Marty Morell

Marty Morell
Born (1944-02-25) February 25, 1944 (age 80)
Manhattan, New York, US
OriginAstoria, Queens
GenresJazz
InstrumentDrums
Years active1964–present
Member ofThe Jazz Professors

Marty Morell (born February 25, 1944) is a jazz drummer who was a member of the Bill Evans Trio for seven years—longer than any other drummer.[1] Before joining Evans, he worked with the Al Cohn-Zoot Sims Quintet, Red Allen, Gary McFarland, Steve Kuhn, and Gábor Szabó.[1]

Career

[edit]

According to an interview with Marc Myers, Morell began his career touring with singer Robert Goulet in 1964. He was introduced to pianist Bill Evans by bassist Chuck Israels.[2] From 1968 to 1974, he was a member of Evans' trio along with bassist Eddie Gómez.[1] Peter Pettinger, a biographer of Evans, called Morell "an unsung stalwart of piano trio history":[3]

[H]e had been responsible for an exceedingly tight unit that could swing and drive relentlessly. His control of the twelve-bar sections in a number like "Twelve Tone Tune," for instance, was as snappy and precise as could be. At the same time, on ballads, he never failed to provide a listening cushion of the utmost delicacy, seeming to imbue his drums with the ability to breathe of their own volition, and always in expressive union with his leader.

Some of the important albums he recorded with Evans include The Bill Evans Album, The Tokyo Concert, Since We Met, and Symbiosis.

After leaving the trio, he settled in Toronto, Canada, and became a studio drummer.[1] He led bands as a drummer and played vibraphone and congas with the 1970s funk-jazz band Ravin'.[4] He has played on jingles and films and has worked with Don Sebesky, Stan Getz, Kenny Wheeler, and Claus Ogerman.[5] From 1968 to 1971, he was a member of Rob McConnell's Boss Brass.[1]

He has taught drums and percussion at the University of Central Florida[6] and has recorded with The Jazz Professors, a band consisting of university faculty members: saxophonist Jeff Rupert, bassist Richard Drexler, pianist Per Danielsson, trombonist Michael Wilkinson, and guitarist Bobby Koelble. The band has had two albums on the top of the chart at JazzWeek magazine in 2011 and 2013.[7]

Discography

[edit]

With Canadian Brass

  • Red, White & Brass (1991)
  • Red Hot Jazz (1993)
  • Seen and Heard (2004)

With Bill Evans

With The Jazz Professors

With Rob McConnell & the Boss Brass

  • Big Band Jazz (1978)
  • Present Perfect (1981)
  • Live in Digital (1992)

With Gábor Szabó

With Kenny Wheeler

  • Ensemble Fusionaire (CBC, 1976)
  • 1976 (1976)

With others

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Yanow, Scott. "Marty Morell". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  2. ^ Myers, Marc (June 12, 2012). "Marty Morell on Bill Evans (Pt. 1)". JazzWax. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  3. ^ Pettinger, Peter, Bill Evans: How My Heart Sings," Yale University Press (1998), p. 226.
  4. ^ CBC LP -LM469B "Ravin' and Louise Lambert"
  5. ^ "Marty Morell | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos".
  6. ^ UCF Jazz Website
  7. ^ The Jazz Professors Flying Horse Records Website
  8. ^ a b "Marty Morell | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marty_Morell&oldid=1250536508"