Austin-born inspiration and guru, trumpeter Martin Banks is a stellar figure in the Austin jazz scene. Let's get his credentials out of the way first: he's played with the bands of Count Bassie, Earl Bostic, James Brown, Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, Maynard Ferguson, Frank Foster, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, B.B. King, Lloyd Price, Sun Ra, and Gerald Wilson. He's worked and recorded with David "Fathead" Newman, Frank Weiss, Ernie Royal, Ray Charles, King Curtis, Freddie King, Hank Crawford, Snooky Young, Edgar Wills, Milt Turner, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Benny Powell, Marty Paich, John Hunt, Freddie Hubbard, Cornell Dupree, Willie Bridges, Tina Marsh and the Creative Opportunity Orchestra, and Long John Hunter.

He was in the Broadway orchestra for Hair and The First. His music is in the films Box Office, Cotton Comes to Harlem,"Notorious Landlady and Target of the Corruptors. Now based in Austin again, he plays with the Austin Jazz Workshop, The Creative Opportunity Orchestra, the Jazz Pharoahs, and anywhere else with a jazz gig happening.

He has mentored Alex Coke, Elias Haslanger, Carl Settles, Harold McMillan, Tina Marsh, Randy Zimmerman, Rich Harney and many others. Tina Marsh, of the Creative Opportunity Orchestra, calls him "a sage in the band." Banks' father and uncle played with John Coltrane in the late 30s and 40s. At the age of four, Banks picked up his first trumpet and over the years he continued to play and focus on east coast jazz while mastering the flugelhorn as well.

Banks passed away in 2004. For more information, visit prevattrecords.com.