Todd Marcus: Introspective Modern Jazz, at the Arts Barn June 7th
By Cindy Majane
Baltimore-based jazz musician, composer, and arranger Todd Marcus uniquely focuses on bass clarinet. His modern, straight-ahead approach incorporates elements of Middle Eastern music and stories about the neighborhood where he lives and works. The New York Times noted that, “Mr. Marcus is probably the most inventive bass clarinetist working in straight-ahead jazz today.”
He started his musical journey learning to play piano at the age of six. “My mom made sure that my brother and I had music lessons… Later on, when I got into jazz and learned about theory and harmony, it was a huge, important foundation.” He picked up clarinet at the age of 10, playing classical repertoire in school and all-state bands. His school jazz band, however, rejected the clarinet-player, saying saxophones were the allowed reed instruments.
When Marcus moved to Baltimore in 1994 to study political science at Loyola University, he was accepted into the school’s big band. He began to study jazz with the help of friends and borrowed jazz records of artists like Oscar Peterson, Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane. “When I was first getting into jazz, somebody was trying to help me with chords and scales… You have to put dedicated time in, over a period of time, for it to make sense and sink in. It’s like learning another language.”
While at Loyola, Marcus volunteered in west Baltimore’s Sandtown-Winchester community. He was mentored by Rev. C.W. Harris about the African-American community’s rich legacy of the arts and jazz, as well as the fight to end segregation and decades of poverty after the 1960s riots. He felt a deep need to engage in community-based revitalization and left college to do community work by day and study jazz at night.
About that time, Marcus heard the work of jazz legend Eric Dolphy and made the switch from clarinet to bass clarinet, charting new territory for the instrument. Returning to school at Rutgers University in 1998 to complete his degree in urban studies, he auditioned into the music department’s jazz combos, getting his first experience performing in quartets and trios, as well as composing.
Once back in Baltimore, he continued to work with Rev. Harris, where they run Intersection of Change, a nonprofit addressing poverty related issues and injustice in the community. His musical career also expanded as he performed with his Todd Marcus Quintet, Quartet, Trio and Duo, and even a nonet The Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra. His music includes regular performances in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, as well as international performances, clinics, and radio play. The pandemic gave Marcus, an Egyptian-American, time to focus on incorporating more Middle Eastern influences in his music, especially improvisation.
“It’s always been this duality, these two parts of my life; and sometimes people will ask, ‘If you could just do music full time, is that your dream?’ For me, they’re both crucial parts of my life. I’d be lost without one or the other… As artists, we can become a little self-indulgent, because music, so much of it, is kind of insular. It’s all part of the whole for me. Perspective is so important! In this day and age, with all the social media stuff, we’re glued to our phones – it’s easy to be lost in that world. Whatever it is that you’re passionate about or see a need for, be engaged in something.”
For his June 7th concert at the Arts Barn, Marcus will include music incorporating Middle Eastern influences and some reflective of his community work. “There’s an album that I did a couple years back called On These Streets: A Baltimore Story that was a way to talk about elements of my community. We’ll tackle some of that material as well. Those things that are unique about the work that I do – the Middle Eastern side, the community side – will be on display.”
“My music has allowed me to try to create some beauty that hopefully unites people across all races through the power of music.”
Todd Marcus: Introspective Modern Jazz
Featuring Todd Marcus – bass clarinet, Allyn Johnson – piano, Blake Meister – bass, and Eric Kennedy – drums.
Arts Barn
June 7, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: https://gburg.md/3QE3Ajc
