11/13/2020
MAC Jazz Throwback Thursday! Over the coming weeks, we’ll be taking a look back at the history of the Mineral Area College Jazz Festival. Feel free to share your favorite memories and recollections from the thirty-plus year history of the jazz festival.
In 1987, the Inaugural Mineral Area College Jazz Festival featured the brilliant trumpeter Marvin Stamm. While attending North Texas State University, Mr. Stamm was discovered by Stan Kenton. Upon graduation, he joined Kenton’s orchestra as his jazz trumpet soloist, touring with him in 1961-1962 recording five albums with the orchestra. In 1965-1966, he toured worldwide with Woody Herman.
Settling in New York in late 1966, Marvin Stamm quickly established himself as a busy jazz and studio trumpeter. New York was bustling with jazz activity during that period, and Stamm performed at key venues with many of the significant players in the business. He gained considerable recognition for his playing with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (1966-72) and the Duke Pearson Big Band (1967-70), as well as performing with Frank Sinatra (1973-74) and the Benny Goodman Sextet (1974-75) among others. Stamm was also a recognized first call studio player (1966-89), recording with Quincy Jones, Oliver Nelson, Duke Pearson, Thad Jones, Wes Montgomery, Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Turrentine, Bill Evans, Patrick Williams, Michel Legrand, Frank Foster, Paul Desmond, George Benson and many more.
Eschewing the lucrative studio scene in the late 80’s, Mr. Stamm has focused his attention on his first love, playing jazz. Since that time, he has been a member of John Lewis’ American Jazz Orchestra, the Bob Mintzer Band, the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, and Louis Bellson’s big band and quintet. Mr. Stamm’s small group activities have included performing and touring with pianist Bill Mays as a duo and also with the Inventions Trio, which also included cellist Alisa Horn. Mr. Mays was also a member of Stamm’s quartet with bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Ed Soph.
