Marshall McDonald

Here's a hip interview I did with a beautiful English online music teaching portal, Musical-U, and what better time for remote lessons than now!  Drop me a not and let's do a trial lesson for free, my Learn to Hear, and Play Musically methods, coming out of my classical clarinet studies which led me to Lead Alto of the Count Basie Orchestra for almost 20 years, can help you enjoy and play better.  Different language, no problem, Music is the universal language!

 Inside the Jazz Mind with Marshall McDonald

…

A friend of mine posted a question about the pay level of sports figures and why?  I wrote this answer and I’m sharing it. Most of y’all might not dig it. But..... 

Because predatory capitalism doesn’t care about the needs of the people, the whole concept is built on “capitalizing on each other”, that is whatever the market will pay is fair, not whether it supports our higher good. Thus sports, religion and TV are used to sedate and brainwash the masses and it’s been quite successful turning us from…

AMERICAN CLASSICAL MUSIC (JAZZ) vs EUROPEAN CLASSICAL MUSIC 

I'm always confused why certain people act like Jazz and Classical are different and say, one can only do one or the other.  Same harmony, same 12 notes, same instruments.  Jazz Players borrowed most of what they do from Classical harmonic movement and took it to a new century.  And now it has evolved into a lot of atonal playing, which was an obvious conclusion, but unfortunately when you get there you lose the audience.  People who come hear us…

I'm sorry to announce that Mr. Ibrahim had to withdraw from the Chicago Symphony Hall concert and the 4 nights at the Blue Note New York due to health concerns.  He is doing well and we appreciate your thoughts.

Also since my schedule has changed, I will not be performing with Jim Clark at the Norwalk Library on March 8, but Vincent Herring will be taking my place, so  don't miss a jazz to hear this masterful player up close.  3 PM Norwalk Library, Norwalk, CT.

SKYPE LESSONS, STUDIO LESSONS, AT HOME LESSONS  

All saxophones, clarinet and flute.  ALL LEVELS, email me with any questions!  

LEARN TO HEAR METHOD!  You have to learn to hear, music is about hearing, and jazz is about expressing yourself.   We study patterns and scales to make music, not to impress our friends!  You want to play music that touches people.  I love pop, rock, classical and jazz.  Funk, soul, R & B.  A musician should have an open mind and an open heart.  Music is music.  Respect!  I can…

This is a transcription of an intimate moment with Benny Golson at The Tokyo Blue Note, while he spoke of some of his memories of jazz and Clifford Brown.  Mr. Golson was ailing with a hand injury, just as he finished a tune written by Clifford, he started talking about his memories of Clifford.

Benny Golson speaking.....“That was Clifford Brown, as a composer.  You know, I’m from Philadelphia, back in the states, and years and years ago we used to have our jam sessions on Saturday.  And we were all…

Have a lot of nice things coming up this summer from Tokyo, to New York, to Amsterdam!   Hope to see y'all this summer!

満員御礼☆マーシャル・マクドナルド JAZZプロジェクト＠百瀬食堂 

June 16, 2019 
2019年6月15日、 
土砂降りの強風の中、

 
百瀬食堂は、満員御礼130%!!! 
お越しいただいた皆様、 
お気にかけてくださった皆様、
 

本当にありがとうございました。 
やはり、奴らはすごかった！！！ 
やはり、阿佐ヶ谷が！！！ 

百瀬食堂が、ニューヨークになった！！！ 

みんなの拍手が鳴りやまない。 

今でも心に余韻が響き続けています。 

マーシャルがUPしてくれたyou tubeをここでもシェア！

Visit the Webpage here

On July 7, I'll be playing for a private event at the Whitney Center in Branford CT, a retirement community.  I always like playing there so many of those folks actually saw Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Tommy Dorsey!  It's a blast and I love it.

In the evening I will be at Ayuthai Restaurant in Guilford CT for some small group jazz with Jeff Fuller and David Childs

2279 Boston Post Rd, Guilford, CT 06437

6:30 PM start -  9 PM end

Marshall McDonald Jazz Project 
July 6, 2019 
two sets at 7:30 and 9 pm
Westchester Collaborative Theater 
http://www.wctheater.org 

Marshall McDonald saxophone 
James Weidman piano 
Noriatsu Naraoka bass 
George Coleman drums 

**Mr. Weidman has to suddenly travel out of town for family, and playing piano on July 6 will be David Childs.**

Westchester County based, (Ossining resident!) saxophonist Marshall McDonald, best known for his 20+ years on the Lead Alto chair with The Count Basie Orchestra, brings his…