Martin shapes her unique world vision with her debut on MAXJAZZ, People Behave Like Ballads (August 31, 2004), named for a collection of poems by Robert P. Tristram Coffin, a fellow native of Maine. Written entirely by Martin, the sixteen songs are memorable, honest and moving. She sings of love, loss, hope, wisdom, loneliness and searches – along with her listeners – for understanding of the human condition through her music. Her close collaboration with the musicians on People Behave Like Ballads undoubtedly allowed Martin to open up fully in word, on guitar and on vocals. Steve Cardenas, her longtime musical partner, and Ben Monder perform on electric guitar. Peter Rende is on piano, Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer. Frequent collaborators, Bill McHenry and Matt Penman, are on tenor saxophone and bass respectively. Darren Beckett performs on drums. Another likely factor contributing to her natural ease on this MAXJAZZ debut may be her return to country living. Originally from Maine, Martin lived in New York City for ten years before deciding she needed to return to more organic surroundings. She moved to upstate New York, where she lives now with her husband, bassist Larry Grenadier.