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Marcus Strickland

It has already been an exciting career for Miami-raised soprano and tenor saxophonist Marcus Strickland, who has two releases on Fresh Sound New Talent Records as a leader ("At Last" and "Brotherhood") and currently plays with Dave Douglas, Jeff 'Tain' Watts and Michael Carvin. Strickland also recently ended a five year stint with legendary drummer Roy Haynes. Although the aspiring saxophonist has been on two grammy-nominated recordings in a row (Fountain of Youth - Roy Haynes & Keystone - Dave Douglas), the most intriguing part is that Strickland's career has just begun. This is definitely indicated by his latest venture... Strick Muzik—his own record label. And what could be a better way to launch a label than with an adventurous double CD project featuring two bands of his and appropriately titled with a play on words Twi-Life.

The first disc features his acclaimed quartet with the inventive Robert Glasper on piano, Vicente Archer on bass and his twin brother E.J. Strickland on drums. Marcus' signature-styled compositions serve as a canvas upon which the quartet paints with telepathy and interaction. The second disc is the debut recording of his new Twi-Life Group: Lage Lund on guitar, Brad Jones on electric bass and E.J. Strickland on drums again. The Twi-Life group displays the curious side of Marcus' compositional skills through funk, rock, ska and jungle grooves, while also showin' off the versatility of his twin brother E.J. on the drums. Twi-Life is the most venturous of Marcus' projects yet. The double CD package offers a whole lot of interesting music to the listener, in addition to revealing Marcus' explorative nature. The dedication put forth by Marcus and both of his talented groups, as indicated by the energy of their music, is a labor of love.

In middle school his first band teacher immediately recognized Marcus' talents. Because Strickland started on the alto saxophone at the age of 11 with a deep interest in jazz, his teacher already had him learning Charlie Parker solos by the age of 12. It was not long after that when both Marcus and his equally talented brother decided to pursue a career as jazz musicians. Because of the saxophonist's understanding of music education's importance, Strickland also participates in Jazz Reach—an educational program founded by Hans Schuman that integrates film, narration and live music to educate children about jazz.

He has gained professional & artistic integrity through experiences with Lonnie Plaxico, Nicholas Payton, Tom Harrell, The Carnegie Hall Big Band, The Mingus Band, the Village Vangaurd Band, Milt Jackson Big Band, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra & Reggie Workman's African American Legacy Band.

Jean-Paul Bourelly: Black Lives - From Generation to Generation

Read "Black Lives - From Generation to Generation" reviewed by Vic Albani

by Vic Albani
September 26, 2023

Doppio CD o doppio vinile prodotto in HI-Res e con packaging di lusso dalla Jammin'colorS, agenzia per artisti jazz, world, funk, alternativi, hip-hop, electro e sperimentali nonché etichetta indipendente. Il lavoro che ha pubblicato in tanta pompa magna è un ampio collage di musica nera realizzato da 25 musicisti africani, caraibici e afroamericani guidati dalla visione creativa di Stefany Calembert (compagna del bassista jazz Reggie Washington) e produttrice estemporanea dell'etichetta belga. A tutti è stato chiesto di comporre ...

Album Review

Christian McBride: Prime

by Cary Tenenbaum
April 3, 2023

Prime's opening track, “Head Bedlam," opens with a cacophony of horns playing in a style reminiscent of Sun Ra's Arkestra. This transforms into a quiet, cool riff with bass and drums leading the way, shifting the music into a more accessible groove before returning to the aptly titled bedlam in the track's closing seconds. It is a brave opening to New Jawn's second release because it is not the easiest way to attract the casual jazz listener. ...

Liner Notes

Jimmy Greene: Gifts and Givers

by C. Andrew Hovan
March 12, 2023

The two-tenor battle is not a new idea, with iconic pairings from the jazz pantheon running the gamut from Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray to Eddie Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin. In more recent times, Eric Alexander and Grant Stewart have fueled the fire with their own incendiary adventures as heard on the current albums Wailin' (Criss 1258) and Cookin' (Criss 1283). As with any healthy blowing session, the idea is to keep each player on his toes while pushing ...

Album Review

Christian McBride's New Jawn: Prime

by Mike Jurkovic
March 4, 2023

"Head Bedlam," crashes from the gate with a gale force which instantly gives away the plot of Prime. Put simply, the sophomore release from maverick bassist Christian McBride's New Jawn (Philadelphia slang for something not yet named or created) is a free-form steeplechase. Crying, screeching, testifying, New Jawn trumpeter Josh Evans and saxophonist & bass clarinetist Marcus Strickland blow wild and loud over drummer Nasheet Waits' tumbling manifesto and McBride's deep-rooted thrumbling, to summon forth the ancestors (Ornette Coleman for starters) to jam ...

Album Review

Various Artists: Black Lives - From Generation to Generation

Read "Black Lives - From Generation to Generation" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
May 19, 2022

Indeed, African Americans are the architects of several musical formations, hearkening back to Scott Joplin's development of 'ragged' rhythms i.e., Ragtime, along with blues, funk, jazz, and other genres, often evolving into various tangents and offshoots. And on this comprehensively entertaining set produced by Belgian Stefany Calembert with assistance from her husband and acclaimed bassist Reggie Washington, they righteously bestow Black Music as a “source of moral truth and potent weapon against racism." Numerous stars such as saxophonist ...

Album Review

Marcus Strickland's Twi-Life: Nihil Novi

Read "Nihil Novi" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
April 30, 2016

When you wipe away all of the minutiae and technical matters involved with the recording process, there are really only two schools of thought on the subject: You either aim to capture what's literally there or you choose to produce something that's not. Everything else is semantics and dealing with variants, mixtures, and/or a balance between the two. Those who aim to strictly capture are trying to bottle true-to-life sound, and those who produce prefer to use those sounds as ...

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Live Review

Marcus Strickland at Bohemian Caverns, Washington, D.C.

by David Lighton
May 11, 2010

Marcus Strickland TrioBohemian CavernsWashington, D.C.May 1, 2010

The current stream of tenor saxophonists is often lamented by older generations of musicians and fans alike as decidedly postmodern: producing artifice over art. And while this has been a frequent, and often unfounded critique of the old guard's throughout the history of the music, it perhaps has new resonance today. Technique has reached ever-dazzling heights in the advent of the super-musician. As such, it is not surprising that Chris ...

Event

Upcoming Music Events At Harlem Stage (marcus Strickland, José James, Nona Hendryx, More)

Source: Matt Gross
April 17, 2015

WHEN THE MOON TURNS GREEN: THE MYTH AND MUSIC OF BILLIE HOLIDAY Harlem Stage Gatehouse Tuesday, April 28 Time: 7:30pm Free with RSVP Join us as Dr. Robert O’Meally, author of Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday, Dr. Farah Jasmin Griffin, author of If You Can’t Be Free, Be A Mystery and Dr. John Szwed, author of the forthcoming Billie Holiday: A Musical Biography, explore the mythand music of the ...
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Recording

Recent Listening: Marcus Strickland

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
October 19, 2011

Marcus Strickland, Triumph of the Heavy (SMK). In the liner notes, saxophonist Strickland writes, “Playing for a live audience heightens the adrenaline; you don't have the luxury of correcting mistakes. It puts you on a high wire." The second of the album's two CDs, a club recording, captures his trio's risk-taking and underlines the influence of an audience that truly listens. Strickland, his twin brother E.J. on drums and Ben Williams on bass hold the crowd's attention and seem to ...
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Radio

The Jazz Session #314: Marcus Strickland

Source: AAJ Staff
October 3, 2011

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Recording

Marcus Strickland - Triumph of the Heavy, Volumes 1 and 2 (2011)

Source: Something Else!
September 29, 2011

The story continues. Yesterday saxophonist Marcus Strickland's new, double-disc record Triumph Of The Heavy, Volumes 1 & 2 went on sale, and the narrative of this record begins where the story of his prior one, Idiosyncrasies (2009), left off. On that CD, Strickland dives head first into the tricky balancing act of leading a sax trio, with bassist Ben Williams and drummer E.J. Strickland, his twin brother. He made it even more challenging by not falling back on tried-and-true standards, ...
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Performance / Tour

Saxophonist/Composer Marcus Strickland Celebrates Triumph of the Heavy Volume 1 & 2 at Le Poisson Rouge

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
August 26, 2011

Thursday, September 29, 2011 @ Le Poisson Rouge: Saxophonist/Composer Marcus Strickland's CD Release Party For Triumph of the Heavy Volume 1 & 2 Presented by Autumn Suite and produced by Revive Da Live Featuring: Marcus Strickland (saxophones/compositions), David Bryant (piano), Ben Williams (bass) + E.J. Strickland (drums) Showtime is 6:30 PM, TKTS are $10 ($12 day of show), Tel 212 505 FISH, Le Poisson Rouge is located at 158 Bleecker Street, NYC Marcus Strickland Also Appearing at: The Northampton Jazz ...
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Video / DVD

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Helen Sung, Marcus Strickland and the Metta Quintet

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
October 26, 2008

This week, we've got a grab-bag of videos related to the Metta Quintet, who will be in St. Louis next week to do an educational residency for Jazz St. Louis, culminating in performances at Jazz at the Bistro on Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1. As the the official resident ensemble of JazzReach Performing Arts & Education Association in NYC, the Metta Quintet spends a good deal of time in educational ...
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Performance / Tour

Saxophonist/Composer Marcus Strickland Leads His New Quartet in Performances at Blues Alley and Chris' Jazz Cafe

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
September 2, 2008

Saxophonist/Composer MARCUS STRICKLAND Leads His New Quartet in Performances at Blues Alley in Washington, D.C. on September 24, and at Chris' Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia on September 26 “The jazz-funk of Marcus Strickland's crack Twi-Life Group is a surprise from the saxophonist who, with twin brother and drummer E.J., was once the Marsalis's heir apparent. Indeed Open Reel Deck plants the group firmly onto a continuum with hip-hop. Both funk and hip hop are for dancing and partying, but this ...
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Performance / Tour

Marcus Strickland's CD Release Party - September 18-19 @ The Zinc Bar

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
September 18, 2007

Saxophonist/Composer Marcus Strickland's CD Release Party September 18-19 @ The Zinc Bar Sets at 9 PM, 11 PM & 12:30 AM, 90 West Houston Street, NYC, (corner of La Guardia Place), Greenwich Village, New York City, 10012, tel 212-477-8337 FEATURING Marcus Strickland - t. sax, Lage Lund - gtr, Carlos Henderson - e. bass, E.J. Strickland - drums, Keyon Harrold - trpt, Malachi - spoken word In Celebration of the new Strick ...
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Performance / Tour

CD Release Parties for Marcus Strickland's New Recording "Open Reel Deck"

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
September 4, 2007

Group will be celebrating the release of Open Reel Deck at The Zinc Bar in NYC on September 18th & 19th, and at Twin's Jazz Caf in Washington, D.C. on September 21st & 22nd Strick Muzik Proudly Releases Saxophonist/Composer Marcus Strickland's New Live Recording - Open Reel Deck Recorded Live at The Jazz Standard, April 3, 2007 and available NOW Open Reel Deck features trumpeter Keyon Harrold, spoken word lyricist Malachi, guitarist Mike Moreno, drummer E.J. Strickland & bassist Carlos ...
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Performance / Tour

Marcus Strickland Twi-Life Group at Jazz Standard April 3

Source: Two for the Show Media
March 27, 2007

Saxophonist, Composer, & Bandleader Marcus Strickland will be performing with his Twi-Life Group at The Jazz Standard in NYC on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007.

Two Sets 7:30 PM & 9:30 PM The Jazz Standard 116 East 27th Street New York, NY For More Information (212) 576-2232

Marcus Strickland (sax) Mike Moreno (guitar) Carlos Henderson (electric bass) EJ Strickland (Drums)

With Special Guests Malachi - Spoken Word ...
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