Swedish mathematician releases jazz song about the ‘Martinez brew’

Over the course of musical history, songs have been written about every possible subject — the most popular being love and the grand scale of emotions associated the affairs of the heart. While libations such as wine, champagne, tequila and whiskey have their share of songs, there is no more than a handful about actual mixed drinks.

When Jan Ohman, a visitor hailing from Leksand, Sweden, near the capital city of Stockholm, ventured into the Gazette office Tuesday afternoon, he brought with him a story about his fascination for the drink known as the martini.

Ohman started his tale with a gleeful appreciation of Martinez, about which, until this week, he had only read. So, why would a middle-aged mathematician, and a pop singer in his youth, travel nearly 5,400 miles to the west coast of North America?

“After all, this is where the martini was invented,” Ohman said.

Ohman shared his great appreciation for the famous drink and described the origins of his “Dry Martini” song.

“It was a gift from a muse in heaven. After having read an article on the dry martini, I had to attend a long, boring meeting. Still fascinated by the story, the meeting “disappeared” and a song appeared. For the first time, with no piano or guitar at hand, the song was free to take on wings and follow its own course. I must admit, it took me a while to figure-out the harmonies.”

It took Ohman some three days to compose what he describes as “complex chords.” The lyrics were not that easy to write, either.

After researching the origins of the drink further, Ohman was not quite certain how to pronounce our town’s name. “I thought the pronunciation of Martinez was to put stress on the last syllable [marti-NEZ]. But when we were about to record the song, I got a little hesitant, so I actually called Martinez City Hall and immediately, when I heard a voice answer, I got the pronunciation right. That meant I had to change the lyrics fast!”

A version of the song can be found on Ohman’s Web site  — the piece is slow, lazy and jazzy, sung by Maria Nilsson with piano and saxophone accompaniment. Ohman said that a CD entitled “As We Are” has been released in Sweden and the disc includes renditions by some of the best jazz musicians in Sweden featured singing “Dry Martini.” However, he sentimentally offered, “The actual first recording is on my site and is closer to my heart.”

Although he was only in Martinez a few hours, Ohman had a whirlwind tour. “I met and talked to so many wonderful people in Martinez, so I feel this song should be dedicated to Martinez and the people here.” Among others, Ohman met City Councilman Mark Ross and Martinez Historical Society director Andrea Blachman.

The martini can be traced back to the days of the California Gold Rush. Supposedly, a miner who struck it rich and was returning to San Francisco, arrived in Martinez, the first “large” town he came across, and wanted to celebrate. The miner walked into bar and asked for Champagne. When told the beverage was not available, the bartender directed him to something he described as much better than Champagne. The miner was served a “Martinez Special.”

The miner proceeded on to San Francisco where he immediately went to a prominent bar and ordered his new favorite drink. The bartender said that he had never heard of the drink and asked how it was made.

The miner recalled that the drink was made with one part of very dry Sauterne wine and three parts of Gin, stirred with ice and finished with an olive. He made sure to add “…and it was made in Martinez.” The bartender tried the drink himself and liked it. Over a period of years the name Martinez became Martini.

The best-known fictional martini drinker is Ian Fleming’s James Bond, who is famous for his preferred drink, a vodka martini (a gin/vodka martini he called a “Vesper” in the original books), very dry, “shaken, not stirred.” Perhaps the next best-known fictional martini consumers are Captains Hawkeye Pierce, Trapper John McIntyre, and B.J. Hunnicutt from the film and television series M*A*S*H.

Ohman is on his way to Los Angeles next week to make his pitch to record companies. After his return to Europe, he plans to travel to Spain and Italy to promote the song there as well.