Marcus Wyatt

Wyatt was introduced to music, mostly folk and blues, at a young age as his father was chairman of the local folk club. He was introduced to the trumpet at age eleven and started playing in his school band where he learnt to read and play. He studied classical music and played with orchestras in the Port Elizabeth area. He was called up to the South African Defence Force's Naval Band for National Service and during this time he developed his love for jazz. He furthered his music studies at the University of Cape Town's College of Music. He completed a degree majoring in composition and arrangement. In 2001, Wyatt spent a year living in Amsterdam, during this time he met and played with Clarence Beckton, Eric Calmes, Fra Fra Sound, Monica Akihary, Paul Stocker and Bug Band, Sean Bergin, Tzetzepi Band and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Marcus Wyatt & The ZAR Orchestra won Best Jazz Album at the 22nd South African Music Awards, held in eThekwini on 4 June 2016. The album One Life In The Sun featured some of the best of South Africa's young jazz talent, including the 2016 Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year winner, vocalist and trombonist, Siya Makuzeni. All the tracks on the double CD were Wyatt's compositions or co-compositions, some with Makuzeni.