Born and raised in Chicago, Marquis Hill was captivated by the trumpet as an elementary school student when he overheard his cousin practicing the instrument. Shortly thereafter, Hill ditched the drums for the horn and never looked back.
Hill's love for trumpet is complemented by an equally deep appreciation for jazz and an unwillingness to stop learning. In 2014, Hill won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, making him one of the most praised and sought-after trumpeters in the world.
We invited Hill to the Reverb studio to teach us a little bit about one of his favorite techniques – sub-tone. A technique adapted from saxophone, sub-tone is when a player allows extra air to enter into the sound of their playing. This adds a warm, airy, and raspy quality to your playing that Hill himself is known for.
Marquis Hill proudly plays a horn from Portland's Raw Brass Trumpets. To read more about Hill, check his global touring schedule, and buy his newest album, The Way We Play, head over to his website.