Born: December 16, 1975 Primary Instrument: Trumpet
Trumpeter Thomas Marriott is one of the most exciting musicians to emerge on the national jazz scene in more than a decade. The six-time Golden Ear award winner is a skilled instrumentalist, composer and producer, and is always seeking to expand the boundaries of jazz music in all its forms.
After winning the prestigious Carmine Caruso Jazz Trumpet Competition in 1999, Marriott headed east from Seattle to New York where he gained initial acclaim through his work with Maynard Ferguson’s Big Bop Nouveau band. Marriott completed 3 world tours with Ferguson (who called Marriott “a truly great jazz trumpet player”), and then continued to work in New York and on the road with the likes of Rosemary Clooney, Joe Locke, The Tito Puente Orchestra, Brian Lynch, The Chico O’Farrill Orchestra, Eric Reed, Les Brown and the Band of Renown, Kenny Kirkland, Charlie Hunter, Ritchie “Alto Madness” Cole, and many others.
Marriott’s diverse interests and skills are reflected in the range and success of his albums. His 2005 release on Origin Records, “Individuation,” was named among the top 10 jazz records of 2005 by WBEZ radio, Chicago. 2007’s “Both Sides of the Fence” received over 3300 spins nationally, pushing his album into the top ten on jazz radio. The album “Crazy: The Music of Willie Nelson,” was released in early 2008 to wide critical acclaim. Jazz Times Magazine declared Marriott a “first-tier trumpet player” with “serious chops and a luxuriant trumpet sound….This album is a kick in the pants.”
Known for his innovative spirit and broad musical scope, Thomas continues to perform on the stages of the world’s greatest jazz clubs and concert halls, as a leader and alongside the top names in jazz. The Seattle native is featured on more than 100 recordings with musicians of all genres and styles. Thomas has produced albums for a number of artists including saxophonist Hadley Caliman and serves on the Board of Governors of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. His fourth album on Origin Records, “Flexicon,” was released in April of 2009 and made it to number 10 on the national jazz radio airplay charts in it's first few weeks of release. His newest album “East-West Trumpet Summit” is a collaboration with trumpeter Ray Vega. Released in May of 2010 on Origin Records, it quickly moved all the way up the national radio airplay charts to become the number one album in America, spent 10 weeks in the top ten and was also featured on NPR's “Morning Edition.”
”This album [Crazy: The Music Of Willie Nelson] is a kick in the pants!” -Jazz Times, May 2008
”Thomas Marriott is one musician who personifies what is special about the Seattle attitude. A trumpet player whose music can fit into any decade, he is both historically traditional and in the moment. Although his new album “Both Sides Of The Fence,” has had 3,300 radio spins over the past eight months, he is not content to exploit the success of that particular sound.” -The Seattle PI, November, 2007
”Trumpeter Tom Marriott's Willie Nelson Project offers some great new material. A sneak preview of “Crazy: The Music Of Willie Nelson” slated for release in 2008, reveals a contemporary, late Miles Davis/Weather Report- style fusion project in which melodic material is the inspiration for abstract forays into sound. There are some straightforwardly beautiful moments as well, including “Everywhere I Go”; “Crazy” delightfully lives up to its name.” - Paul de Barros, Nov. 2006
“One of the most talented jazz musicians ever to emerge from the city, Marriott is a figure to monitor, as he is likely to make a big splash before long.” -Earshot Magazine, October, 2005
Thomas Marriott is “Irrepressible.” - The Seattle Times, September 15, 2006
“Thomas Marriott is a truly great jazz trumpet player.” - Maynard Ferguson, April 2000
“Thomas Marriott is one of the most promising young trumpet players in the region. He combines lightning quick articulation with walloping bop chops, energy, and knowledge of the tradition.” - Earshot Jazz Magazine, October 1996
“Tom Marriott is a very accomplished young trumpet player. Recent hangs with Tom have reminded me of how much I enjoy his playing.” - Brian Lynch, 2002
“Thomas Marriott's confident stage demeanor and intense interest in the rhythm section adds depth and character to his performance. A particularly interesting aspect of Marriott's playing is his ability to intentionally displace phrases without losing the flow of the tune. Marriott is a musician who consistently addresses musical considerations without any apparent technical difficulties.” - Michael Caldwell, International Trumpet Guild Journal, March 2000
“Thomas Marriott can play with absolute fire, and shows an incredible technical knowledge of his instrument. But he truly shines when he steps down the pace a bit. This is where his rich tone is fully appreciated.” - Earshot Jazz Magazine, March 2000
“Thomas is a performing dynamo, a member of eight other groups in addition to his duties as a member / co-leader of the Marriott Jazz Quintet.” - Encyclopedia of Northwest Music, 1999
“A couple of Fridays ago, I dropped by [Tula's] to hear a band headlined by ex-Seattleite trumpeter Thomas Marriott, and I suddenly realized I was at one of the best shows I'd heard all year. Every note these guys played was warm, honest, communicative and for keeps.” - Paul De Barros, The Seattle Times, 2002
“Having gigged with an impressive roster of jazz luminaries including trumpet god Maynard Ferguson, Rosemary Clooney, the Tito Puente Orchestra, and the Chico O'Farrill Orchestra, this rising trumpet star can swich from a slow, creamy tone to incisive passage-work in a trice. Marriott's straight-ahead quartet plays classic bop tunes and forward-looking originals.” - The Stranger, 2005
