A native of the South Bronx, RAY VEGA is a veteran of the bands of Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Mongo Santamaria, Mario Bauza, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Hector LaVoe, Johnny Pacheco, Larry Harlow, Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez and Louie Ramirez to name a few. Ray has performed and/or recorded with Joe Henderson, Lionel Hampton, Mel Torme, Paquito D'Rivera, Arturo Sandoval, The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Israel Lopez "Cachao", Las Leyendas De La Fania, Pete Escovedo, The Chico O'Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, The Lincoln Center Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Paul Simon, John Santos and The Machete Ensemble, Jose Jose, Sheila E., Yomo Toro, Michel Camilo, Kirk Franklin, Marco Antonio Muniz, Eddie Palmieri, La Orquesta Sinfonica De Simon Bolivar, Sandro De Las Americas, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Bebo Valdez, and Celia Cruz, among numerous others. Ray currently works with the renowned Comtemporary Classical composer Osvaldo Golijov, performing first and solo trumpet in the critically acclaimed work; "La Pasion Segun San Marco". Ray has now established himself as one of the innovators of the international Jazz and Latin music scenes. A multi-talented trumpeter, percussionist, composer, and arranger, he presents Jazz from a refreshingly original and contemporary perspective. His two recordings on the Concord Picante label, his self-titled debut "Ray Vega", and "Boperation", along with his 1st release on the Palmetto label "Pa'lante"have been well received by critics, audiences and musicians alike. Vega's 2nd Palmetto CD "Squeeze, Squeeze" has also received critical acclaim including Four Stars in Down Beat Magazine. Vega grew up immersed in the heart of two vibrant New York City music scenes: Jazz and Salsa. In addition to learning about these two musical styles with some of the great legends, he received his formal training studying trumpet with Sydney Baker, Henry Nowak, Mike Lawrence, Stan Shafran, Laurie Frink, Richard Brezowski and Jerry Gonzalez. He studied Jazz harmony and improvisation with Susan Winder, Bobby Rogovin and Lonnie Hillyer. Vega studied Afro-Caribbean percussion with Luis Bauzo. Vega attended The Long Island University Brooklyn Center is a graduate of the legendary High School of Music and Art. The Ray Vega Latin Jazz Quintet presents fiery Latin Jazz from a Nuyorican perspective, while his quartet focuses on straight ahead swinging Jazz. A much in-demand musician, he has performed with Mongo Santamaria with whom he recorded numerous CD's, Mario Bauza's Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra, including their first-ever European tour, and Ray Barretto and the New World Spirit. Vega was privileged to record three projects with this landmark group including the Grammy nominated "Taboo" and "Contact". It w as during his time with Barretto that Vega was called upon to join the Tito Puente Latin Jazz Orchestra as lead trumpeter. Vega recorded with Puente's Orchestra many times over including the Grammy winning "Mambo Birdland", "Dancemania '99" and "Obra Maestra".

Jazz trumpeter, composer and producer Thomas Marriott is a veteran of the national jazz scene who’s earned eight Golden Ear awards, produced 13 albums as a leader for Origin Records, and toured with greats like Maynard Ferguson and Roy McCurdy, as well as contemporary jazz artists like Orrin Evans and Joe Locke.
The 1999 winner of the Carmine Caruso Jazz Trumpet Competition, Marriott is a true but subtle innovator with a luxuriously round tone, a unique sense of spontaneous and poignant melody, and a penchant for melancholic compositions that evoke an introspective mood. Marriott’s undeniable talent and versatility is the culmination of years of performance with some of the most well-respected names in music. On the heels of his win of the Carmine Caruso Jazz Trumpet Competition, Marriott moved to New York City where he gained unparalleled experience and national acclaim subbing with groups like the Tito Puente Orchestra, Chico O’Farrill Orchestra, and most notably, Maynard Ferguson’s Big Bop Nouveau Band—whom he joined for three world tours as a jazz soloist. Since, Marriott has continued to work on the road and in the studio with a range of artists such as Mike Clark, Rosemary Clooney, Ivan Neville, Eric Reed, Stix Hooper, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Liv Warfield, Steve Wilson, Charlie Hunter, Brian Lynch, Deltron 3030, Michael Feinstein, and many more. Marriott returned to his native Seattle in 2004 and has since released 13 albums for Origin Records, three of which made the top-ten on national jazz radio airplay charts, including the 2009 release East-West Trumpet Summit, which made it all the way to number one. Marriott’s music has also been featured on NPR’s “Morning Edition” and has gained critical praise world-wide, including the 2010 release Constraints and Liberations which garnered 4 ½ stars in Downbeat Magazine. Alongside his profound experience on-stage and in the studio, Marriott also works in the local jazz community as a catalyst and advocate. Marriott has served on the Board of Governors of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences and the Board of Directors of Earshot Jazz, produced albums for artists like saxophonist Hadley Caliman and trumpeter Ray Vega, and was a featured soloist with Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra for twenty seasons. In 2021 Marriott founded Seattle Jazz Fellowship, a 501(c)3 non-profit arts organization with goals of building the local jazz community, increasing mentorship and lowering barrier to access the music as a performer and listener.