Saturday June 7, 2025

Bass clarinetist/composer Todd Marcus is one of the few jazz artists worldwide to focus their work primarily on the bass clarinet. Though use of bass clarinet in jazz typically leans heavily towards avant-garde and free-jazz styles, Marcus’ straight-ahead playing has carved out a unique voice for the instrument in modern jazz. His music swings hard with both a fiery and introspective intensity but also maintains a strong lyrical sensibility. Marcus’ music also features unique Middle Eastern influences reflecting his work as an Egyptian-American artist. “Mr. Marcus is probably the most inventive bass clarinetist working in straight-ahead jazz today” – New York Times