path throughout most of his career.  He follows his instincts and does what he believes in."

Ian Martin

Though being an artist is something that Ian now really embraces, it can be challenging because he doesn't fall into the traditional role of artist. "Many people are surprised and shocked when I tell them I've completed my solo project.  I always hear- "but you don't sing," well I don't consider myself a singer, but I write arrange, produce, and perform most of my songs.  So how does that make me less of an artist just because I'm not a singer?"

"Where has Ian been"?  It has been 5 years since "One" and we haven't heard a thing, until now.  "The Way," Ian's sophomore release is a much-anticipated follow up project that is definitely worth the wait.  Ian returns with an all-star cast featuring vocalists; Jill Zadeh, Sy Smith, Gavin Christopher, Robin McKelle, Jeff Robinson and others. All of who help take this project to new heights.

So what took so long for the follow up?  " The time wasn't right, I wasn't ready.  I moved to a new city and was focused on getting my career going in other ways.  But now I'm happy to get back to what I do." "The Way" is a great follow up project, which goes from Jazz to soul to R&B with a splash of smooth.  "I now look at each project as a "snap shot" of where I'm at, at that time, both in music and life. The Way perfectly captured where I was while writing it. However I know the next CD will be quite different than this one, I'm growing like a weed and I love it!" Ian also says,  "I believe we all have something to contribute, in each of us in our special ways.  I have something to share and I hope that my sincerity will be felt and touch someone."