Biography
Born in 1979, jazz saxophonist Marcus Strickland is a charter member of the 21st century jazz vanguard. Similar to the torrent of artists that appeared on the jazz landscape in the early ’80s to pull jazz out of the grasp of the Fusion Era, Strickland, his identical twin brother E.J. Strickland (drummer), and artists such as Jeremy Pelt and Robert Glasper breathed new life into jazz early in the new millennium. During a five-year stint with venerable drummer Roy Haynes, Strickland released two albums on the Fresh Sound New Talent label. At Last was released in 2001, followed by Brotherhood in 2003. Both albums featured precocious peers (Pelt, Glasper, bassist Brandon Owens) playing a lyrical, fiery, contemporary jazz. For the next three years, Strickland toured with artists such as Jeff “Tain” Watts and Haynes and Dave Douglass, while also holding down dates with his own band. In 2006, he independently released Twi-Life, an adventurous double-album on his own label, Strick Muzik. The album received much critical praise and proclaimed him “Best New Artist” in the JazzTimes Readers’ Poll. In 2007, the Twi-Life Group released a live album entitled Open Reel Deck on Strick Muzik. The album featured Lage Lund on guitar, Carlos Henderson on electric bass, and E.J. Strickland on drums, as well as trumpeter Keyon Harrold, the hip-hop-tinged poetry of Malachi, and one track with pianist Jon Cowherd. The album displayed the curious side of Strickland’s compositional skills through funk, hip-hop, Afro-beat, rock, ska, and jungle grooves. Strickland was voted “Rising Star, Soprano Saxophone” in Downbeat Magazine’s 2008 Critic’s Poll. He released two albums in 2009 — Of Song on the Criss Cross label and Idiosyncrasies on his label under the new name of SMK. Of Song, with brother E.J., Ben Williams, and David Bryant was a more straight-ahead set, whereas Idiosyncracies featured Strickland’s increasingly daring compositions. Throughout his career, Strickland has worked with a variety of artists, including Mos Def, Nicholas Payton, Christian McBride, and the Charles Tolliver Big Band, Tom Harrell, among others. ~ Vincent Thomas
Releases
People of the Sun - Marcus Strickland
Our Point Of View - Blue Note All-Stars
Nihil Novi - Marcus Strickland
Revive Music Presents: Supreme Sonacy
Videos
MARCUS STRICKLAND’S TWI-LIFE “ALIVE” FT. JEAN BAYLOR
Marcus Strickland’s Twi-Life “Nihil Novi” (album trailer)
Blue Note Records 75th Anniversary Presents: Our Point of View
SPOTLIGHT
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MARCUS STRICKLAND TRACES THE AFRICAN DIASPORA ON “PEOPLE OF THE SUN”
When last we heard from Brooklyn composer-saxophonist Marcus Strickland, on 2016's Nihil Novi, he was testing his mettle at hip-hop-inspired production, blending genres with a little help from album producer Meshell Ndegeocello. In the process, something big happened: "I was no longer concerned about what is or isn't jazz," he says. "I got rid of those barriers and was like, 'Well, who the fuck... read more
BLUE NOTE ALL-STARS POINT FORWARD ON “OUR POINT OF VIEW”
Jazz as an art form is a lifelong work in progress. While in some camps the music of past masters represents the genre’s heralded Golden Age, others disagree, noting that there are artists in the present day with fresh original voices and their own point of view who are forging ahead with their imaginative visions for where the music is excitedly heading. Certainly steeped in the tradition,... read more
MARCUS STRICKLAND DRAWS UPON A WORLD OF MUSIC ON “NIHIL NOVI”
“People have to be careful when they call something new,” says saxophonist and composer Marcus Strickland. “I think about what’s around me instead of trying to create something new. Everything is inspired by something else. Ecclesiastes says: ‘There’s nothing new under the sun.’” Marcus may wax philosophical when he gets talking about his remarkable Blue Note/Revive debut Nihil... read more
REVIVE MUSIC PRESENTS: SUPREME SONACY
“Sonacy” is the undefined, unexplained derivative of sound - a melodic experience without conformity or the neat packaging of category. Much too expansive to explain, it just is. Born from a collision of sound and matter, it is the place where musical performance elevates to a transformative spiritual experience. Pushing past earthly conventions and into the unknown, sonacy alludes to the... read more
News
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“BLUE NOTE RECORDS: BEYOND THE NOTES” GETS SEPT. 6 DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASE + MORE U.S. THEATRICAL OPENINGS
Following acclaimed theatrical runs in New York and Los Angeles, Mira Film and Eagle Vision have announced a September 6th DVD, Blu-ray, and digital release for the award-winning documentary Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes – directed by Sophie Huber. The feature documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival... read more
“BLUE NOTE RECORDS: BEYOND THE NOTES” SET FOR THEATRICAL OPENINGS IN NY (6/14) & LA (6/28)
Mira Film and Eagle Rock Entertainment have announced the start of the US theatrical rollout for the award-winning documentary Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes – directed by Sophie Huber. The feature documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2018, has played at over 50 international film festivals,... read more
MARCUS STRICKLAND RELEASES NEW SINGLE “ON MY MIND” FEAT. BILAL, PHAROAHE MONCH & GREG TATE
On November 9, Brooklyn composer-saxophonist Marcus Strickland will release his thrilling new LP People of the Sun via Blue Note/Revive Music. The second single “On My Mind” is out today — on the track Bilal and Pharoahe Monch explore infatuation and romantic love, while modern griot Greg Tate speaks on a... read more
MARCUS STRICKLAND ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM “PEOPLE OF THE SUN” OUT NOV. 9
On November 9th, Brooklyn composer-saxophonist Marcus Strickland will release his thrilling new LP People of the Sun via Blue Note/Revive Music. The first track "Timing" is out now, which pairs Mitch Henry's shimmering organ with an astral trap beat. Kyle Miles' low end burbling along with Charles Haynes' rapid-fire... read more
