Marshall McDonald

One of the first musicians that I met about 8 years ago when I started spending a lot of time in Japan was Makihiko Araki. He's a brilliantly talented musician, influenced by Prince and others, and was signed to the…

My father was a Professor of Oral Surgery at University of Pittsburgh Dental School.

Pitt Mag Article

Oral History 

The chief dental officer for the U.S. Army shares some of the wisdom he learned at Pitt. 

Written by Adam Reger 

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The New Testament Basie Band had "swagger'.   They had a walk, and the talk,  they had the groove of life. They knew they were bad ass, and top of the heap.  And the man who guided that and bred it…

We lost Barry Harris just recently, he lived a rich and full life of dignity, a true Jazz Warrior.  I always noticed that Barry sung things to his students.  I just had a long talk with Dr. Nelson Harrison and…

I studied Bird by listening to his playing, and reading books about him. Charlie Parker is the most important musician of the last 80 years, he changed music across the musical spectrum. Rhythm & Blues came from jazz, and the…

I was doing a Zoom lesson with a student about playing over There Will Never Be Another You. I was teaching the idea of playing a simple phrase, then running the Licks he had been shedding. Simple. Then Practice. Simple…

So.  We go into the studio to record some tracks.  This one is a Grammy Nominated track for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals, Clint Holmes vocals featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater.  Arrangement by Gordon Goodwin.  I need to add some flavor…

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…