Marlon Martinez – Jazz Bass & Composer

Los Angeles-born bassist, composer and band-leader Marlon Martinez brings a powerful blend of classical chops, deep jazz sensibility and modern creative vision to the stage. A product of the Colburn Conservatory of Music, Martinez studied classical bass and orchestral performance before evolving into a leading voice in the city’s jazz community.

Martinez is the founder and artistic director of the Marlonius Jazz Orchestra, where his original compositions sit alongside reinterpretations of jazz classics. He has toured and collaborated with a remarkable range of artists—including Stewart Copeland, Mike Garson and Quatuor Ebène—and continues to bridge genres, instrumentation and musical cultures with his work.

In this performance you’ll experience Martinez’s artistry in a smaller-ensemble setting: expect rich bass tones, melodic leadership from the lower register, crisp interplay between his group and the rhythm section, and compositions that move between swing, funk, lyricism and adventurous rhythm. The evening offers listeners an opportunity to hear the double bass not just as accompaniment, but as expressive voice and creative centre.

Whether you come for the jazz tradition, the virtuosity of bassist/composer collaboration or the vibrancy of L.A.’s evolving jazz scene, this concert provides deep listening, groove and musical heart.