Marshall McDonald

So.  We go into the studio to record some tracks.  The chart is by Gordon Goodwin.  I need to add some flavor to it, and we need to make it our own.  Playing lead alto, also means playing the saxophone…

I had the privilege of going to the Buffet Showroom New York City, in 2015 and play testing the new alto, and taking it home for two weeks.   I really enjoyed this alto.  It has a dark sound, reminds me…

Basie!  There's a Jazz Club in Japan called Club Basie, Count Basie himself was there every year, and I visited the club while on tour with Basie there almost every year.  A jazz promoter, who got his nickname from The…

So much debate about who is best in jazz. It’s not a sport. But there are some Gifted ones who bring a message. They usually don’t stay long.  Armed with technique and substance, soul and swing, they say, “I can’t…

A Very Swingin’ Basie Christmas! (Concord Records) 

Founded in Kansas City in 1935, the Count Basie Orchestra celebrates its 80th anniversary with the release of its first Christmas album. With delightful assists from guests including the Christmas mainstay Johnny Mathis…

This weeks blog features a player whom I respect highly- Marshall McDonald. This is a player who I would call a master artist who's woodwind and saxophone playing, history speak for themselves. Face it, the street cred Marshall has is…

31.08. – Happy Birthday !!! Whether you heard him playing Lead alto during his 18 year tenure with The Count Basie Orchestra, or playing tenor saxophone with Paquito D’Rivera or baritone saxophone with Abdullah Ibrahim or clarinet solos with The…

Kobe Jazz People

神戸での素晴しいインタビュー。日本のファンが楽しんでくれます。

コピーだけでなく独創性を。 
もっとジャズを楽しもう。 

今回ご紹介するのはMarshall Mcdonald（マーシャル・マクドナルド）さん。あの世界的に有名なビッグバンド「カウントベイシー楽団」のリードアルトサックス奏者です。昨年の山野ビッグ・バンド・ジャズ・コンテストに出展したKOBEjazzブースに遊びに来てくださったことをきっかけに交流が始まり、このインタビューが実現しました。学生や若い人に伝えたいこと、日本のことなど、様々なことを伺いました。

I've been blessed to meet, perform with, hang with some of the greatest musicians in the world. When I was young at University of Pittsburgh in the early 80's I just dreamed of maybe doing a few nice gigs…

Appreciate this time with musical-u.com Inside the Jazz Mind with Marshall McDonald