Marcus Strickland

Marcus Strickland (born 1979 in Gainesville, Florida) is a jazz soprano, alto and tenor saxophonist who grew up in Miami, Florida who currently lives in New York. Down Beat Magazine's Critic's Poll named Marcus 'Rising Star on Tenor Saxophone' in '10 and 'Rising Star on Soprano Saxophone' in '08 and JazzTimes Magazine's Reader's Poll named him 'Best New Artist' in '06, he placed third in the 2002 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition.

The saxophonist also has seven releases as a leader: Triumph of the Heavy, Vol 1 & 2 ('11), Idiosyncrasies ('09), Open Reel Deck ('07), & Twi-Life ('06) on his own music label Strick Muzik (launched in 2006).; Of Song ('09) on Criss Cross Records; Brotherhood ('02) & At Last('01) on Fresh Sound Records.

In addition to his own trio and quartet, Marcus currently plays with Dave Douglas, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, and also had a five-year stint with legendary drummer Roy Haynes. Strickland has been on two Grammy-nominated recordings (Fountain of Youth - Roy Haynes & Keystone - Dave Douglas). He considers his father an early inspiration as he had been a drummer in jazz and rhythm and blues, but is now a lawyer. Marcus' identical twin brother E.J. Strickland is a drummer, and is currently a member of Marcus' quartet and leads his own quintet as well.