Primary Instrument: Trumpet

Born December 16, 1975

Thomas Marriott is an award-winning and chart-topping jazz trumpeter from Seattle, Washington. Marriott is an eight-time Golden Ear Award recipient. The Golden Ear Awards celebrate contributions and achievements in Seattle Jazz.  In addition to his Golden Ear Award Marriott won the prestigious Carmine Caruso Jazz Trumpet Competition in 1999.

Marriott’s jazz career started, when after winning the Carmine Caruso competition, he headed EAST! In New York City, he joined Maynard Ferguson‘s Big Bop Nouveau Band. Marriott completed three world tours with Ferguson’s band and Ferguson has called Marriott  “a truly great jazz trumpet player”!

Over the course of his career, Thomas Marriott has played on more than 100 recordings with musicians of all genres and styles including: 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 career as a leader started in 2005 with the release of Individuation,  he has released a total of eight albums.

Individuation – released on Origin Records, and was named one of  the top 10 jazz records of 2005 by WBEZ radio, Chicago.

Both Sides of the Fence – released in 2007  received over 3300 spins nationally, and rose  into the top ten on jazz radio.

Crazy: The Music of Willie Nelson  released in early 2008 received wide critical acclaim.

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

Flexicon released in 2009 climbed to number 10 on the national jazz radio airplay charts.

East-West Trumpet Summit released in 2010  saw Marriott collaborating with trumpeter Ray Vega.  That album made it all the way to number one on the national radio airplay charts and stayed, in the Top Ten for 10  weeks and was also featured on NPR’s “Morning Edit”

Constraints & Liberations – 2011

Thomas Marriott’s fifth CD as a leader marks a substantial departure from his earlier efforts. Not only does he focus exclusively on originals for this session, but his approach to the trumpet has moved away from a forceful pop style to a more reserved yet emotional technique Read more 

Human Spirit – 2012

This is a rare album that showcases all of the players at their highest levels, in both solo formats and intertwined…… This is the key to the album — the mix of styles and spotlighted abilities created by a set of top-flight players in their primes working together. More at AllMusic

Urban Folklore – 2014

FreeWheelin’ Jazz Safari: Thomas Marriott – Urban Folklore

Here’s what some folks have to say about the music of Thomas Marriott….

“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

“Thomas Marriott presents a musical vibe that is contagious and pleasing, brimming with creative imagination, technical fluency, and a deep respect for the jazz tradition.” – Jim Ketch, International Trumpet Guild Journal

In addition to his own work, Marriott  has produced albums for a number of artists including saxophonist Hadley Caliman and trumpeter Ray Vega. He has also served on the Board of Governors of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences and the Board of Directors of Earshot Jazz. Since his return to Seattle in 2004 he has been the featured trumpet soloist with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. Thomas Marriott is  like many jazz artists and I don’t think he ever sleeps!!

From YouTube.….

The collective talents of Matt Jorgensen, Tom Marriott, Ryan Burns and Mark Taylor come together as Human Spirit, currently on Origin Records. The four jazz greats perform a Tom Marriott original, “Reversal of Fortune”

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