artist info

Trumpeter Thomas Marriott is one of the most exciting musicians to emerge on the national jazz scene in more than a decade. The seven-time Golden Ear award winner is a skilled instrumentalist, composer and producer, 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 as the jazz soloist with Ferguson, 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, Michael Feinstein, Eric Reed, Les Brown and the Band of Renown, Kenny Kirkland, Charlie Hunter, Deltron 3030, Ivan Neville’s Dumpsaphunk, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Ritchie “Alto Madness” Cole, Carl Allan, George Colligan, Orrin Evans and scores of others.

Marriott’s diverse interests and skills are reflected in the range and success of his albums. Since 2004, Thomas has produced eight albums as a leader for Origin Records. Three of his albums have made the top-ten on national jazz radio airplay charts, including the 2009 release “East-West Trumpet Summit,” which made it all the way to number one.  His albums have been featured on NPR’s “Morning Edition” and have gained critical acclaim world-wide, including the 2010 release “Constraints and Liberations” which garnered 4.5 stars in Downbeat Magazine. Thomas’ ninth album, “Urban Folklore,” was released in 2014 and features Orrin Evans, Eric Revis and Donald Edwards. The album was the editor’s pick in JazzTimes’ (January 2015).

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 trumpeter Ray Vega. He has 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 and has been a catalyst on the Seattle jazz scene.