Hugh Marsh (born June 5, 1955 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian violinist. Marsh received classical violin training between the ages of 5 and 20. In 1978, he was invited by renown jazz musician Moe Koffman to perform with him in a concert series at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. This led to gigs at top Toronto jazz club George's Spahgetti House and to performances with Canadian jazz musicians Marsh had long admired such as Doug Riley,Claude Ranger, Sonny Greenwich and Don Thompson. After meeting Bruce Cockburn in 1979, Cockburn invited Marsh to join his band for recordings and tours. In 1984, Marsh recorded his independent album 'The Bear Walks' which would eventually be distributed by Duke Street Records. He was supported on the album by Doug Riley (keyboards), Peter Cardinali (bass, production), and Michael Brecker (tenor sax). The album sold well and was distributed by Verabra Records in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 1986. Marsh recorded his follow-up album in 1987. 'Shaking The Pumpkin' featured Bruce Cockburn (on "How The Violin Was Born"), Dalbello (on "Rules Are Made To Be Broken") and singer Robert Palmer on a version of Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze". Marsh's collaboration with Robert Palmer on "Purple Haze" became a radio hit in Canada and the United States. Since 1990 Marsh has recorded and toured with Celtic songstress Loreena Mckennitt , spanning six multi platinum albums and numerous world tours. Beginning in 1998 he began a long term musical association with Turkish Sufi DJ Mercan Dede which has spawned three albums and many touring projects.This connection has also allowed Hugh the pleasure of playing with such great Turkish artists as Ihsan Ozgen ,Kani Karaca , Goksel Baktagir and Ozcan Deniz . In 2000 Marsh performed with former Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy on his international Just For Love tour, which resulted in the album Alive Just for Love. It is a live recording of the fully uninterrupted set from the El Rey show in Los Angeles on November 30, the same year. This was followed by the studio album "Dust" and a subsequent north American tour. Marsh has been increasingly involved in the film score world in Los Angeles.His ongoing working relationship with composer Harry Gregson Williams has led to Marsh's distinctive sound being used on the films "Armageddon", "Whatever Happened to Harold Smith", "Spy Game","Sinbad,Legend of the Seven Seas","The Rundown", "Veronica Guerin", "Man on Fire", "Shrek 2","Return to Sender", "Domino","Kingdom of Heaven" "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Seraphim Falls". Hugh has also had the pleasure of working with Hans Zimmer on the scores for "Tears of the Sun" and "The Da Vinci Code". In 2004 Marsh joined clarinet visionary Don Byron's new quartet "Swiftboat" which also features Kermit Driscoll on bass and Pheeroan Aklaff on drums. Marsh is currently touring as part of trumpeter Jon Hassell's new quartet which also features bassist Peter Freeman and percussionist Steve Shehan. Marsh's new recording "Hugmars" is slated for a November 2006 release. Hugh is a four time winner of the Jazz Report award for violinist of the year and a three time recipient of the National Jazz award for violinist of the year."Hugmars" has recently been nominated for a 2007 Juno Award in the best contemporary jazz category. Marsh is known for his unique electric violin sound. He is the brother of musician Fergus Marsh.
External links
Discography
Singles
- 1984 Versace/Znefu For Y'all (Duke Street/WEA)
- 1987 Purple Haze (Duke Street/WEA), with Robert Palmer
- 1989 Purple Haze re-issue (Soundwings - US), with Robert Palmer
Albums
- 1984 The Bear Walks (Duke Street/WEA)
- 1987 Shaking The Pumpkin (Duke Street/WEA)
- 1989 Shaking The Pumpkin re-issue (Soundwings - US)
Compilations/Other 1996 cut on 'Sweet Relief II' compilation 1997 cut on 'Carols of Christmas, Vol. 2' compilation
Collaborations
- with Peter Murphy
"Alive Just for Love","Dust"
- with Bruce Cockburn
"Humans","Inner City Front","Christmas","Waiting for a Miracle", "You've Never Seen Everything","Big Circumstance","Mummy Dust", "World of Wonders".
- with Loreena McKennitt
"The Visit","The Book of Secrets","A Winter Garden", "The Mask and Mirror","Live in Paris and Toronto", "An Ancient Muse".
- with The Barenaked Ladies
"Born on a Pirate Ship"
- with Brian Hughes
"Straight to You"
- with Alannah Myles
"Arrival","Alannah"
- with Steve Bell
- with Mary Margaret O'Hara
"Miss America,"Christmas EP"
- with Raffi
"Evergreen,Everblue"
- with Brooks Williams
"Knife Edge","seven Sisters"
- with Roberto Occhipinti
"Trinacria","The Cusp"
- with The Henrys
"Joyous Porous","Puerto Angel"
- with Mercan Dede
"Seyhatname","Nar","Su","Nefes".
- with Nick Buzz
"Circo"
- with Montuno Police
"Touch", "The Call", "Nomads"
- with The MRC Trio
"Tribal Dance","That Magic Thread"
- with Random Access
"Random Access 3,"No Soap Radio", "Accidental Beef".
- with Hans Zimmer
"Tears of the Sun", "The Da Vinci Code"
"Armageddon", "Whatever Happened to Harold Smith?", "Spy Game", "Veronica Guerin", "The Rundown", "Shrek 2", "Return to Sender", "Kingdom of Heaven", "Man on Fire", "The Chronicles of Narnia", "Seraphim Falls", "Deja Vu" and "The Number 23".
