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Jazz Jubilee: Spotlight on Scott Martin |
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Saturday, 04 July 2009 |
By Diane Eagle
Mammoth Times Editor
 submitted photo. The Scott Martin Latin Jazz Band, one of more than 30 bands lined up for the 21st Mammoth Lakes Jazz Jubilee.
Mammoth residents turn out in large numbers to volunteer, and people come from all over the country to hear the variety of Dixieland, BeBop, Swing, Zydeco and straight-ahead jazz that is presented for 5 days every summer. The musicians love to come to Mammoth, for the appreciative audiences and for the chance to jam, sit in on others’ sessions and hear each other play.
What started as a one-day, one-tent concert in 1988, has evolved into a five-day, many-tented splendor, still run with love and sweet notes by Flossie and Ken Coulter, who juggle the music and musicians with their magical touch.
The music is a mix of musicians who have been playing here since the beginning with new groups being rotated in as schedules allow. Almost every tent has a dance floor, because when the music starts it has a way of getting under the skin and moving even the shyest folk to dance to the music.
Scott Martin
Latin Jazz Band
The Scott Martin Jazz Band will be here for the second year mixing up Latin jazz and soul in a musical stew, a menudo, or Mexican soup.
This talented straight-ahead jazz musician got his training at home. Scott Martin grew up in Southern California, where his father was a musician.
“We listened to everything…big bands, Buddy Rich, Benny Goodman, big band dance music,” Martin said by phone from his lanai in Hawaii. “I came of age during the Beatles, was exposed to all of it, from Led Zeppelin to Benny Goodman, and Mom a classical bass player, so we heard a lot of classical, too.
Music is definitely a family affair for the Martins. Martin has two brothers. “We kind of fed off each other…the oldest, Stan, plays trumpet, I play sax, and Andy, the youngest, plays trombone.”
They’ve played in a lot of groups, and all joined Poncho Sanchez’s band, a gig that lasted 13-14 years for Scott. “I just played on his new record. I still play with him, live gigs every once in awhile. At one point we were the three horns in his band.”
Martin didn’t get into the richness of Latin jazz until joining Sanchez’s band. “He turned me onto a whole scene that was parallel to all the Be Bop…such a rich music.”
Martin’s bringing his father and his son to Jazz Jubilee for three generations of jazz.
Big Daddy Martin plays trumpet and sings. At 74, he’s been the major influence on all three of the Martins, as well as Tyler, Scott’s son.
“He loves music so much, it shows in his playing and his demeanor,” Martin said of his father. “He was a teacher and taught music in the schools…and taught Spanish. He started the jazz program at Cal State Long Beach. He loves to play…and have a good time.”
Tyler, who is 22, plays baritone sax. His instrument is a big old silver horn from the 1920s that belonged to his grandfather’s best friend, another tradition passed down from father to sons.
They play originals, old Latin jazz standards, old Louis Prima stuff, old standards Latin style... they mix it all up.
What comes across in the conversation with Scott Martin is that he loves music, as does his father, mother, brothers and son. To play is a joy that pervades everything he does.
He loves Mammoth, too, “it’s one of my favorite places to go in the world. In my early 20s I used to bring a band up here and play at the Rafters, we played there for years…and learned how to ski; we’d ski all day and play all night.”
But there’s nothing Mammoth in the summer, and the receptive audiences. The Scott Martin Latin Jazz Band plays six times during Jazz Jubilee. See the schedule in this week’s and next week’s Times for locations and times.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 13 July 2009 )
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