After his breakthrough in contemporary jazz circles as the 2009 winner of the Capital Jazz Fest Challenge, Marcus Anderson is embracing every opportunity to perform and inspire fans – and most importantly, as the title of his third and latest CD attests, fully living in the NOW. The multi-talented composer, saxophonist and flutist’s original working title was “Transition,” a nod to the powerful ongoing development of his career and his move toward the top tier of contemporary jazz. Anderson realized that the career he had always dreamed of was indeed happening right NOW, and it’s exciting. With the release of NOW, his third solo CD, Anderson’s goal is to capture the energy from his live shows and make this collection of music his most dynamic, joyful and creative recordings yet.
Anderson, a South Carolina native, is from a large musical family of seven siblings. Growing up, both of his parents sang regularly, but it was his father who introduced him to Jazz, which has become his passion. Aware of his natural talent, his parents nurtured his musicality and he began performing in church with his older brothers. He graduated from Dorman High School in Roebuck, SC and after graduation he continued his jazz studies at North Carolina Central University. There he was a member of the program’s world renowned Jazz Ensemble directed by Dr. Ira Wiggins. He studied with Branford Marsalis and Gospel Saxophonist, Donald Hayes for several years.
His numerous accolades include All-State High School Jazz Ensemble for South Carolina three consecutive years, receiving the Chancellor’s Award three times, and having performed for Hilary Clinton and Jesse Jackson. He was a member of the HBCU All-Star Jazz Ensemble as 1st Tenor Sax for three consecutive years, and he is a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America and Kappa Alpha Psi Fratenity Inc. He was recently nominated and won the North Carolina Gospel Announcers Guild 2011 Prestige Awards for Gospel Jazz Artist of the Year.
On Stage
No one can deny the energy created during a live performance. It’s magical how an artist can connect with the audience and make that moment powerful and memorable. Anderson has an explosive energy on stage, and it shows in all of his live performances, including past high profile appearances at venues such as Jazz Alley in Seattle, the Catalina Island Jazz Trax Festival (where he’s been invited again to play in 2011), Humphrey’s in San Diego, Spaghettini in Seal Beach and the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Panama City, Florida.
Widely recognized for his natural ability to entertain, early on he quickly became a first call sideman, and performed with groups such as Pieces of a Dream and Four 80 East. Marcus has also been invited to perform with or open for Peter White, Boney James, Mike Phillips, Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright, George Duke, Everette Harp, Wynton Marsalis, Alex Bugnon, Nnenna Freelon, Bob Baldwin, Matt Marshak, Ledisi, Jennifer Holiday, Lalah Hathaway and many others. He’s now packing the venues with devout fans who shout for more. “For me, it’s about the crowd”, said Anderson, “I feed off their energy”.
- Anthony Hamilton, opening act for PRINCE
- Catalina Island Jazz Trax Festival - Avalon, CA
- Humphrey’s Backstage Live – San Diego, CA
- Jazz Fest West – San Dimas, CA
- Jazz on the Hill – Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
- Seabreeze Jazz Festival – Panama City Beach, FL
- Genuine Jazz Fest – Copper Mountain, CO
- Jazz Alley w/ Four80East – Seattle, WA
- Anthology – w/ Four80East - San Diego, CA
- Thornton Winery Jazz Series – Temecula, CA
- Spaghettini – Seal Beach, CA
- Capital Jazz Fest Challenge - Washington, DC - 2009 winner
- Capital Jazz Super Cruise - Bahamas
- Blues Alley - Washington, DC – headliner, sold out show
- Carolina Music Theatre - Durham, NC with Ledisi
- The Gardens on El Paseo - Palm Desert, CA
- Rams Head On Stage - Annapolis, MD
- Jazz On The River - Fayetteville, NC
- Christmas with Jennifer Holiday - Carolina Theatre, Durham, NC
- Black Film Fest w/ Malcolm Jamal Warner – Winston-Salem, NC
- Jazz Under the Stars – Nassau, Bahamas
- Carolina Music Fest w/ Mike Phillips & Boney James – Cary, NC
- Downtown Jazz Series w/ Four 80 East & Matt Marshak - Winston-Salem, NC
- Silver Springs Jazz Festival, opened for Winton Marsalis – Silver Springs, MD
- Virginia Beach Jazz Festival – Virginia Beach, VA
- Old Pasadena Jazz Festival w/ Marcus Johnson – Pasadena, CA
Music
Anderson’s newest and third solo CD is a 13-track collection driven by his trademark powerful horn textured melodies, which he composes as if his saxes are singing like vocalists with dynamic, sensual and funky grooves. He also occasionally plays flute, and creates fascinating vocals on covers of Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time” and Smokey Robinson’s “Cruisin’” using the AKAI EWI 4000 and talkbox. The saxophonist vibes on NOW with incredible young musicians like 17-year-old keyboardist Nicholas Cole, bassist Julian Vaughn, as well as the popular Canadian electronic duo Four80East (on “M-Powered”). But it is on the soulful “Together Forever” that he joins vocalist and twin-brother Marcel Anderson to create harmonies reminiscent of the great gospel-jazz group Take 6.
“When I started the album,” Anderson says, “I was thinking I was just making the transition into the next phase of my career. But then I thought about these past two incredible years and realized I was already living that phase Now!”
NOW is expected to debut high on the charts just like his second album From The Heart (2009) did. It drew critical raves and earned strong airplay for both “Karsen’s Song” and “Sparkle City” (written about his hometown of Spartanburg, South Carolina.) The track “Everything’s Clearer” was played regularly on the Cable TV network; Music Choice. His first CD, My Turn, is an upbeat collection of musical moods ranging from bold jazz grooves to romantic ballads. Notable singles from My Turn include the title track, “Waiting For You,” and “That’s The Way It Goes.”
Reviews
“Between the time I wrote my glowing review of Marcus Anderson’s 2009 collection From The Heart and today, I had the privilege of seeing the great indie sax player onstage. Naturally, my expectations were doubly high for his appropriately titled follow-up NOW, and I’m excited to say he delivered! This well produced 13-track set is driven by Anderson’s dynamic and emotionally powerful horn textured melodies (many of which feature him playing any combination of tenor, alto and/or soprano) and colorful in the pocket grooves. NOW is also notable for Anderson’s keen use of the AKAI EWI 4000 and “talkbox” on select tracks. The multi-talented saxman/composer also keeps high profile company, vibing strongly with guitarist Nate Najar, keyboardist Nicholas Cole, bassist Julian Vaughn and, on one of NOW’s most engaging and trippy tracks, the chill electronica flavored “M. Powered”--the Canadian duo Four80East who also produced the track. Urban jazz fans who favor Albright, James and Whalum need to add a little of Marcus’ creatively expansive sunshine to their worlds”. – Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
“Saxophonist Marcus Anderson, a Capitol Jazz Fest Challenge winner who has studied with Branford Marsalis, is a man you want to know if you like your contemporary jazz funky, urban and uplifting. The title track to his third solo CD, NOW, is a bouncy soprano sax tune that’s sure to remind listeners of the best of Kim Waters. Anderson also lays down his burnished, deeper-sounding tenor sax on such tempting originals as “Feeling You” and “M-Powered,” the latter produced, mixed and arranging by the award-winning jazz duo Four80East. Old-school fans will simply dig Anderson’s talkbox talents on classics; Smokey Robinson’s “Crusin’” and Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time.” Add the urban-adult flavor of “Together Forever” with Marcel Anderson’s smooth vocals and Marcus Cole’s smoky vocals on the anthemic “Family Bond,” and you’ve got yourself one the best CDs of 2011”. – Brian Soergel, JazzTimes
“One of the most entertaining, solid and innovative of the newer saxmen, Marcus Anderson riled the crowd and turned the King of Pop Michael Jackson’s “Remember The Time” into a rousing tribute, complete with a touch of the MJ dance and the wearing of the Glove. His use of the EWI was icing on the cake. In fact, he actually made excellent use of that instrument at various points during his magnificent performance. Also noteworthy was his impressive handling of some standard jazz runs during one of R&B vocalist Pam Ward’s performances, proving that he’s more than just another run-of-the-mill smooth jazz sax.” – Ronald Jackson, The Smooth Ride
“Marcus Anderson has to be one of contemporary jazz’s best kept secrets on the circuit. Anderson’s blissful horn and dazzling arrangements coupled with his crowd pleasing performances make him a true gem on the horizon.” – Rachelle Bivens, ABYSSJazz Magazine
www.marcusanderson.net
Social Media
http://www.youtube.com/user/marcusanderson1123
ASSISTANT
Contact
(864) 529-5458 masax29@gmail.com
BOOKING
Steve Butler, Mighty Music Corp.
(718) 815-9447 mightymusiccorp@aim.com
RADIO CONTACT
Dave Kunert, Future Groove Promotion
(630) 236-6990 info@futuregroovepromotion.com
