Martin Engelien

Martin Engelien – bassist, producer, bandleader and self-proclaimed “Missionary of Live Music.” For more than five decades, he has stood for musical energy, fearless creativity and the uncompromising belief in the power of live music. A founding member of the Klaus Lage Band in 1983, Engelien played a major role as bassist, musical director and producer in the band’s breakthrough – including the legendary German hit “1000 und 1 Nacht (Zoom!),” three Gold Records and a Platinum Record. He later produced “Listen & Lay Back,” the most successful album by legendary German jazz trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff, and toured Europe for six years as musical director of Albert Mangelsdorff & Members. His musical journey reads like a Who’s Who of international music: John Entwistle, Ricky Lawson, Charlie Mariano, Alphonso Johnson, Steve Lukather, TM Stevens, Chuck Leavell, Mark Schulman and Michael Landau are among the outstanding artists he has shared the stage and studio with. In 1996, Engelien founded Go Music – the “unpredictable” live music series bringing together musicians from rock, blues, soul, jazz and funk. Today, Engelien continues to push forward with BLUG, GRANFELT & ENGELIEN, together with guitarists Thomas Blug and Ben Granfelt. Their album Strat-o-Sphere combines guitar virtuosity, powerful bass and pure live energy. Martin Engelien remains a bassist by passion, a producer by conviction – and a Missionary of Live Music. No routine. No boundaries. Just music.