Todd Marcus - Virginia MacDonald Quintet

“Mr. Marcus is probably the most inventive bass clarinetist working in straight-ahead jazz today…[and] lives in Baltimore, where he is a guiding light on the city’s jazz scene who doubles as an activist and organizer.” - The New York Times

“[Virginia] is one of the only people I’ve heard get that completely soulful essence that you get on the saxophone; she gets it on the clarinet. She’s got her own voice.” Grammy Award winning trombonist Michael Dease, London Jazz News

Tickets: $35 (fees not included)

Bass clarinetist/composer Todd Marcus is one of the few jazz artists worldwide to focus their work primarily on the bass clarinet.

Self-taught in jazz theory and composition, Marcus’ compositions draw largely on straight-ahead jazz and classical influences but over recent years have also increasingly explored the Middle Eastern sounds from his Egyptian-American heritage. He has worked with other jazz artists such as Gary Bartz, Bennie Maupin, Don Byron, Larry Willis, and Orrin Evans, among many other others.

Marcus’ performances include national and international touring. He was a featured artist in 2023 at the International Clarinet Association Summit, 2017 Jazz Tales Festival in Egypt, 2015 Cairo Jazz Festival in Egypt, and in 2005 at the 1st World Bass Clarinet Convention in Rotterdam, Holland.

Juno Award-nominated clarinetist Virginia MacDonald has established herself as a rising star of her generation with for her lyrical and soulful clarinet playing. As a highly in-demand bandleader, sidewoman, and composer, Virginia regularly performs across Canada, the United States, and Europe.

Virginia has performed at jazz festivals globally including the Detroit Jazz Festival, Rochester Jazz Festival, Jaipur Jazz & Blues Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival, and Montreal Jazz Festival plus prestigious international venues including Koerner Hall, Ronnie Scott’s, Birdland, Smalls, Le Duc Des Lombards and the International Clarinet Association’s 50th anniversary ClarinetFest.

Todd Marcus Quartet - Virginia MacDonald Quintet
• Todd Marcus - bass clarinet
• Virginia MacDonald - clarinet
• Xavier Davis - piano
• Blake Meister - bass
• Eric Kennedy - drums

https://toddmarcusjazz.com/

https://virginiamacdonald.ca/