Mark Rapp

The Mark Rapp Group has played sold out shows at the Blue Note (NY), Joe's Pub, Yoshi's (San Fran) and such venues as the JVC Newport Jazz Festival, Dizzy's at Jazz Lincoln Center, JazzTime Festival (Croatia), Jazzland (Vienna), Jazz Standard (New York) and more. Mark was named a "top emerging trumpeter" by Downbeat Magazine, featured on a Travel Channel documentary and has played with Branford Marsalis to Hootie and the Blowfish and most recently recorded with Don Braden and Gerald Clayton. His critically acclaimed debut CD Token Tales is being played around the globe.

There's a new breed of young trumpeters coming down the road. These new young lions have studied the playing and music of bop and hard bop masters such as Dizzy Gillespie, Clifford Brown, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan and Kenny Dorham, among others. Having looked at the innovations of forward- thinkers like Don Cherry, Lester Bowie and Dave Douglas, the young firebrands have also not neglected the funk, jazz-rock, soul and fusion of artists like Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock. The resultant music they create melds and brings together the radio music of their youth with the history of their horn to find fresh ways to approach and fashion a style of playing more oriented toward groove without losing modern approaches to upper chordal harmonic structures so prevalent in the jazz music of the late 20th century. Perhaps one of the best examples of the direction being taken by this new breed is played by Mark Rapp.

Growing up in South Carolina, Rapp first attended Lenoir- Rhyne College on a music scholarship, but dropped out after a few months, moving to Florence, South Carolina to work construction. Eventually Rapp enrolled in Winthrop University in South Carolina, studying trumpet with Dr. Ian Pearson. After graduating, and following discussions with Wynton Marsalis, Rapp moved to New Orleans to study jazz under Ellis Marsalis while earning a Masters in Jazz from the University of New Orleans. Five years later and after performing extensively throughout the city, Rapp moved to New York. Finding the initial year there a tough go, his perseverance paid off and the now mid-30s year- old musician has been turning heads ever since. Regular performances at the Carnegie Club and the Rockwood Music Hall in New York have brought him to the notice of people such as saxophonist Branford Marsalis, who has performed with the young trumpet phenom.

Rapp’s reputation has grown to the extent that many of today’s top artists want him in their bands. Included in this list are rockers like Darius Rucker, Hootie & The Blowfish, Edwin McCain and Sister Hazel. From the jazz side artists Rapp has worked with include Walter Blanding Jr., Don Braden, Gerald Clayton, Wess Anderson, Wycliffe Gordon, Seamus Blake, John Ellis and Rodney Green, among others. With such a pedigree it’s no surprise Rapp received a standing ovation following his performance at the 2008 Newport Jazz Festival appearance. Other recent performances include the JVC Newport Jazz, Jazztime Festival (Croatia), Sonoma Wine & Song Festival and the WC Handy Jazz festivals, as well as club appearances at New York locales like the Blue Note, and Dizzy’s Coca-Cola Room to Yoshi’s in San Francisco.

The critical praise has, as one would expect from the above, been great. In 2007 Down Beat listed Rapp on their very short list of, “Top emerging jazz trumpeters.” JazzTimes also had great praise, writing, “(Rapp) has his own way of defining jazz, which keeps its standard principles… while delving into the experimental side."

- Excerpt from Dr. Thomas Erdmann's book "Jazz Trumpet Interviews" published by Edwin Mellen Press, Fall 2009

Currently, Mark resides in Geneva, Switzerland and New York, NY and is constantly performing in support of his critically acclaimed debut record Token Tales. The upcoming Braden-Rapp: The Music of Billy Strayhorn record with Don Braden, Gerald Clayton and Sachal Vasandani is in production and should be released late in 2009.

Mark plays a custom Monette Ajna I Prana trumpet with a Monette B2GS3 88 mouthpiece, a custom Monette Prana LTJ with a Monette B3 mouthpiece and a Kanstul flugelhorn with a Monette B2 mouthpiece.

"Rapp lives up to his billing as one today's exciting young trumpeters." - AllAboutJazz.com

"One can't help but sense a distinct identity to Rapp in both his composing and playing... and for this reason, we will be hearing a lot more from him." ��" Jazz Improv NY Magazine

Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Token- Tales/dp/B001QS0N70/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1? ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1234474923&sr=8-1

Awards

"Top emerging jazz trumpeter." - Downbeat Magazine, '07

Gear

monette

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Jazz Room Special Edition: Trumpet Summit

by Mark Sullivan
September 24, 2019

Jazz Room Special Edition: Trumpet Summit Booth Playhouse Charlotte, NC September 20, 2019 There's something about the trumpet: brash, brassy, loud, and always a powerful lead voice in any ensemble. If one trumpet is all of those things, imagine what five would sound like. For the Jazz Room's second Trumpet Summit six trumpeters were scheduled, but five turned out to be the perfect number. Ariel Mejia (who would have been the youngest of the group) ...

205

Album Review

Mark Rapp's Melting Pot: Good Eats

Read "Good Eats" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
May 31, 2011

Good Eats could reference trumpeter Mark Rapp's New Orleans heritage, where po-boys, seasoned craw fish, and jambalaya reign supreme. Add some Big Easy-style funk and there is a perfect party setting that provides credence to the city that care forgot adage. Rapp pays homage to alto sax titan Lou Donaldson, who incorporated blues, soul, and funk into the bebop idiom. The band's delivery of modern jazz improvisation and exploratory movements translucently merge with these largely, toe-tapping pieces. Rapp also includes ...

279

Album Review

Mark Rapp's Melting Pot: Good Eats

Read "Good Eats" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
May 3, 2011

Legendary saxophonist Lou Donaldson doesn't subscribe to a one-size-fits-all approach in his own music making. His oeuvre, which spans more than half a century, touches on bop, hard bop, soul-jazz, and funk, with each setting allowing for a different aspect of his musical personality to shine. In crafting a tribute to Donaldson, trumpeter Mark Rapp honors this diversity and organic amalgam of music by touching on various styles, as he works his way through Donaldson's catalog. Rapp's ...

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Take Five With...

Take Five With Mark Rapp

by AAJ Staff
May 14, 2009

Meet Mark Rapp: The Mark Rapp Group has played sold out shows at the Blue Note (New York), Joe's Pub, Le Poisson Rouge and such venues as the JVC Newport Jazz Festival, Dizzy's at Jazz Lincoln Center, Euphoria Festival and more.

Mark was named a “top emerging trumpeter" by Down Beat Magazine, featured on a Travel Channel documentary and has played with Branford Marsalis (see video at: Mark's website) to Hootie and the Blowfish, and most recently recorded ...

507

Album Review

Mark Rapp: Token Tales

Read "Token Tales" reviewed by Woodrow Wilkins

by Woodrow Wilkins
February 10, 2009

One could argue that Mark Rapp follows the trails laid by such trumpeters as Miles Davis, Randy Brecker and Rick Braun. That all might be true, but Rapp is also establishing his own mark in jazz.One of Down Beat magazine's top jazz trumpeters of 2007, Rapp mostly performs original music alongside his own arrangements of previously recorded material. Accompanying him on his debut album are Jamie Reynolds on piano and keyboards, Gavin Fallow on electric and acoustic bass, ...

Performance / Tour

TSP: Mark Rapp And Derek Lee Bronston, Play Back-to-back Shows At The Grand Opening Of The Velvet Note, Atlanta's Newest Music Venue

Source: Mark Rapp
June 12, 2012

TSP, featuring musicians MARK RAPP (trumpet, didgeridoo) and DEREK LEE BRONSTON (guitar, vocals) will ignite audiences with their live shows as they perform back-to-back shows as part of the opening Atlanta’s newest music venue, THE VELVET NOTE in Alpharetta, Georgia. Mark Rapp and Derek Lee Bronston, a/k/a TSP, are redefining jazz for every generation with reinventions of tunes by Paul McCartney, Radiohead, AC/DC, Cole Porter, Miles Davis & more. Using didgeridoo, guitar, trumpet and rhythm section enhanced with raw, emotional ...
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Technology

Jazz Trumpeter Share the Thanks App

Source: Mark Rapp
November 22, 2011

Just in time for Thanksgiving, jazz trumpeter and composer Mark Rapp launched a simple, but effective, web app to spread the feeling of thanks and gratitude. It features an original composition by Rapp appropriately named “Thank You" which was recorded and released on the trumpeter's debut CD Token Tales (Paved Earth Music, 2009). You can enjoy the presentation as-is, download the MP3 for free, or you can customize the text, then quickly and easily share your personalized message. The sharing ...
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Performance / Tour

NY Jazz and a Carolina Bank

Source: Mark Rapp
March 23, 2011

(NEW YORK, NY)—Known for their industry first “Applum"—a complete record delivered solely through the iTunes App Store—New York Jazz trumpeter Mark Rapp and renowned guitarist/vocalist Derek Lee Bronston's jazz group “The Song Project" has partnered with South Carolina Bank and Trust on a return tour of the Carolinas culminating in a performance whose partial proceeds will benefit the Women's Shelter Health Services of Charlotte, NC. SC-raised trumpeter Mark Rapp is looking forward to the return tour saying, “I love coming ...
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Technology

The Song Project celebrates Valentine's with the Web

Source: Mark Rapp
February 11, 2011

The Song Project, a jazz duo out of Brooklyn, NY known for their forward-thinking and out-of- the-box approaches to music and technology has released a web page optimized for the iPad and iPhone in celebration of this Valentine's weekend. They present a bit of dry humor with some choice quotes by Rosanne Barr to Plato and offer an original composition and a hauntingly beautiful version of My Funny Valentine. http://vday.thesongproject.net/ Their industry first product they coined as the “applum"—iPhone App ...
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Book / Magazine

New Jazz Book Includes Interviews with Trumpeters Mark Rapp, Terence Blanchard, Lew Soloff, Freddie Hubbard, Chris Botti and more

Source: Mark Rapp
July 19, 2010

How Jazz Trumpeters Understand Their Music: Twenty-Seven Interviews 1. Vince DiMartino, 2. Kenny Wheeler, 3. Terence Blanchard, 4. Lew Soloff, 5. Rick Braun, 6. Freddie Hubbard, 7. Dave Douglas..., 11. Eddie Henderson, 12. Donald Byrd..., 14. Herb Alpert, 15. Wallace Roney..., 19. Brian Lynch, 20. Mark Isham..., 22. Chris Botti..., 25. Tim Hagans..., 27. Mark Rapp This work is one of the most complete collections of in-depth commentary on the state of jazz music today. These interviews illustrate the interplay ...
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120

Event

The Song Project: Art of the Song Shows

Source: Michael Ricci
March 18, 2010

Guitarist Derek Lee Bronston and trumpeter Mark Rapp are taking their online recording collaboration “The Song Project" live. The Duo will debut with 3 New York City appearances: The Rockwood Music Hall, Paula Barr Studios in Chelsea and an invitation- only event in a private residence in Brooklyn. Rapp and Bronston continue to embrace the cutting-edge in technology and all 3 shows will be streamed live and available worldwide via computer, iPhone, Blackberry, Facebook, MySpace and more. The two have ...
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139

Performance / Tour

New CD, Braden-Rapp: The Strayhorn Project at Blues Alley

Source: Michael Ricci
December 9, 2009

There's a brand new CD out featuring Don Braden on saxophone and flute, Mark Rapp on trumpet, GRAMMY nominated Gerald Clayton on piano, Sachal Vasandani on vocals, Rene Hart on bass and Greg Gonzalez on drums. The record is the brainchild of celebrated producer Billy Terrell and is comprised of modern, contemporary arrangements from the Billy Strayhorn songbook. The band is built upon the artist roster of Gail Boyd, entertainment lawyer turned manager and mainstay in the world of jazz ...
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135

Performance / Tour

5th Ave Fashion Show Features Trumpeter Mark Rapp's CD

Source: All About Jazz
October 14, 2009

Blanc de Chine, located on New York's prestigious Fifth Avenue, is a high-end fashion retailer whose clothing and accessories rival Armani, Prada, Gucci, Hugo Boss and others. Devotees of this Hong Kong-based fashion house -- including celebrities Tiger Woods, Eva Longoria, Michelle Yeoh, Juliette Binoche, and Chris Tucker -- are attracted to the label for its gorgeous designs, undeniable mystique and sophisticated take on international fashion. At this week's Fall Fashion show, Blanc de Chine has ...
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166

Event

Mark Rapp Group to Play Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew"

Source: Two for the Show Media
September 9, 2009

Paved Earth Music presents a triple bill evening at NY hot-spot DROM culminating in the presentation of Miles Davis' Bitches Brew. Returning to NY for this special evening, PEM recording artist Mark Rapp says, “One of my first demo CDs I recorded in NY, although not directly influenced by Bitches Brew, is directly within it's experimental and ambient vibe; so, I'm very excited to delve into this music and pay homage to the brilliant artist Miles Davis is. In honor ...
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141

Technology

iPhone App for Jazz Trumpeter Mark Rapp: Jazz Industry First!

Source: Michael Ricci
August 12, 2009

Paved Earth Music and theConspiracy, LLC have released a jazz industry first! This is the first iPhone application created specifically for Mark Rapp providing a hip and effective way to communicate directly with fans while providing a unique platform to distribute engaging content. The Mark Rapp iPhone App can be downloaded for free at the iTunes App Store. It features a streaming music player with purchase options; watch latest videos; photo gallery, pulls Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, News feeds and more; ...
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"You should put some time aside and keep your own close watch and listen to what Rapp is doing." - Walter Kolosky, Jazz.com, December 18, 2008

“I think you can uphold jazz ideals, be true to the music and yet still bring the greater public onboard with it,” says jazz trumpet player Mark Rapp who perhaps more than anyone else among today’s trumpeters is breaking down the age old paradigms as to how the trumpet ought to be played in a jazz environment. - Joe Montague, Jazz Writer

This After-Hours set [Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola], with a hot, emerging trio, Mark Rapp on trumpet and didgeridoo (must be seen to be believed)..., plus tonight's special guest, the famed trombonist, Wycliffe Gordon, was a serendipitous and sensational musical adventure. - Dr