Maarten Altena (born 1943) is a dutch jazz bassist, composer and artistic leader of the Maarten Altena Ensemble.

He finished his studies in double bass at the Conservatory in Amsterdam in 1968. He played with a large variety of ensembles and ad hoc groups. He played amongst others with Willem Breuker and Theo Loevendie, he played with the Instant Composers Pool, the Royal Dutch Ballet Orchestra, De Volharding, and The Company (Derek Bailey and Vario (Gunther Christmann).

From 1975 on he started to play solo concerts in a wide variety of countries (in the USA, Asia, South America, Europe), with his own work composed as well as improvised. He participated with Michel Waisvisz in a large number of projects about jazz, and theatre, with guests such as Hugh Davis, Steve Lacy and Moniek Toebosch. Het also produced with Waisvisz the legendary Claxon Geluid Festivals, a series of concerts that gave musicians and other artists the opportunity to experiment (1975-1980). In 1978 Wessel Ilckenprijs for jazz and improvised music was presented to Waisvisz and Altena.

In 1978 he formed his first ensemble, the Maarten Altena Quartet, which was expanded in 1980, and became the Maarten Altena Ensemble (MAE). His work as a composer became more and more important to him, and in 1980 he decided to study composition with Robert Heppener. Since then composing is his main activity. He played double bass in his ensemble until 1997. Since then he is the main composer for the group, and is "musical choreograph". He also composes for other ensembles, orchestras and soloists.

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