Marlon Martinez
Hailing from Los Angeles, Marlon Martinez is a young virtuoso bassist and composer emerging at the center of the resurgent LA and NYC jazz scenes. He has demonstrated his virtuosity while touring with a wide range of artists, from Stewart Copeland to Quatuor Ebène. Marlon received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees on a full scholarship at the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, as a classical student of Peter Lloyd from 2009-2015. An avid orchestral musician, Marlon has performed for conductors such as Nicholas McGegan, Gerard Schwarz, Bramwell Tovey, Richard Kaufman, David Newman, James Conlon, Giancarlo Guerrero, Sir Neville Marriner and Gustavo Dudamel. He has studied with Douglas Basye, Assistant Principal Bass of the Pacific Symphony, Dennis Trembly, Co-Principal Bass of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Leigh Mesh, Associate Principal Bass of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York. Marlon served as Principal Bass for the American Youth Symphony conducted by Alexander Treger, and Associate Principal Bass of YMF Debut Orchestra. He has performed with the San Diego Symphony as a substitute bassist, and has recorded TV-film sessions for artists such as Seth MacFarlane, Michael Giacchino and John Trapanese.
In 2010 and 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 soloists such as Mischa Maisky, Leonidas Kavakos, Yuri Bashmet, Lisa Batiashvilli, Yuja Wang, and Deborah Voigt.
Marlon is the protégé of mentor Stanley Clarke and studies with legendary jazz bassist Ron Carter. He is the founder and music director of the Jazz Marlonius Quartet and the Marlonius Jazz Orchestra. Marlon played for Burt Bacharach at the San Diego Symphony Summer Pops in 2008, and for Ellis Marsalis at Snug Harbor in New Orleans in 2017. He performs in jazz ensembles and orchestras with Mike Garson, and was featured at the world premiere of Garson's “Symphonic Suite for Healing” at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in 2013. Marlon collaborates with internationally acclaimed classical and jazz artists such as Quatuor Ebène, Patrice Rushen, Gerry Gibbs, Antoine Roney, Kojo Odu Roney, Donald Vega, Bob Sheppard, Joey Sellers, Jim Walker, Josie James, and Bernard Fowler. He is the bassist for Stewart Copeland and Jon Kimura Parker’s epic collaboration Off the Score. Dedicated to music education and outreach, Marlon serves as an orchestra and jazz bass coach for the Capistrano Unified School District, CSArts San Gabriel Valley, and collaborates with the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles.
Notable appearances include the 21C Music Festival with Off The Score (2015), the Gstaad Menuhin Festival and Academy with Quatuor Ebène and Stacey Kent (2016), the premiere of his composition “Jazz Impressions for String Orchestra, No. 1” with Forces Majeures at the Festival du Haut Limousin (2016), and Don't Box Me In: An Intimate Evening with Stewart Copeland at Long Beach Opera (2018).
Marlon's 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. Stewart Copeland and Judd Miller are featured on his rock-fusion track HD. Yours Truly is available on iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Play, and other downloadable platforms.