Hugh Marsh

Hugh Marsh
Born (1955-06-05) June 5, 1955
Montreal, Quebec
Origin Toronto, Ontario
Genres Jazz, classical, rock
Instruments Violin
Years active 1978–present
Associated acts Harry Gregson-Williams, Bruce Cockburn, Nick Buzz, Loreena McKennitt, Art of Time Ensemble, Rheostatics
Website hughmarsh.net

Hugh Marsh (born June 5, 1955 in Montreal, Quebec) is a violinist from Toronto, known for his electric violin sound.[1] Marsh was nominated for a 2007 Juno Award in the best contemporary jazz album category.[2]

History

Early days

Marsh was born and brought up in Montreal. He learned to play the violin from the age of five but it was when he tried playing the saxophone while at high school that led to him exploring jazz, funk and rhythm and blues. With his father's encouragement, he transferred these improvisation skills to the electric violin.[3] He is the brother of musician Fergus Marsh.

Career

In 1978, Marsh was invited by jazz musician Moe Koffman to perform with him in a concert series at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. This led to gigs at top Toronto jazz club George's Spahgetti House and to performances with Canadian jazz musicians Marsh had long admired such as Doug Riley, Claude Ranger, Sonny Greenwich and Don Thompson.

After meeting Bruce Cockburn in 1979, Cockburn invited Marsh to join his band for recordings and tours.

In 1984, Marsh recorded his independent album The Bear Walks which would eventually be distributed by Duke Street Records. He was supported on the album by Doug Riley (keyboards), Peter Cardinali (bass, production), and Michael Brecker (tenor sax). The album sold well and was distributed by Verabra Records in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 1986.

Marsh recorded his follow-up album in 1987. Shaking The Pumpkin featured Bruce Cockburn (on "How the Violin Was Born"), Dalbello (on "Rules Are Made to be Broken") and singer Robert Palmer on a version of Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze". Marsh's collaboration with Robert Palmer on "Purple Haze" became a radio hit in Canada and the United States.[4]

Since 1990 Marsh has recorded and toured with Celtic songstress Loreena Mckennitt, spanning six multi platinum albums and numerous world tours. From 1998, he began working with Turkish Sufi DJ Mercan Dede, resulting in contributions to three albums and other touring projects. Marsh has also worked with other Turkish artists such as Ihsan Ozgen, Kani Karaca, Goksel Baktagir and Ozcan Deniz.

In 2000 Marsh performed with former Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy on his international Just For Love tour, which resulted in the album Alive Just for Love. It is a live recording of the fully uninterrupted set from the El Rey show in Los Angeles on November 30, the same year. This was followed by the studio album "Dust" and a subsequent North American tour.

Marsh has worked on film scoring projects in collaboration with composers such as Harry Gregson Williams and Don Rooke, with compositions featured on such films as Armageddon, Whatever Happened to Harold Smith, Spy Game, Sinbad, Legend of the Seven Seas, The Rundown, Veronica Guerin, Man on Fire, Shrek 2, Return to Sender, Domino, Kingdom of Heaven, The Chronicles of Narnia, Still Mine and Seraphim Falls. He has also worked with Hans Zimmer on scores for Tears of the Sun and The Da Vinci Code.

In 2004 Marsh joined clarinet visionary Don Byron's new quartet "Swiftboat" which also features Kermit Driscoll on bass and Pheeroan Aklaff on drums. Marsh is currently touring as part of trumpeter Jon Hassell's new quartet which also features bassist Peter Freeman and percussionist Steve Shehan.

Marsh is a four-time winner of the Jazz Report Award for violinist of the year and a three-time recipient of the National Jazz Award for violinist of the year.

Marsh's recording Hugmars was released in November 2006 and was nominated for a 2007 Juno Award in the best contemporary jazz album category.[2]

Marsh also performs with the Toronto-based band 'Three Metre Day' featuring Michelle Willis on pump organ and vocals, Hugh on violin and Don Rooke on slide guitar.

Discography

Singles

Albums

Compilations/Other

Contributions

References

  1. ↑ "Hugh Marsh – News from Out of Nowhere!". Stephanie Mainville / 4Shore Music. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  2. 1 2 "JUNO Awards Database". Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  3. ↑ Official website
  4. ↑ Canoe/Jam! (December 6, 2004). "Marsh, Hugh Biography". Jam! The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  5. ↑ "The 2007 Juno Nominations & Winners". Canada.com. April 1, 2007. Retrieved July 19, 2009.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/12/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.