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! + Since releasing his debut recording as a leader, Under the Wire for Enja Records in 1991, he has appeared on over thirty-five records for Soul Note, Justin' Time, Not Two, Boxholder, Ayler, Drimala, CIMP and Qwest/Warner. He has composed over 125 original/recorded compositions. Marcus was a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Individual Artist Grant. Marcus' first professional gigs were with Albert King and Bobby "Blue" Bland. Michael has recorded and toured with the Saxemble (Frank Lowe & James Carter) and with the great Mr. Jaki Byard. With Sonny Simmons, he is the co-leader of The Cosmosamatics with 9 recordings and multiple domestic and international tours. Michael performed in a duo context with master drum legend Edgar Bateman. Marcus and Ted Daniel comprise Duology, which has collaborated with Andrew Cyrille. Michael continues to record and tour with his own group. He has performed/recorded with: Albert King (w/Harold Attyberry, Oliver Johnson), Bobby Blue Bland (w/Mel Brown, Wayne Bennett & Morris Atchison), Sonny Simmons, Jaki Byard Trio, Rahn Burton, Billy Higgins, Carlos "Patato" Valdes, Ted Daniel, Henry Grimes, Nasheet Waits, Tarus Mateen, Jymie Merritt, Alvin Fielder, Chris Parker, Oliver Truchot, Warren Smith. Vince Wallace, Fred Hopkins, Philip Wilson, "Bishop" Norman Williams, B.J. PAPA, John Handy, Clifford Barbaro, Masa Kamaguchi, Bob Cunningham, Roy Campbell, Steve Neil, Eddie Henderson, Larry Hancock, Joe LaBarbra, Jay Rosen, Mel Graves, Charles & Cody Moffett, Chris Sullivan, Reggie Nicholson, Carlos Ward, Aaron James, Radu Williams, Matt Brewer, Big Joe Turner, Hill Greene, Butch Morris, Christian Ravaglioli, Jerry McKinney, Charlie Kohlhase, Drori Mondlak, Itaru Oki, Makoto Sato, Erich Hunt, Tim Price, Muziki Roberson, Carlton Holmes, Aruan Ortiz, Keith Saunders, Sam Dockery, Dwayne Burno, Mark Helias, Juni Booth, Eric Zinman, Eric Revis, Richard Clements, Herbie Lewis, Joe Bonner, Sid Simmons, Taru Alexander, Andrew Cyrille, Roswell Rudd, Rashaan Carter, Antoine Roney, Daniel Levin, Francois Grillot, Eric McPherson, John Bacon Jr., Greg Piontek, Vincent Chancey, Henry Threadgill, Luther Thomas, Bob Arkin, Tom Bruno, Art Lewis, Peter Herbert, Emil Ram, John Patton, Scott Colley, Curtis Lundy, Bob Feldman, Xavier Davis, Gene Jackson, Darrel Green, Emanuel Harrold, Reggie Workman, Tyler Mitchell, Sonny Rhodes, Donald Smith, Eddie Gladden, Dominic Duval, Cecil Wells, Newman T. Baker, Georg Wolf, Bruce Edwards, Sadiq Abdushahid, Chris Amberger, Grant Levin, Don Alberts, Kiane Zawadi & Gary Strauss. Also, with Makanda Ken McIntyre Ensemble, Grachan Moncur's Big Band, Zane Massey's "Liberation Suite", Jemeel Moondoc's JUS GREW Orchestra (w/Steve Swell, Bern Nix, Chad Taylor, Gerald Cleaver, N. Breedlove & Tyronne Hill), Joe Bowie's Defunkt and the Saxemble (w/ Frank Lowe, James Carter & Cindy Blackman) - (2005), performing in a duet with drum great, Edgar Bateman and many more great artists. 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" w/Sonny Simmons (touring & recording) - the Cosmosamatics have released eight CDs. Mr. Marcus has seen the release of "Ithem" for Ayler Records - a 1993 date with William Parker and Denis Charles, his first unaccompanied recording "Speakin' Out"(Drimala, 2002). He also cut two trio recordings for SoulNote Records "Blue Reality" and "Soulifications"(w/Tarus Mateen & Jay Rosen or w/Nasheet Waits). Current projects are: "Duology", an innovative duo of brass and Bb clarinet where he joins forces with Ted Daniel on their new release "Duology/Andrew Cyrille" 2012 on Jazzwerkstatt! Duology "Golden Atoms" on SoulNote (2008), also "Michael Marcus & Magic Door", a new and flexible group representing Michael's release for Not Two, "The Magic Door". Michael is currently focusing on his recordings and performances with the Bb clarinet, exclusively. 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! This group in includes: Jessie Crawford, John Austria, Charlie Taylor, amongst the members. Michael's newest release is now also out on Not Two Records "Lotus Symphony"(www.nottwo.com-Nov.2008) w/Taru Alexander, John Austria, Rashaan Carter, Radu Ben Judah, Jay Rosen & special guest: Antoine Roney! (2009) Jazz clarinetist: Michael Marcus latest NYC performances have included - Alan Jay Palmer, Rashaan Carter, Russell Carter, Dezron Douglas, Francois Grillot, David Bryant, Denton Darien, Benito Gonzalez & trumpeter Lenwood "Woody" Turner, performing his latest compositions in his quartet! 2010 -The Cosmosamatics tour! 2011: Michael's newest release on NotTwo - "For Yes!" Achievements of notice: In June 1995, he participated in the first Roland Kirk Memorial at The Cooler, NYC, playing solo. One of the last individuals to receive a performance grant from the NEA (National Endowment of the Arts), he composed the string arrangements to his original music. These compositions were performed for the first time with a string quartet in November 1998 during a concert at the University of Memphis, as part of a Southern US tour and again in September 1999 at New York City's Museum Of Modern Art. In 2005 he has had the exceptional reward performing with the legendary drum master Edgar Bateman in a "duo" context. In 2005 he also performed in England at the "On The Outside Festival" (w/Elton Dean, Paul Rutherford, Joe Morris & Alan Silva). Complete discography, here: http://www.michaelmarcusmusic.com/ Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.