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Biography
Michael Marcus (August 25, 1952) is an American jazz clarinetist and multi-woodwind player - A clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone; also tenor, baritone, bass, C melody, and straight alto (stritch), and saxello saxophones, composer and arranger.
Michael Marcus has been an active member of the New York jazz scene for over twenty five years. Professionnal debuts with blues bands in the 1970’s (Albert King, Bobby Blue Bland w/Mel Brown). In the 1980’s and 1990’s becomes a prominent figure on the “free jazz” scene with the likes of Sonny Simmons, Jaki Byard, Frank Lowe, Philip Wilson, Jemeel Moondoc, Denis Charles, Makanda Ken McIntyre…while always staying connected to the tradition! Since releasing his debut recording as a leader, Under The Wire for Enja in 1991, he has continued to be part of the cutting edge in American improvised music, touring the festival and club circuits both in the US and Europe, as well as appearing on over thirty records (mostly as a leader) for Soul Note, Justin’ Time, Not Two, Boxholder, CIMP ..Michael (in 1997-8) had the pleasure to record & tour with the late great Mr. Jaki Byard!.....He is extremely active in the 2000’s. Co-leading the “Cosmosamatics” with Sonny Simmons (8 albums and numerous tours of Europe), the new decade has seen the release of important archival material with “Ithem” for Ayler records, a 1993 date with bassist William Parker and the late Denis Charles, and of his first highly acclaimed unaccompanied recording “Speakin’ Out” (Drimala, 2002). Besides the Cosmosamatics, one of his regular groups includes Nasheet Waits and/or Jay Rosen w/ Tarus Mateen-with these two trios, he cut two important recordings for SoulNote-”Blue Reality” & “Soulifications”. Some of his current projects are “Duology”, an innovative duo of brass and Bb clarinet where he joins forces with brassman Ted Daniel-2008 will see their second release on the SoulNote label-”Golden Atoms”!-and also “Michael Marcus & Magic Door”, a new and flexible group who will defend Michael’s latest release for Not Two, “The Magic Door”, touring with both groups in the US and in Europe. His collaborators with the Magic Door group are Jay Rosen, Aaron James, Daniel Levin, François Grillot, Radu Williams-some of the rising stars in the current scene. Michael is now focusing on his recordings & performances with the Bb clarinet, an interesting departure from the sax family… While Michael continues to grow into new visions in the new millenium, he is now also presenting his music in the format of the traditional quartet/quintet of- “Clarinet-piano-bass-drums & percussion”, keeping a flame alive!
