About
Yamen Martini (born 1985 in Aleppo) is a Syrian-Belgian trumpet player and composer whose music blends Eastern and Western traditions across genres such as jazz, maqam, Balkan, and experimental music. Drawing on a transnational artistic background, he strives to transcend borders and challenge binary views of identity and belonging.
His versatile, improvisation-rich style has shone on stages across the SWANA region and Europe, performing both solo and with numerous groups.
Residencies include BOZAR as part of Halaqat’s Impro Sessions and Hajovna – Červená Studna in Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia.
He has contributed music to theatre and various artistic projects, including the inclusive theatre production MOVE, collaborating with musicians Rob Kanters, Piet Maris, and Bassel Abou Fakher. His compositions also feature in Rachid Benzine’s Lettres à Nour, performed at Théâtre de Liège and the Festival d’Avignon.
More recently, he led Klankenkoorts, a project by Unie Der Zorgelozen in collaboration with FMDO, Zuidwest, and kleinVerhaal, sharing stories that reflect social and political realities alongside writer Geert Six.
In addition to joining Jaune Toujours for the award-winning Europeana album and subsequent tour, he founded and collaborated with formations such as Ashtabiez, 3’Ain, and Comartinuts.
Currently, he is expanding his coaching and composing work at kleinVerhaal, a social-artistic organisation from Ostend, and is involved in a new opera project in collaboration with organisations from Vlaanderen.