HOT JAZZ AT THE GALLERY Proudly Presents THOMAS MARRIOTT!

Trumpeter, composer, and producer THOMAS MARRIOTT is a force for jazz on the west coast. He’s paid dues beside jazz elders such as Maynard Ferguson, Roy McCurdy, Roger Humphries, Mike Clark and Stix Hooper, and has been called on by contemporary standard-bearers like Joe Locke, Orrin Evans, Steve Wilson, and Charlie Hunter.

A chameleon of musical styles, Marriott’s horn has been in-demand with bands like the Grammy-Award winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Captain Black Big Band, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstafunk, hip-hop pioneer Deltron 3030 , and vocalists Kurt Elling, Ernestine Anderson, Michael Feinstein and Rosemary Clooney.

His own albums, 14 in all, have reached number one on the jazz radio airplay charts, earned 4 1/2 stars in Downbeat, and have been featured on NPR. Thomas Marriott has won 9 Golden Ear Awards, the Carmine Caruso Trumpet Competition, is the youngest inductee into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame, spent more than 20 seasons as a soloist with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra and is founder of Seattle Jazz Fellowship, a non-profit arts organization dedicated to promoting jazz music and jazz culture in Seattle. In 2024 he was named a “Jazz Hero” by the Jazz Journalists Association.

“Thomas Marriott is a truly great jazz trumpet player.”

Maynard Ferguson

“Thomas Marriott’s trumpet sound is as lush and inviting as it comes.”

Chris Robinson, Downbeat

“Marriott’s extended solo emphasizes his deep, confidant tone and liquid phrasing.”

Mark Holston, Jazziz

“This album [Crazy: The Music Of Willie Nelson] is a kick in the pants!”

Jazz Times Magazine

“One of the best trumpet players in the world”

Thomas Conrad

“Serious chops and a luxuriant sound”

Downbeat Magazine

“Marriott is a man for all seasons both as a composer and band leader.”

Jeff Krow, Audiophile Audition

“His rise as a first choice trumpeter has been steady, almost meteoric.”

Audiophile Audition

“Marriott’s trumpet sound is as solid as it is round. Even at high velocity.”

All About Jazz

TIM KENNEDY (Keys) is one of the shining stars of the current Northwest jazz scene, and jazz is just the beginning. You’ll find him playing classic rock in the group Hot Rod, electric keys in the modern jazz trio Gravity, doing solo gigs as pianist, guitarist and/or singer, and often embracing electronic dance music as his alter ego Richie Aldente.

He’s also on electric keys alongside organist Joe Doria in one of Seattle’s hottest young groups, The Happy Orchestra, and featured two of those players – the group’s leader, drummer Tarik Abouzied and trumpeter Thomas Marriott – along with Art Brown’s sax and in-demand bassist Evan Flory-Barnes for a session of his own compositions that enthralled our studio session audience.

Kennedy considers himself a songwriter first, and finds more opportunities by playing as much music with as many players as he can. The result is a player and composer who thinks more about each song than about any preconceived ideas of what jazz should be.

A nominee for (2017's) Golden Ear Award for NW Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year at this year’s Earshot Awards, Kennedy says that after spending the '90s playing with top talent in New York City (the jazz center of the universe), these days it’s Seattle that’s providing the musicians and musical diversity he loves. With plans for a new album with this group later this year, the Northwest should thank our lucky stars he’s building his vast catalog in our backyard. (KNKX Excerpt)

TREVOR FORD (Bass) attended the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver, under the auspices of bassist Ken Walker. Walker led a prominent sextet in town as well and had extensive performance credits with the likes of Slide Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, and Roy Hargrove, among others. He not only mentored Ford in terms of bass technique, he represented the young bassist’s first Black mentor in the music. The influence was profound and can be plainly seen in his playing today. “I probably got a lot more fulfillment out of the program because the bass instructor looked like me,” recalls Ford. Of course, the fact that Walker is a superb musician was a benefit as well. It set the bar high for Ford in so many ways.

The most visible ensemble Ford has performed within Seattle is the quartet led by trumpeter Thomas Marriott, perhaps the most prominent jazz musician in the city over the past twenty years. Marriott’s music is hard-swinging, soulful, and immersed in jazz tradition. Still, while the trumpeter knows exactly what he wants in the music of his quartet, he understands part of the tradition is change and moving the music forward. He saw something in Ford that represented those principles. The Marriott association also upheld Ford’s personal musical principles and ambitions. “I feel humbled to be asked to help with the music they create,” says Ford respectfully. In the case of Marriott specifically, he says, “It’s one thing to write and perform music, that takes a lot — but to work to create a community is so admirable,” alluding to the trumpeter’s work with the Seattle Jazz Fellowship.

Ford’s sound is lyrical, melodic, and, when the music calls for it, madly swinging. As a young, Black jazz musician, he is keenly aware that the vital connection with the blues and the swing rhythm are the main components that identify jazz as Black American music. He sees that understanding as a personal responsibility moving forward, in both the receiving and giving aspects of mentorship.

“One of my goals as a bassist is to do justice to the music. For someone like Tom [Marriott], who is so articulate about what he wants in the music, even more so. It has the right balance. It feels like a good fit for what I want to play. It has the freedom that jazz is supposed to provide musicians. I appreciate the balance he has struck between those two worlds. Jazz is a community building thing; it’s about making each other sound better. Innovation can happen within the context of jazz — you don’t have to attach anything to it,” cites Ford sincerely. (Earshot Magazine profile excerpt)

As a drummer, educator, record label owner, graphic designer, and festival presenter, JOHN BISHOP has been one of the primary voices in Northwest Jazz for 40 years. He has performed in concerts and clubs with Lee Konitz, Slide Hampton, Benny Golson, Bobby Hutcherson, Ernestine Anderson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Sonny Fortune, Herb Ellis, Gary Peacock, Buddy DeFranco, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, and countless others. He’s appeared on more than 100 albums, including sessions with Hal Galper, Larry Coryell, Ernie Watts, Mark Murphy, Joe Locke, Bud Shank, George Cables, Ralph Towner, Teo Macero, and Jerry Bergonzi. He was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in 2008 and was named a “Jazz Hero” by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2019.

In 1997, Bishop started the jazz label Origin Records, and OriginArts, a graphic design & CD production company, to help further the exposure of creative artists and their music. With the help of his ex-drum student, Matt Jorgensen, they have released over 800 recordings by 370 artists from around the world. Origin was named Jazzweek’s 2009 “Label Of The Year” and is regularly a DownBeat Magazine Reader’s Poll Top 20 Jazz Label. In 2002 they added another jazz label, OA2 Records, a classical imprint, Origin Classical in 2008, and in 2003 began Seattle’s annual 4-day Ballard Jazz Festival. Bishop has designed over 850 CD packages and numerous book covers, banners, posters, and other graphics for clients around the globe. He was on the PNW Chapter Board of Governors of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, and annually takes part in multiple music conferences & events, including JazzCongress (NYC), JazzWeek (San Jose), JazzAhead (Bremen), Jazz Education Network, and occasionally, NAMM, PASIC, MIDEM (Cannes), and the Grammys.

Along with bassist Jeff Johnson, Bishop was a member of New York pianist Hal Galper’s Trio over the last 15 years, releasing 7 acclaimed albums and touring internationally. They also performed with Spanish pianist Chano Dominguez, including an appearance at the 60th Monterey Jazz Festival, and are members of the 25-year-old collective Scenes with guitarist John Stowell & saxophonist Rick Mandyck. Bishop has also toured Belgium and recorded 3 albums since 2009 with the Chad McCullough / Bram Weijters Group, a Belgian/American project. Bishop’s 2023 trio album “Antwerp,” was recorded in Belgium with Piet Verbist & Bram Weijters.

Born in Seattle and raised in Germany, Washington, DC, San Antonio and Eugene, Bishop started playing drums at 7 in Washington, DC with the Patriots drum corp. He performed professionally while attending high school and college in Oregon, and studied privately with Motown great, Mel Brown, at the University of Oregon with Charles Dowd, and with Ray Hair at North Texas State University. He moved to Seattle in 1981 for an extended engagement with the original jazz/fusion group Glider and never left. An unusually creative and fertile scene at the time, Seattle offered performances with top touring artists and the opportunity to create long and substantial musical relationships with inspired Northwest musicians.

In the early ’80s, he was a member of the fusion group Blue Sky, which released two Top 10 albums and performed extensively throughout the decade. For 20 years, he was with the piano trio New Stories along with pianist Marc Seales and bassist Doug Miller. They had 4 CDs of their own, 6 with be-bop saxophonist Don Lanphere, and a Grammy-nominated RCA release with Mark Murphy. They were regulars at Bud Shank’s Pt. Townsend Jazz Festival, headlined the 1993 JVC Jazz Festival in Vladivostok, Russia, and appeared in concerts with Tom Harrell, Julian Priester, Charles McPherson, Vincent Herring, Nick Brignola, Conte Condoli, Bobby Shew & Larry Coryell. They also performed around the country as a trio or touring with Mark Murphy, Ernie Watts or Don Lanphere. Their tune “Highway Blues,” from Speakin’ Out, was embedded as one of two music samples in Windows XP, which went on to sell 700 million units. Their 2014 recording, Hope is in the Air: the Music of Elmo Hope, was produced by Don Sickler & engineered by Rudy Van Gelder at his studio in NJ.

He’s taught drums privately since 1976 and was on faculty at the University of Washington from 2005-2009. He regularly does drum and jazz workshops throughout the country with the Hal Galper Trio, including events at the University of North Texas, University of Indiana, Dartmouth, Cal Arts, The New School, Purchase Conservatory-NYC, William Paterson University, University of Louisville, San Jose State University, The California Jazz Conservatory, and Kent State University. In 2018, Bishop co-founded The Real(ity) Book, a web-based, HD Video Play-Along education system for jazz musicians.

Bishop has also toured internationally with Buddy Greco, the McGuire Sisters, and the Harry James Orchestra, and performed with Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Bob Newhart, Rich Little, The Hi-Los, Frankie Avalon, the Drifters, the Coasters, the Platters, Pete Barbutti, and with Bobby McFerrin & the Seattle Symphony, among many others.

“The New Stories trio is likewise nothing less than extraordinary. Drummer John Bishop, particularly, is one of the finest on the scene.” – Jazz Review

“One can hear many influences in Bishop’s playing, including more than a touch of Elvin, but he is clearly an original voice…” – Percussive Arts Society

100 % of Ticket Proceeds Are Paid To The Performaing Artists. Any Refund Requests Will Be Honored Up To The Date BEFORE The Performance. There Are NO REFUNDS On The Date Of The Performance. The Gallery Receives Absolutely No Profit From These Shows Other Than A Great Music Experience and All-Around Good Vibes!

We Welcome Families with Children (See Specioal Youth Rate) and Encourage Young People to Experience Live Jazz Up Close and Meet the Musicians.

Seating is on the Main Floor and Second Floor Mezzanine. The Acoustics and Sightlines Are Excellent Regardless of Floor Though.

Guests With Special Needs Will be Accommodated to the Best of Our Ability. If You or a Family Member Require Special Seating Needs, Please Let Us Know in Advance and We'll Reserve Seating.

Groups of Four or More May Also Request Reserved Seating.

A No-Host Wine Bar, Serving Award-Winning Wines by the Glass, Provided by Our Neighboring Business, LOCUS WINES, is Available on the Main Floor for Our Guests.

We Sincerely Hope You Enjoy HOT JAZZ AT THE GALLERY and Will Return! These Performances Are Intended To Support The Regional Jazz Community By Providing A Venue Commensurate With Their Creativity And Professionalism, Here In The Heart Of Pioneer Square..

See the Entire HOT JAZZ Line-Up for 2024 Here: https://frederickholmesandcompany.com/live-jazz/

See The EARSHOT JAZZ VENUE PROFILE of FH&Co Here: https://www.earshot.org/project/2023-09-hot-jazz-at-the-gallery-frederick-holmes-gallery/

Host or Publisher FREDERICK HOLMES AND COMPANY - GALLERY OF MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART