Classical and Jazz: Interview with Gospel Oak's upcoming jazz trumpeter Mark Crown
Published: 24 June 2010
by SEBASTIAN TAYLOR
GOSPEL Oak trumpeter Mark Crown is making waves as one of London’s finest young jazz musicians.
Still only 22, he was selected as a soloist to play alongside legendary New York trumpeter Wynton Marsalis at the high-energy Midsummer Jazz Band Ball held at Stoke Newington Town Hall.
His mellow dynamic sound gripped the attention, rising above the big sound from Guy Barker’s big band specially assembled for the occasion.
His classic style of trumpet playing has flavours of the late great Freddie Hubbard, hints of Miles Davis, and suggestions of early Louis Armstrong.
Other trumpet players to influence his playing are Kenny Dorham and Ryan Kison along with Blue Mitchell and Booker Little, he says. The jazz band ball was arranged as part of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s residency at the Barbican Centre.
More than 1,000 Lindy Hoppers and jazz jivers displayed some fancy footwork and knee-jolting moves in time to swing numbers played by the band.
Mark Crown’s playing drew compliments from Wynton Marsalis.
“He’s invited me to look him up and play some music with him when I next visit New York,” says the young London trumpet player.
Mark Crown started to play the recorder and violin at the age of eight while he was at Rhyl Primary School, Gospel Oak, taking up the trumpet a year later.
From Rhyl, he was awarded a music scholarship to Pimilico School, Westminster, and also joined the Camden Youth Jazz Band and Camden Youth Orchestra.
From Pimlico, he moved to Camden School for Girls sixth form to take his A-levels and from there he gained a place at Trinity College of Music to study jazz.
He’s been a member of Courtney Pine’s Afropeans and has worked alongside Jason Yarde and Harry Brown to record numbers for such pop acts as Estelle, Finley Quaye and, most recently, Plan B.
“I’ve formed my own quintet which I hope will ready to storm the jazz scene in the autumn,” says Mark.