Amplify Series

Marlonius Jazz Orchestra Marlon Martinez’s Marlonius Jazz Orchestra propels the 20th century big band tradition through 21st century culture. Marlonius Jazz Orchestra highlights current artists in jazz and commercial music by performing original compositions and revitalizing the music of jazz legend Billy Strayhorn. Marlon’s current compositions illustrate the life and career of Audrey Hepburn in a culminating project, The Audrey Hepburn Suite for big band.

Right from its maiden voyage in 2016, Marlonius Jazz Orchestra has sold out concerts across the greater Los Angeles area, featuring guest artists such as Mike Garson, Bernard Fowler, Josie James, and the late Barbara Morrison. Marlonius Jazz Orchestra is becoming an attractive force in the Los Angeles music scene and beyond.

A staple of Marlonius Jazz Orchestra is Marlon’s effort to showcase millennials who enhance today’s popular music. Each band member has collaborated with a diverse list of artists ranging from Herbie Hancock to Kanye West. For an in-depth list of artists associated with the band members, visit marlonmartinezmusic.com/marlonius.

Dedicated to introducing the music of Billy Strayhorn to newer audiences, Martinez will record a tribute album to Strayhorn at the Colburn School for his Amplify Series residency in 2022. In collaboration with Billy Strayhorn Songs Inc., Marlonius Jazz Orchestra will perform recently discovered compositions and unveil largely forgotten gems by the unsung pioneer and giant of modern jazz.

The Amplify Series This series celebrates the careers of artists of color through a number of on-campus, short-term residencies that include performances, master classes, and panel discussions. Colburn will also support each artist with institutional resources, including recording projects, marketing support, and engagement work in the community through the Center for Innovation and Community Impact.

Artists featured on the inaugural Amplify Series are violist and composer Nokuthula Ngwenyama (Community School ’93), bassoonist Andrew Brady (Conservatory ’13), bassist Marlon Martinez (Conservatory ’15), and former New York City Ballet member Silas Farley.

The Colburn School thanks the Sidney E. Frank Foundation and the Walt Disney Company Foundation for their generous support of the Amplify Series in the 2021–22 season.

Unauthorized video or audio recording of Colburn School events by our guests is strictly prohibited. By attending, you agree that recordings of your image or voice at our performances may be used for publicity and promotional purposes.

Amplify Series March 27, 2022 Zipper Hall, 3 pm

Colburn School | 200 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90012 | colburnschool.edu

Marlon Martinez, Double Bass Alan Chapman, Host

Strayhorn Suite

choreographed by silas farley b. 1994 recordings by the dutch jazz orchestra, billy strayhorn, and duke ellington Trudl Zipper Dance Institute and Dance Academy Students costumes by cara scrementi

Take the “A” Train (1941)

billy strayhorn 1915–1967

Overture to a Jam Session (1947) Smada (1951) Pretty Girl (aka The Star-Crossed Lovers) (1956) Cashmere Cutie (1957)

Matinee (c. 1947)

Rain Check (1941)

In 2010 and again 2011, Marlon was selected to participate in the highly acclaimed Verbier Festival Orchestra in Switzerland. During his membership, he performed under the baton of Charles Dutoit, Valery Gergiev, Neeme Järvi, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, and Yuri Temirkanov, among others. He performed with international classical soloists such as Mischa Maisky, Leonidas Kavakos, Yuri Bashmet, Lisa Batiashvilli, Yuja Wang, and Deborah Voigt.

Intermission

Blues in Orbit (aka Star Blues) (1958) Blue House (1941) All Day Long (1951) Chelsea Bridge (1941) Coffee and Kisses (1953)

Hello (undated)

george gershwin Arr. by Billy Strayhorn

Upper Manhattan Medical Group (U.M.M.G.) (1956) Marlonius Jazz Orchestra Marlon Martinez, Double Bass, Artistic and Music Director Tristan Cappel, Alto Saxophone & Clarinet Jasper Dutz, Alto Saxophone & Clarinet Jacob Scesney, Tenor Saxophone & Clarinet Jacob Shulman, Tenor Saxophone Eric Croissant, Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet & Clarinet Kye Palmer, Mike Cordone, Jamelle Adisa, Aaron Janik, Trumpets Ivan Malespin, Ido Meshulam, Trombones Paul Nelson, Bass Trombone Isaac Wilson, Piano Jake Chapman, Vibraphone Anthony Fung, Drums

Hailing from Los Angeles, Marlon Martinez is a young virtuoso bassist and composer emerging at the center of the resurgent Los Angeles jazz scene. He has demonstrated his virtuosity while touring with a wide range of artists—from rock icon Stewart Copeland to classical trailblazers Quatuor Ebène. Marlon is the protégé of mentor Stanley Clarke and studied with legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter in New York City.

He is the music director and composer of his big band, Marlonius Jazz Orchestra. Marlon is a winner of the Colburn School’s 2020 New Venture Competition and was selected as an artist-in-residence for the inaugural Amplify Series at the Colburn School.

Marlon received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees on a full scholarship at the Colburn Conservatory of Music, as a classical bass student of Leigh Mesh and Peter Lloyd from 2009-2015. An avid orchestral musician, Marlon has performed for renowned classical conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, John Adams, James Conlon, David Newman, Nicholas McGegan, Gerard Schwarz, Richard Kaufman, Bramwell Tovey, Giancarlo Guerrero, and the late Sir Neville Marriner. He has performed with the San Diego Symphony, the New West Symphony, WildUP, Martha Graham Dance Academy, and Ojai Festival Orchestra, among others.

Rhapsody in Blue (1962)

Marlon Martinez, Double Bass, Artistic and Music Director

billy strayhorn

Marlon performed for Burt Bacharach at the San Diego Symphony Summer Pops in 2008 and with the late Ellis Marsalis at Snug Harbor in 2017. In 2019, he played with Ravi Coltrane and Gerry Gibbs for the album release of Thrasher People: Our People, and with Nicholas Payton and the Kojo Odu Roney Experience at Blue Note NYC. Marlon performs in jazz ensembles and David Bowie tributes with Bowie veteran Mike Garson. He was a featured soloist at the world premiere of Garson’s Symphonic Suite for Healing at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in 2013. Other collaborators have included Patrice Rushen, Martin Chalifour, Judd Miller, Paul Coletti, Donald Vega, Jim Walker, Antoine Roney, Bob Sheppard, Joey Sellers, Bernard Fowler, Nigel Martinez, Josie James, and the late Barbara Morrison. As a studio musician in Los Angeles, Marlon has recorded for artists such as Seth MacFarlane, Michael Giacchino, Justin Hurwitz, and John Trapanese.

Marlon is currently the bassist for Stewart Copeland and Jon Kimura Parker’s epic collaboration Off The Score. Notable tour appearances include the 2015 21C Music Festival with Off The Score, the 2016 Gstaad Menuhin Festival and Academy with Quatuor Ebène and Stacey Kent, the premiere of his composition Jazz Impressions for String Orchestra, No. 1 at the 2016 Festival du Haut Limousin, and Don’t Box Me In: An Intimate Evening with Stewart Copeland at Long Beach Opera in 2018.

Dedicated to music education and outreach, Marlon is a jazz faculty member of California School of the Arts San Gabriel Valley. He also serves as a double bass coach for the Capistrano Unified School District, and collaborates with the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA). Marlon will produce educational lectures and performances on the music of Billy Strayhorn for the Colburn School’s Amplify Series with the support of Billy Strayhorn Songs, Inc. Marlon’s 2017 debut album Yours Truly demonstrates his versatility as a bassist and composer. His original compositions are dynamic and soulful with a fresh juxtaposition of tradition and originality. Marlon highlights Stewart Copeland and Judd Miller on his rock-fusion track “HD” and features jazz colleagues Isaac Wilson, Jacob Scesney, Cam Johnson, and Aaron Blumenthal, all alumni from the Colburn School. Yours Truly is available on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and international downloadable platforms.