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Marcus Belgrave

Marcus Belgrave is Detroit’s internationally recognized jazz trumpet great. He came to prominence in the late 50’s, touring and recording with the late great Ray Charles’ Orchestra, at the height of Ray’s hit-making era. Marcus is heard as a trumpet soloist on some of Ray’s most famous “hits”... both albums and singles. He always pays tribute to Ray, who mentored him from the young age of 19. He is the only living member of Ray Charles’ small band horn section. He was also mentored by the Great Clifford Brown. Clifford’s early influence on the young Belgrave can still be heard in his tone. Belgrave then spent the early 60’s spearheading the modern jazz movement in New York working and recording in the bands of such major innovators as Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy and Max Roach. Many of these classic recordings (on Atlantic, Columbia and other major labels) have now been re-issued on CD. Belgrave moved to Detroit in the early 1960’s to join Motown Records as staff trumpeter, (playing on most of the Motown hits. Marcus has established himself as Detroit’s foremost jazz musician. He was recently awarded the singular title of the official Jazz Master Laureate for the City of Detroit., as well as a fifty thousand dollar Kresge 2010 Eminent Artist award for his 46 years of service to the young musicians of Detroit. His performances encompass the history of jazz musical styles.... from early New Orleans, to Swing, Bebop and on, to the latest contemporary sounds. Marcus continues to tour and record in the world’s major jazz centers. He was an original member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Marcus has performed the music of Louis Armstrong to ovations with Symphonies across America. He was a featured soloist as part of the Detroit Jazz Master’s concerts with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra at Frederick Rose Hall in New York, A concert that included other Detroit Jazz Master’s Yusef Lateef, Ron Carter, Curtis Fuller, Charles McPherson, and his protégé’ Geri Allen., Always the teacher, Marcus continues to mentor the “next generation” of jazz musicians. His protégés include the who’s who of young jazz musicians: violinist, Regina Carter, bassist, Robert Hurst, saxophonist, Kenny Garrett, pianist Geri Allen, saxophonist James Carter, guitarist, Ray Parker Jr., drummer Ali Jackson, the list goes on and on. Marcus Belgrave, Jazz Master, Mentor.


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6
Reassessing

The Time Is Now!

Read "The Time Is Now!" reviewed by Joshua Weiner


The early '70s were difficult times in the United States, not least for the jazz community. The optimism of the flower-power and peace movements had given way to political radicalism, conflict and paranoia, and the excitement of the initial free jazz and jazz-fusion eras had begun to wane. John Coltrane and Albert Ayler were dead. Miles Davis was playing thick, unrelenting funk. Important record labels such as Columbia and Atlantic were largely pursuing multiplatinum rock acts rather than jazz. Some ...

4
Interview

Marcus Belgrave: Preserver of Jazz

Read "Marcus Belgrave: Preserver of Jazz" reviewed by Shannon J. Effinger


If you trace the careers of many of today's jazz artists, you'll discover that they all converge around one man--trumpeter Marcus Belgrave. He gave Karriem Riggins his very first drum set. Ray Parker, Jr. got his first gig thanks to him. He even took a then 15- year-old James Carter to Europe for the first time. And throughout the years, Belgrave has continued to give so much to jazz because he himself learned from many of the originators of this ...

188
Album Review

Marcus Belgrave & Michele Ramo: The Song is You

Read "The Song is You" reviewed by Jim Santella


Like the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's flying Thunderbirds, this ensemble has a “hole" in it where Lawrence G. Williams would comfortably fit his drum set into motion. Sadly, Williams has passed on.

As a duo tribute to their friend by trumpeter Marcus Belgrave and guitarist Michéle Ramo, The Song is You carries with it considerable emotion and pure, heartfelt memories. Gentle timbres from both instruments translate into a lovely ballad album based ...

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3

Obituary

Famed Detroit jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave dies at 78

Famed Detroit jazz trumpeter Marcus Belgrave dies at 78

Source: Michael Ricci

By Associated Press Marcus Belgrave, a jazz trumpeter who graced stages and studios with Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Cocker and Motown artists galore, died Sunday. He was 78. Belgrave died at an Ann Arbor care facility and the cause of death was heart failure, said Hazelette Crosby-Robinson, a cousin of Belgrave's wife Joan. Belgrave remained active on the Detroit and international jazz scenes up until his death. Born into a family of musicians in Chester, Pennsylvania, he ...

1

Award / Grant

Theo Croker Wins Marcus Belgrave National Jazz Trumpet Competition In Conjunction With Detroit Jazz

Theo Croker Wins Marcus Belgrave National Jazz Trumpet Competition In Conjunction With Detroit Jazz

Source: Muse Media

THEO CROKER WINS MARCUS BELGRAVE NATIONAL JAZZ TRUMPET COMPETITION IN CONJUNCTION WITH DETROIT JAZZ Croker, Recently Signed to Dee Dee Bridgewater’s DDB Records Distributed by OKeh Records/SonyMasterworks, Will Also Release New CD in Spring 2014 Los Angeles, CA: Critically-acclaimed cutting-edge trumpet player Theo Croker has won the Marcus Belgrave National Jazz Trumpet Competition in conjunction with Detroit Jazz. Held in honor of Detroit Jazz legend Marcus Belgrave, the competition recognizes and provides performance opportunities to outstanding jazz trumpeters 35 years ...

1

Contest

Detroit Jazz Festival “Imported From Detroit” Announces National Jazz Competitions

Detroit Jazz Festival “Imported From Detroit” Announces National Jazz Competitions

Source: Detroit Jazz Festival

As part of its mission to foster and support jazz throughout the country, the Detroit Jazz Festival “Imported from Detroit” is now accepting submissions for two national jazz competitions—trumpet performance and jazz arrangement. Both competitions will be judged by prominent jazz artists and educators, with prize money totaling $5,000 and the chance to perform at the Detroit Jazz Festival on Labor Day Weekend, August 30 through September 2. The Marcus Belgrave National Jazz Trumpet Competition and JC Heard Jazz Arranging ...

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Award / Grant

Kresge Foundation Names Detroit Trumpeter Marcus Belgrave 2009 Eminent Artist

Kresge Foundation Names Detroit Trumpeter Marcus Belgrave 2009 Eminent Artist

Source: Michael Ricci

Master jazz trumpet player Marcus Belgrave -- who has enthralled audiences world-wide with his musical virtuosity and mentored scores of aspiring young musicians -- has been named the 2009 Kresge Eminent Artist by The Kresge Foundation.

The award and $50,000 prize recognizes Belgrave's lifelong musical achievements and his personal and professional contributions to music performance and education in Metropolitan Detroit. The foundation, through its Kresge Arts in Detroit initiative, annually supports the Kresge Eminent Artist Award, Kresge Artist Fellowships, and ...

128

Interview

Other Places: Stryker and Primack on Marcus Belgrave

Other Places: Stryker and Primack on Marcus Belgrave

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey

Trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, admired within jazz circles but little known outside them, has received tangible recognition for his work as a player and a teacher. Belgrave left Ray Charles in the early 1960s ago to settle in Detroit. In today's Detroit Free Press, Mark Stryker reports on the award and on Belgrave's contribution to the city's cultural life. Stryker writes:

For 46 years, Belgrave's world-class musicianship, charisma, swing and commitment to mentoring young musicians -- many of whom have become ...

145

TV / Film

Who is the Six Million View Man?

Who is the Six Million View Man?

Source: All About Jazz

“Don’t Give Up On Detroit” a portrait of Motown musical mentor Marcus Belgrave, is the latest offering from “Jazz Video Guy" Bret Primack, who has recently passed the six million views mark on his YouTube channel. Last month Bret was in Detroit to interview Belgrave for the video podcast series, “Ray Charles, Genius." Bret explains that with all the negative publicity about Detroit, he was somewhat reluctant to visit, but that “although jobs have been lost and the city looks ...

232

Performance / Tour

Belgrave, Gabriel Will Introduce CD at Bert's

Belgrave, Gabriel Will Introduce CD at Bert's

Source: JazzStage Productions

When Detroit trumpet hero Marcus Belgrave and veteran multi-reedman Charlie Gabriel share the bandstand, they bring remarkable stylistic sweep to bear on the music.

They can channel the spirit of early New Orleans, bebop down 52nd Street or strut with a distinctly bluesy stride. On Sunday afternoon, the two artists, with versatile singer Joan Belgrave along for the ride, will celebrate the release of their latest recording, “Once Again." The album honors some of Marcus Belgrave's mentors, among them the ...

180

Performance / Tour

John Pizzarelli and Marcus Belgrave: American Songbooks and the Roots of Jazz Featured Pinehurst's Heart 'N Soul of Jazz 2009

John Pizzarelli and Marcus Belgrave: American Songbooks and the Roots of Jazz Featured Pinehurst's Heart 'N Soul of Jazz 2009

Source: All About Jazz

John Pizzarelli and Marcus Belgrave light up marquee for 24th season VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, N.C. - The New York Times says they're “as good as it gets in any entertainment medium." John Pizzarelli and special guest star vocalist Jessica Molaskey will show a Pinehurst valentine's crowd just how strong they are as headliners to the annual Heart 'n Soul of Jazz weekend, February 13-14, 2009. With a talent for classic jazz guitar, an American songbook in hand and a penchant ...

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Performance / Tour

Highlights In Jazz Presents "Keepers of the Flame" with Dick Hyman, Vince Giordano, Marcus Belgrave and special guest Peter Cincotti

Highlights In Jazz Presents "Keepers of the Flame" with Dick Hyman, Vince Giordano, Marcus Belgrave and special guest Peter Cincotti

Source: All About Jazz

To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected] “HIGHLIGHTS IN JAZZ" PRESENTS Thursday, May 12, 2005 8PM Keepers of the Flame Dick Hyman Vince Giordano and his Nighthawks Marcus Belgrave Salute To Doc Cheatham With Randy Sandke, Theodore Cheatham Croker, Chuck Folds and others Special Guest Peter Cincotti April 19, 2005 Jack Kleinsinger's “Highlights in Jazz," New York's longest running jazz series is pleased to present Keepers of the Flame featuring Dick Hyman, Vince Giordano and his ...

Marcus Belgrave is a modernist with a deep love of earlier jazz history, and in recent years he has concentrated on celebrating the more entertaining aspects of the tradition. His Armstrong tribute band has been particularly successful, and in the same manner he has now releasedMarcus Belgrave Presents A Tribute to New Orleans, Ray Charles and the Great Ladies of Song Featuring Joan Bow and Charlie Gabriel (Detroit Jazz Musicians Co-Op, POB 36426, Grosse Point, MI 48236). All the above-mentioned sing, Belgrave demonstrates that his trumpet playing is as majestic as ever, and Gabriel shines on tenor sax and clarinet. They are backed by Bill Meyer (piano), Marion Hayden (bass), Gayelynn McKinney (drums), Cassius Richmond (alto sax), as well as three trombonists: Phil Ranelin, Keith Dewitt, and Steve Hunter. More...
Piotr Michalowski - Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association (SEMJA)

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Time Is Now!

Now-Again Records
2021

buy

Marcus Charlie &...

Soul Jazz Records
2009

buy

The Song is You

Moonboat Records
2008

buy

Gemini

Dreyfus Jazz
2004

buy

Maria / Two Ships...

Not Two Records
1985

buy

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