GRANVILLE -- Marvin Stamm, a jazz trumpeter praised for his technical skills and original artistry, will be the featured performer at this year's Denison Jazz Festival. Stamm, who has played with Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman and Louis Bellson, will give a master class and play with the Denison Jazz Ensemble and the Denison Faculty Jazz Quintet. This is Stamm's second residency at Denison. He was here previously as a guest artist-in-residence in March of 1995. All of the Jazz Festival sessions are free and open to the public.

Marvin Stamm

The Festival opens with a performance by the Tom Carroll/Hank Marr Trio at 10 p.m. on Friday (April 5) in the Bandersnatch Coffeehouse, Huffman Hall. Carroll is on the faculty at Denison and has had a major role in organizing numerous guitar and jazz festivals on campus. Marr has served as an instructor at Denison since 1980 and is retired from the Ohio State University Jazz Studies Program. He tours widely and records on the Double-Time and Cojazz labels. Playing with Carroll and Marr is saxophonist Gene Walker. Walker was a member of The King Curtis Band which was the opening act for the 1965 tour of the Beatles. He also was music director for Jackie Wilson and led the Gene Walker/Eric Gale Band in which Carroll also played.

The Rez Abbassi/Chris Howes Quartet plays at another intimate session set for 10 p.m. on Monday (April 8) in the Bandersnatch. Based in New York City, the quartet is a "dynamic and upcoming young band," says Festival organizer Carroll. Abbassi plays guitar and Howes an electric jazz violin.

Denison student musicians are featured in an 8 p.m. concert on Tuesday (April 9) in Burke Recital Hall when the Denison Latin Jazz Percussion Ensemble, directed by Guy Remonko, and the Denison Jazz Combo, directed by Carroll, play.

Next on the Festival schedule is a trumpet master class led by Stamm at 3 p.m. on Saturday (April 13) in Burke Recital Hall. This class is open to the public as well. Stamm will perform as soloist with the Heisey Wind Ensemble that evening (Saturday, April 13) showcasing his abilities in musical genres other than jazz. The Heisey Ensemble program, not part of the Jazz Festival, features music from the movies and there is an admission charge.

On Sunday (April 14), Stamm takes the stage with the Denison Jazz Ensemble and the Denison Faculty Jazz Quintet at 3 p.m. in Burke Hall. Among his solo pieces on that program are: "Samba In Nancy," "It's Butter," and "Two As One," all works written by Stamm. Denison faculty members playing in the quintet are: Carroll, Remonko, Marr, Peter Mills and Doug Richeson.

Stamm's residency is the latest in a remarkable series of residencies and guest artist appearances by renowned jazz musicians during Denison's Jazz Festival and Guitar Festivals organized by members of the Denison music department faculty. Denison students have benefitted from visits by: Louis Bellson, Gene Bertoncini, Frank Foster, Gary Carney, the Bob Allen trio, John Faddis, Jimmy Heath and Walt Weiskopf in recent years.

Stamm was discovered by Kenton while attending North Texas State University and playing with lab bands. After graduation, he toured with Kenton's orchestra as jazz trumpet soloist in 1961-1962, recording five albums with the group. In 1965/66 he toured worldwide with the Woody Herman band. Settling in New York City in late 1966, Stamm quickly established himself as a busy jazz and studio trumpeter and during the next 10 years played with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, the Duke Pearson Big Band, Sinatra, and the Benny Goodman Sextet and recorded with numerous well known groups, such as Quincy Jones, Michel Legrand, and George Benson.

Stamm's first solo album was "Machinations," followed by "Stammpede" in 1982, an album that heralded his re-dedication to a solo jazz career. His two newest CDs are a duo with pianist Bill Mays, a long-time collaborator, titled "By Ourselves" and "The Stamm/Soph Project," a quartet setting created with drummer Ed Soph, that features bassist Rufus Reid, saxophonist Dave Liebman, pianist Mays, and guests. JazzTimes said of Stamm's playing "the Memphis native has chops and talent in abundance. He can burn on bebop changes, or mellow out on a ballad, all the time maintaining the lucid consistency that enthusiasm and experience engenders."

Stamm has embarked on new ventures in recent years. He performs with symphony orchestras and has decided to acknowledge his debt to the influence and guidance of former teachers and fellow musicians by committing a good bit of time to helping young music students develop their own voices. He travels to universities and high schools across the United States and abroad as a performer, clinician and mentor, perpetuating the traditions of excitement and innovation that jazz represents.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

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(740) 587-8575