Thomas Marriott Quartet

Seattle trumpeter Thomas Marriott brings his quartet to Black Cat for a special four-night residency, culminating this final Sunday performance. Called "one of the best trumpet players in the world" by JazzTimes Magazine, Marriott is a chameleon of musical styles whose trumpet sound spans hard bop, post-bop, and contemporary jazz with deep roots in bebop and modal traditions.

Marriott has paid dues with jazz elders like Maynard Ferguson and Roy McCurdy while collaborating with contemporary artists including Joe Locke and Orrin Evans. His 15 albums have reached number one on jazz radio charts, earned 4½ stars in Downbeat, and been featured on NPR. The youngest inductee into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame and founder of Seattle Jazz Fellowship, he was named a "Jazz Hero" by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2024.

The quartet features Byron "Wookie" Landham on drums, Tim Kennedy on piano, and Jeff Johnson on bass. Based on Marriott's recent live performances, expect his "ultra refined trumpet tonality" to create intimate moments alongside scorching post-bop adventures. His playing moves from longer, contemplative tones to rapid-fire runs that showcase both eloquence and an "almost-unhinged nature of his post-bop tendencies."

Marriott's original compositions like "Front Row Family" — an ode to his supportive family — and "Chick's Lullaby" — dedicated to his wife — reveal the personal warmth that makes his performances so compelling. His recent albums explore everything from film and TV themes to tributes, always grounded in swing rhythm and blues sensibility while pushing into modernist territory.

This residency represents a rare opportunity to catch an artist who seamlessly bridges jazz generations, bringing the wisdom of mentors like Maynard Ferguson into conversation with contemporary voices like Orrin Evans, all filtered through his own distinctive Pacific Northwest perspective.