Marvin Stamm was lauded for his exceptional career in trumpet playing. Leonard Feather said that Marvin Stamm was “an accomplished performer whose technical skill is used as a means to stimulate original ends.” Stan Kenton discovered Stamm while he was attending North Texas State University. This school is known for its innovative lab bands. Leonard Feather stated that Stamm is an accomplished performer whose technical skills are used as a way to stimulate original ends. After graduating, he was a jazz trumpet soloist with Kenton’s orchestra 1961-1962 and recorded five albums with them. He toured the world with Woody Herman from 1965 to 1966. Marvin Stamm arrived in New York City in 1966 and quickly established himself as a jazz and studio trumpeter. New York was bustling during this period with jazz activity. Stamm performed at important venues with many of today’s top players in the industry. His performances with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (1966-1972), and the Duke Pearson Big Band (1967-1970) earned him considerable attention. He also performed with Frank Sinatra (1973-1974), and the Benny Goodman Sextet (74-1975), among other things. Stamm was also a first-call studio player (1966-1989). He recorded with Quincy Jones and Oliver Nelson, Thad Jones and Thad Jones. He has devoted his time to his first love, jazz, and he has resisted the lucrative studio scene of the late 1980s. He has performed with Maria Schneider’s big band on numerous occasions and was a member of the Bob Mintzer Band and John Lewis’ American Jazz Orchestra. He spends a lot of his time touring. He performs solo, tours with his jazz quartet and plays in duo with Bill Mays. Stamm and Mays have recently formed the Inventions Trio and are currently touring with it. Alisa Horn is also a member of the group. Stamm continues to perform with various symphony orchestras across the country, and he also maintains his connections with the George Gruntz concert jazz band. Mr. Stamm performs with the Westchester Jazz Orchestra at home. This big band is made up of some the best jazz musicians in New York, all of whom live in Westchester County. The band is led by Mike Holober, composer/arranger. It includes guitarists Andy Watson, Harvie S and pianist Ted Rosenthal. John Carisi, a jazz legend, composed and arranged Marvin Stamm’s first solo record, Machinations. After several years of touring with Frank Sinatra for many years, Marvin recorded Stammpede, his first solo album. This was the beginning of Marvin’s new career as a solo jazz musician. Bop Boy was a quintet CD by Stamm that featured Bob Mintzer (tenor saxophonist), Terry Clarke (drummer), Phil Markowitz (pianist), and Lincoln Goines (bass). In 1993, Mystery Man was released. It featured Mintzer, Clarke and Mike Richmond. The album was followed by another CD, which featured Mintzer, Clarke and bassist Bob Malach. Two new CDs were released by Mr. Stamm on the Marstam Music label in November 2000. By Ourselves is a duo CD that documents Stamm’s long-standing collaboration with pianist Bill Mays. The Stamm/Soph Project is the second CD. It features Rufus Reid, bassist, and Bill Mays, pianist. Three tracks feature Dave Liebman, a saxophonist. Both CDs received a great response from critics. Elegance was released in November 2001. It featured the young Swedish pianist Stefan Karlsson along with Tom Warrington and Eliot Zigmund as a quartet. The JazzedMedia label released The Stamm/Soph Project Live at Birdland in March 2005. This CD, co-led by Ed Soph, also features Stamm’s working quintet with Bill Mays (pianist) and Rufus Reid (bassist). Four tracks feature John Abercrombie, guitarist. This CD features the quartet performing live in a New York City jazz club. Stamm said, “Working together with these musicians – Ed and Bill, as well as Rufus – always produces some very special moments. These events are not taken for granted. We don’t view them as just another gig. Each one of us truly comes to play.” The Inventions Trio’s second CD, The Delaware River Suite, was released in September 2008. Stamm’s work received a overwhelmingly positive response from critics. Downbeat reported that Stamm has “a beautiful tone on the flugelhorn and trumpet, and he can fly through the changes.” JazzTimes stated that the Memphis native is a talented performer. JazzTimes stated that Stamm can perform bebop moves or slow down on ballads, while maintaining the clarity that experience and enthusiasm engenders. Jazz Review said, “It’s a pleasure to listen to Marvin Stamm’s work, anytime!” Stamm is a musician’s musician. He plays his trumpet and flugelhorn flawlessly. He is a jazz educator and performer. From www.marvinstamm.com
