Home » Jazz Musicians » Marty Morell
Marty Morell
Morell attended the Manhattan School of Music and studied mallets with Morris Goldberg, and tympani with Saul Goodman at the Julliard School of Music. Prior to joining Bill Evans, Morell worked and/or recorded with the Al Cohn-Zoot Sims Quintet, Henry “Red” Allen , Gary McFarland, Steve Kuhn and Gabor Szabo.
He recorded prolifically and toured the world with pianist Bill Evans and bassist Eddie Gomez from late 1968 through 1974. After leaving the trio, Marty settled in Toronto, Canada where he became a highly sought after studio drummer and percussionist. He fronted his own bands as a drummer and also worked as a vibist and pianist with his Latin band.
Morell has played on numerous jingles, films, and has worked and recorded with many jazz artists such as Don Sebesky, Stan Getz, Kenny Wheeler, Claus Ogerman, Rob McConnell & the Boss Brass, Gabor Szabo, and many others (see discography) He did many drum clinics and percussion seminars across Canada and was the head of the Percussion Department at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario for two semesters, from 1986 -1987)
Considered a highly versatile musician, Morell also performed with the Toronto Symphony, Canadian Opera Company, the Hamilton Philharmonic and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and from 1989-97 he was the percussionist with the “Phantom of the Opera” orchestra in Toronto.
In 1998 he moved back to his hometown, NYC, to play the Tony award -winning musical “Ragtime”. After a two-year run on Broadway, he toured nationally with the show. Following that, he did the revival of “Kiss Me Kate” (Tony award for Best Musical revival 2001) and “Suessical: the Musical” starring Cathy Rigby. Marty Morell currently resides in Florida and is very active in the jazz community.
Tags
Bill Evans: In Norway: The Kongsberg Concert
by Ian Patterson
The release of In Norway: The Konsberg Concert coincides with the sixtieth anniversary of the Konsberg Jazz Festival. Double cause for celebration. The steady flow of archival Evans recordings shows no signs of abating, with In Norway: The Konsberg Concert, recorded in 1970, coming hot on the heels of the previously unreleased Bill Evans: Behind The Dikes: The 1969 Netherlands Recordings (2021), Bill Evans: Treasures: Solo, Trio and Orchestra Recordings from Denmark (1965-1969) (2023) and Tales: Live in Copenhagen (1964) ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: In Norway
by Dan McClenaghan
Pianist Bill Evans' career lasted from the late 1950s until his passing in 1980, but beginning around about 20 years into the 21st century CD releases under Evan's name have been rolling along at a brisk clip, thanks to the Resonance, Elemental and Ess- thetics Record labels. Zev Feldman, often called “The Jazz Detective," has played a big part in this steady release of mostly laudable recordings, uncovering lost or shelved tapes of Evan's concerts, resulting in albums like Bill ...
Continue ReadingThe Jazz Professors: Blues and Cubes
by Jack Bowers
Yes, the Florida-based Jazz Professors, as befits the name, are smart—but don't let that throw you. They also swing in the best jazz tradition, even though their fourth album, Blues and Cubes, was inspired by the art of Pablo Picasso. Unlike Picasso's works, however, there is scant abstraction here; the Professors embody far more bop than bemusement, more Blue Note than bohemian. As for day gigs, the Professors maintain theirs at the University of Central Florida in ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Behind The Dikes – The 1969 Netherlands Recordings
by Stefano Merighi
Gli inediti di Bill Evans cominciano a tracimare in questi anni. E se qualcuno si chiedesse se valga la pena ascoltare anche questo recente Behind the Dikes (doppio CD che documenta concerti in studio in Olanda nel 1969), risponderei di andare subito alla versione di “'Round Midnight" per dissipare ogni dubbio. Evans trasfigura il classico monkiano, modificandone il carattere delle singole sezioni, e lo fa proprio in una inedita fluidità di esecuzione, offrendo una straordinaria vetrina al basso di Eddie ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Morning Glory
by Jim Worsley
1973 was a time of political volatility and unrest. Argentina's former President Juan Peron was returning to the country after many years in exile. The controversy brought emotions to the surface and created a dangerous environment. Just what three jazz cats didn't need to hear as they made their way to Buenos Aires for a concert. There is an unwritten code of understanding, however, that musicians and athletes are to walk freely. They are artists after all, often considered above ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Everybody Still Digs Bill Evans: A Career Retrospective (1956 - 1980)
by Chris May
Only occasionally do classy looking limited-edition box sets prove to be a triumph of style and substance. Too often they are undermined by cheapskate packaging, over elaborate design, poorly written and researched booklets, inadequate session details or, most egregiously, bizarre (in a bad way) track selections. So it is a more than pleasant surprise when something comes along which succeeds, and succeeds magnificently, on all those fronts. Such an item is Concord Records' Craft imprint's Everybody Still Digs Bill Evans: ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Behind The Dikes – The 1969 Netherlands Recordings
by Dan McClenaghan
Zev Feldman, co-president of Resonance Records, seems to have made it his life's mission to present every unreleased note that pianist Bill Evans ever recorded. Live At Art D'Lugoff's Top Of The Gate (2012), Some Other Time (2016), Another Time: The Hilversum Concert (2017), Evans In England (2019) and Live At Ronnie Scott's (2020) represent the Bill Evans discography on the Resonance Records label, all produced by Feldman. And now 2021 finds Feldman teaming with the Elemental Music label, to ...
Continue ReadingThe other side of Marty Morell
Source:
Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
Tampa-based Marty Morell is best known for his seven-year tenure as pianist Bill Evans' longest-serving drummer, from 1968 to 1975. He was in the house last season as the drummer in saxophonist Jeff Rupert's ensemble featuring singer Veronica Swift, but the Charlotte County Jazz Society's 2018-19 season finale on Monday, April 8 was the first local opportunity to hear him on vibes- and with a decidedly Latin flair. Morell came to Port Charlotte with the M&M Latin Jazz Ensemble, a ...
read more
A Jazz Matinee with Larry Camp, Marty Morell, Bruce Wallace
Source:
Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
Bassist Bruce Wallace opened the South County Jazz Club's 2014-15 concert season Friday afternoon with a top-notch trio whose members had never worked together in this personnel grouping. It featured guitarist Larry Camp and drummer Marty Morell, best known in jazz circles for his seven-year stint in pianist Bill Evans' trio from 1968 to 1975. Musically, it was a fine, and poignant, afternoon at the Venice (FL) Art Center. This was Wallace's third consecutive season opener for the jazz club. ...
read more
Marty Morell on Bill Evans (PT. 3)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
If you think listening to Bill Evans' albums is an emotional ride, imagine what it was like to play drums in his trio. Marty Morell [pictured] had that honor as a member of the pianist's trio for seven years—longer than any other drummer. From 1968 to 1975, Marty toured, recorded albums and grew close to the artist who today has become something of a cult figure among jazz fans. Admittedly, I'm one of those fans. Having spent my teens playing ...
read more
Marty Morell on Bill Evans (PT. 2)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
The first Bill Evans Trio with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian liberated the rhythm section. Up until the first Bill Evans Trio's formation in 1959, a rhythm section was largely a supportive unit that played behind horn players. Or in cases where a trio stood alone, the bass and drums were there to keep time while the piano entertained. But with the first Bill Evans Trio, the rhythm section became something much more—a group of independent conversationalists who ...
read more
Marty Morell on Bill Evans (PT. 1)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
For seven years—between 1968 and 1975—Marty Morell played drums in the Bill Evans Trio alongside bassist Eddie Gomez. This was a crucial period of growth for Evans. The pianist matured rapidly musically and emotionally, and you can see the physical change on his album covers—transitioning from business-suited Mad Man to bearded Mountain Man. [Pictured above, from left: Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez and Marty Morell in Helsinki, Finland, in 1970] This period remains among the most fascinating and enigmatic for Evans ...
read more
Haroldo Jobim
drumsPhotos
Concerts
Tickets
