Marquis Hill

[Tom Storer]

This trumpeter just won the 2014 Thelonious Monk competition. The band and its music demonstrate that the much-decried "Young Lions" thing in the 1980's was not a passing trend. This could have been played at any time in the past 60 years. So, exasperatingly old-fashioned or reassuringly timeless? I'll go for the latter. Nothing spectacular, nothing new, but I know I would have had a great time if I'd been the club that night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_quoP1ZHqU

[bluenoter]

Also see this thread in Jazz News for more info. about Marquis Hill and another live Blacktet video:

2014 Monk Competition Winner Chosen: Marquis Hill

[Ron Thorne]

I agree with your use of the word "timeless", Tom. For me, this group displays great musicianship and a tight, cohesive sound while maintaining a certain looseness and freedom at the same time. They are great fun to listen to, and would likely be especially fun in person.

[uli]

I also vote for reassuringly timeless.

With the exception of the vibes player who is a bit younger than the rest I have personally known all of these cats for 15 or more years coming thru the jam sessions at the velvet. I have probably heard them hundred of times, interacted with them talked to them checked there ids etc. Some of them I consider friends Marquis Hill may have been 15 or 16 when I first met him. Most of them I've also heard playing well in what could be considered freer contexts. They are by no means unaware of jazz history. This is what they want to play. It's their music without much of the dogmatic overhang that dominated jazz discussions.

It's a great pleasure for me to see them achieving some success.

I've lost contact with the scene a bit but there is a whole new generation coming up doing the same.