Eric Marienthal | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Marienthal in 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1957-12-19)December 19, 1957 (age 67) Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Saxophone |
| Labels | GRP,PolyGram,Peak |
| Website | ericmarienthal |
Eric Marienthal (born December 19, 1957[1]) is a Grammy Award-nominated[2] Los Angeles-based contemporarysaxophonist best known for his work in thejazz,jazz fusion,smooth jazz, and pop genres.
Eric Marienthal was born on December 19, 1957, inSacramento, California, to Robert Marienthal, an insurance salesman, but moved toSan 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 asBoots Randolph,Nat King Cole andFrank 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 $400Selmer saxophone and enrolled him inCorona 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 theBerklee 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]
Marienthal started his professional career in 1980 with famedNew Orleans trumpeterAl Hirt.[7] After returning to Los Angeles, Eric became a member of theChick 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 has also written instructional books, includingComprehensive Jazz Studies & Exercises,The Ultimate Jazz Play Along, andThe Music of Eric Marienthal and instructional videos, includingPlay Sax From Day One,Modern Sax andTricks of the Trade, all published by Warner Brothers Publications, which is nowAlfred Publishing/Belwin Jazz.Every summer since 1999, he has put on an annual fundraising concert forHigh Hopes Head Injury Program, a non-profit organization inOrange County, California, that works with people who have suffered traumatic head injuries.[8][9]
Marienthal occupies the lead alto chair ofGordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band,[10] playing alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, and piccolo.[3]
In 2012, Marienthal released the albumIt's Love, produced by guitaristChuck Loeb, who also appears on the tracks. The studio band includes keyboardistRussell Ferrante, drummerGary Novak, and bassistTim Lefebvre.[11]
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Label | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Jazz [15] | US Con. Jazz [16] | |||||
| 1988 | Voices of the Heart | — | — | GRP | ||
| 1989 | Round Trip | — | — | |||
| 1990 | Crossroads | — | — | |||
| 1991 | Oasis | — | 5 | |||
| 1993 | One Touch | — | 11 | |||
| 1994 | Street Dance | 13 | 9 | |||
| 1997 | Collection | — | — | |||
| Easy Street | 21 | 13 | PolyGram/Verve | |||
| 1998 | Walk Tall | 16 | 13 | |||
| 2001 | Turn Up the Heat | 17 | 10 | Peak | ||
| 2003 | Sweet Talk | 48 | — | |||
| 2005 | Got You Covered | — | — | |||
| 2007 | Just Around the Corner | 25 | 12 | |||
| 2012 | It's Love | 14 | 6 | |||
| 2015 | Bridges(withChuck Loeb) | 15 | 6 | Shanachie | ||
| 2020 | Double Dealin'(withRandy Brecker) | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. | ||||||
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smooth Jazz Airplay [17] | |||
| 2007 | "Blue Water" | 1 | Just Around the Corner |
| 2012 | "Get Here" | 11 | It's Love |
| 2015 | "Crossing" (Eric Marienthal and Chuck Loeb) | 21 | Bridges –(withChuck Loeb) |
| 2016 | "I Can't Stop My Heart" (John Novello featuring Eric Marienthal) | 11 | Ivory Soul –(John Novello) |
| 2019 | "Good to Go" (John Novello featuring Eric Marienthal) | 1 | Good to Go –(John Novello) |
WithDavid Benoit
WithBrian Bromberg
With Matt Catingub
WithChick Corea
WithBrian Culbertson
WithGordon Goodwin
WithRoger Neumann
WithDave Weckl
WithMichael Franks
WithThe Rippingtons
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Academics | |
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| Other | |
