Eric Marienthal

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Eric Marienthal
Eric Marienthal - Jazz na Starowce 2012 (3).jpg
Marienthal in 2012
Background information
Born (1957-12-19) December 19, 1957 (age 67)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Genres Jazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentSaxophone
Labels GRP, PolyGram, Peak
Website ericmarienthal.com

Eric Marienthal (born December 19, 1957 [1] ) is a Grammy Award-nominated [2] Los Angeles-based contemporary saxophonist best known for his work in the jazz, jazz fusion, smooth jazz, and pop genres.

Contents

Early life

Eric Marienthal was born on December 19, 1957, in Sacramento, California, to Robert Marienthal, an insurance salesman, but moved to San Mateo when he was two years old. [3] He has credited his enthusiasm for music on being taught music while in school, and picked up the saxophone in the fourth grade after he thought it looked "pretty cool". Marienthal has also mentioned his father was a fan of music, particularly 1940s and 1950s such as Boots Randolph, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. [4] He initially wanted to pick up the trumpet but a teacher discouraged him because of his braces. As Marienthal progressed, his father bought him a $400 Selmer saxophone and enrolled him in Corona Del Mar High School. [3] Throughout his education, Marienthal also learned to play guitar (in grade school), flute, clarinet (both high school) and piano (college). [4]

After graduating from high school in Southern California in 1976, he studied at the Berklee College of Music, [5] where he studied with the saxophone professor, Joe Viola. [4] By the time he left Berklee, Eric had achieved the highest proficiency rating given by the school. [6]

Career

Marienthal (right) with Ray Reach, Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Ray Reach and Eric Marienthal.jpg
Marienthal (right) with Ray Reach, Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

Marienthal started his professional career in 1980 with famed New Orleans trumpeter Al Hirt. [7] After returning to Los Angeles, Eric became a member of the Chick Corea Elektric Band. [7] Marienthal has stated that he was a Chick Corea fan even before he started performing with him. [3] He recorded six albums with that band and two of them won Grammy Awards.

Marienthal (left) and Russ Freeman Eric Marienthal & Russ Freeman.jpg
Marienthal (left) and Russ Freeman

Marienthal has also written instructional books, including Comprehensive Jazz Studies & Exercises, The Ultimate Jazz Play Along, and The Music of Eric Marienthal and instructional videos, including Play Sax From Day One, Modern Sax and Tricks of the Trade, all published by Warner Brothers Publications, which is now Alfred Publishing/Belwin Jazz. Every summer since 1999, he has put on an annual fundraising concert for High Hopes Head Injury Program, a non-profit organization in Orange County, California, that works with people who have suffered traumatic head injuries. [8] [9]

Marienthal occupies the lead alto chair of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, [10] playing alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, and piccolo. [3]

In 2012, Marienthal released the album It's Love, produced by guitarist Chuck Loeb, who also appears on the tracks. The studio band includes keyboardist Russell Ferrante, drummer Gary Novak, and bassist Tim Lefebvre. [11]

Equipment

Select discography

Albums

YearTitlePeak chart positionsLabel
US
Jazz
[15] 		US
Con.
Jazz
[16]
1988Voices of the Heart—— GRP
1989Round Trip——
1990Crossroads——
1991 Oasis —5
1993 One Touch —11
1994Street Dance139
1997Collection——
Easy Street 2113 PolyGram/Verve
1998 Walk Tall 1613
2001Turn Up the Heat1710 Peak
2003Sweet Talk48—
2005Got You Covered——
2007Just Around the Corner2512
2012It's Love146
2015Bridges(with Chuck Loeb)156 Shanachie
2020Double Dealin'(with Randy Brecker)——
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Charted singles

YearTitlePeak chart positionsAlbum
Smooth Jazz
Airplay
[17]
2007"Blue Water"1Just Around the Corner
2012"Get Here"11It's Love
2015"Crossing"
(Eric Marienthal and Chuck Loeb)		21Bridges – (with Chuck Loeb)
2016"I Can't Stop My Heart"
(John Novello featuring Eric Marienthal)		11Ivory Soul – (John Novello)
2019"Good to Go"
(John Novello featuring Eric Marienthal)		1Good to Go – (John Novello)

As a leader

As a sideman

With David Benoit

With Brian Bromberg

With Matt Catingub

With Chick Corea

With Brian Culbertson

With Gordon Goodwin

With GRP All-Star Big Band

With Roger Neumann

With Dave Weckl

As a guest

With The Rippingtons

References

  1. ↑ "Rippingtons, The". Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Popular Musicians Since 1990. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Eric Marienthal". GRAMMY.com. November 23, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sauro, Tony (December 9, 2013). "Jazz man lets the music do talking". recordnet.com. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Richmond, Kim (September–October 1996). "Eric Marienthal" (PDF). dornpub.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 19, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Press release". Berklee.edu. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  6. ↑ "Biography". ericmarienthal.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  7. 1 2 Yanow, Scott. "Eric Marienthal bio at". Allmusic. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
  8. ↑ Kohlhaase, Bill (June 29, 1999). "Key of Gee". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  9. ↑ Georges, Steve (August 28, 2013). "Eye on O.C.: Jazzman jams with his friends and High Hopes benefits from the camaraderie". ocregister.com. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
  10. ↑ Russell, Stefene (February 13, 2013). "Grammy Award-Winning Sax Player Eric Marienthal Headlines Friday's Autumn Hill Jazz Festival at the Sheldon". stlmag.com. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  11. ↑ "It's Love – Eric Marienthal". allmusic.com. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Retro-Revival Modern Line NEW MODEL "Eric Marienthal Special" Alto Sax Mouthpiece .85". iReedMan's Retro-Revival Saxophone Mouthpieces. September 22, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Retro-Revival "Eric Marienthal Special" Our Newest Work of Mouthpiece Art!". iReedMan's Retro-Revival Saxophone Mouthpieces. November 7, 2019. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Eric's Equipment". ericmarienthal.com. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Eric Marienthal: Jazz Albums". Billboard . Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Eric Marienthal: Contemporary Jazz Albums". Billboard . Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Eric Marienthal: Smooth Jazz Airplay". Billboard . Retrieved January 29, 2025.

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