The Scottish Cinema Organ Trust

Jean Martyn

Jean has been playing professionally for more than 20 years. She began playing at the age of three, playing nursery rhymes on her parent’s piano. She comes from a very musical family, both her mother and grandparents being musical. Her natural musical ability began to show at the age of five. Her parents sent her to a music teacher who put her through her grades on the piano, then through Trinity College of Music in London and eventually becoming an associate of that college. At the age of eleven, Jean was appointed organist at her local church and even now, when time permits, plays there when the organist has some time off. 
Moving   effortlessly  between  grand  piano,  custom   built  electronic  keyboards and mighty Wurlitzers, Jean often comes on to the stage still  deciding  whether  to stun    listeners   with a  breakneck "William  Tell  Overture", stir  up   passions  with  the  unforgettable  "Dambusters  March",  conjure up the swing band  era with a Glenn  Miller medley  or rock the   house   with Latin  American music or something from the  top London  shows.  Jean's  range of music  is  vast, ranging from  classical composers to modern  day music but she excels herself when playing her own magnificent  arrangements of music from the 40's.
It is impossible to pigeon-hole Jean's style and keyboard artistry, except to say that it is most often allied to that of Errol Garner, but with extra fingers.   She is equally capable of  moving romantic  interpretations   in the style of  Richard Clayderman, ‘upping  the  ante’ a - la Russ Conway or even Fats Waller.
Flexibility, fun and frolics are the hallmark of Jean's inimitable performances, which draw their musical depth from her extensive classical training, yet she can embrace the dexterous jazz and big band influences that are natural for a performer who has played with the famous James Last Orchestra and also at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. She is often sought after as a BBC session player on recordings and broadcasts. Jean has travelled the world, entertaining people with her unique and remarkable style and has played alongside many famous artists such as Ken Dodd, Vince Hill and Chris Tarrant.
She is sought after by organ societies throughout the UK on a  regular basis and is  also booked to play in America, Germany,  Italy, Holland, Switzerland and Berlin. 
Jean supports various charities and has raised lots of money for  cancer and blind  societies.Jean has many recordings on CD,  demonstrating  her  talents on piano,   electronic organ and, of  course, her  third  love, the theatre organ. One of  her  favourite   recordings was made on the  Blackpool  Tower Wurlitzer.
Jean is the  only lady  organist to have recorded at the  tower in the last  50 years.