From being one of Chicago’s most exciting young trumpeters to becoming an internationally recognized composer, bandleader and musician, Marquis Hill has worked tirelessly to break down barriers between different musical genres.
Whether contemporary or classic jazz, hip-hop, R&B, Chicago house, neo-soul – for Marquis Hill, they are essential parts of the African-American heritage of which he is a part.
“Everything comes from the same tree,” he says. “They simply blossomed from different branches.”
Marquis Hill was born in Chicago in 1987 and grew up in the city’s culturally rich South Side. Drums were the first instrument for the 4-year-old who switched to the trumpet in the 6th grade.
His self-released debut album New Gospel came out in 2011 and was followed by The Poet in 2013. In 2014 Hill won one of jazz’s most prestigious awards: the Thelonious Monk Award.
Hill has played with all the greats of contemporary jazz such as Marcus Miller, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Boney James, Kurt Elling, Joe Lovano and his pioneering colleague from Chicago, Makaya McCraven.
Now this headstrong and path-finding musician returns to jazz club Fasching with his Composers Collecive and with his latest album behind him, where he samples master Wayne Shorter’s voice in the opening song A Star Is Born.
Marquis Hill – trumpet
Mike King – piano, keyboards
Junius Paul – bass
Kendrick Scott – drums
