John Marshall

American jazz trumpeter born on May 22, 1952 in Wantagh, Town of Hampstead, New York; died May 21, 2025. Marshall played professionally in New York for 21 years. The list of modern jazz musicians with whom he played during that time includes names as diverse as Benny Goodman and Ornette Coleman. John's career began in rhythm 'n' blues bands, salsa groups and the free jazz scene. In the late seventies and early eighties he recorded and toured with the bands of Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton and Mel Lewis. With Mel's band he was a featured soloist for many years at the Village Vanguard. His engaging solo style also enlivened the bands of Gerry Mulligan, Afro-Cuban jazz pioneer Mario Bauzá, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Buck Clayton. In 1988 he toured the USA and Europe with Dizzy Gillespie's Big Band. During the same time he was a sought-after studio musician in New York‘s very competitive recording scene. In the late eighties Marshall formed the jazz quintet "The Bopera House" with the reknowned tenorist Ralph Lalama. The group performed in NY, up and down the east-coast, and recorded three highly-acclaimed albums. Since 1992, Marshall had lived in Cologne, Germany, where he was one of the most important soloists of WDR Big Band Köln. He was a member of the WDR Big Band from 1992 until 2017. His European quintet with Dutch tenor legend, Ferdinand Povel, had appeared all over Germany, as well as in Belgium, Holland, Austria and Switzerland. However, Marshall had not turned his back on New York. He returned there every year for appearances and recordings.