Steeped in the traditions of jazz and the blues, he possesses an expansive musical vocabulary that allow him to move deftly across genres. As a testament to his versatility, he’s played with artists that include Jerry Gonzalez, the Impressions, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Cecil McBee, Tito Puente, Carlie Persip’s Supersound, Vanessa Rubin, and the Apollo Theater Showtime Band.
He’s toured and recorded with the late Mario Bauza, Joseph Bowie’s Defunkt, Willie Colon, and the Sugar Hill Jazz Quartet, among other, throughout Europe, Japan and the United States. His compositions and arrangements are featured on the brilliant trilogy of albums recorded by Bauza’s legendary Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, one of which (“944 Columbus”) was nominated for a Grammy award. As an arranger, his gifts have been enjoyed by the thousands of listeners who’ve heard of the Afro-Latin Orchestra at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Marcus received his musical education in the clubs of New York City and Chicago. He attended the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, Illinois, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree.
In his role as leader, Marcus has just released a new CD, “Uptown Suite.” It features original compositions that capture Harlem in its many musical tones and colors, from the blues, “Stoney Island,” paying homage to his Chicago roots, to the Latin-jazz-waltz “Mineret.”
PERFORMANCES
- Mario Bauza and his Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra
- Arthur Blythe
- Joseph Bowie and Defunkt
- Willie Colon and Legal Alien
- Def Jam Soul Singers Tour featuring Oran “Juice” Jones
- Dizzy Gillespie
- Jerry Gonzalez
- Manny Oquendo’s Libre
- Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions
- Cecil McBee
- Chico O’ Farrill
- Tito Puente
- Max Roach and the Sacred Drums
- David Sanchez
- Bobby Watson
- Charli Persip
- James Carter
