Feehan Serious Jazz Sundays: Marshall McDonald
Sunday, March 11, 2018 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Our Feehan Serious Jazz Sundays will continue with established Sax, Claret, and Flute player Marshall McDonald.
“Marshall is the only guy I know who has played 4 of the 5 sax chairs in the Basie band, and all 5 of the sax chairs in the Ellington band” — Basie Baritone Sax Veteran John Williams
Light refreshments, and pastries will be offered.
This series is sponsored by the Feehan Insurance Agency: feehaninsurance.com
Feehan Serious Jazz Sundays: Marshall McDonald in the News
About the Event
Whether playing Lead alto with The Count Basie Orchestra in venues all over the world, or playing tenor saxophone with Paquito D’Rivera or baritone saxophone with Abdullah Ibrahim or clarinet solos with The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Marshall McDonald upholds the traditions of Jazz Music created by the jazz masters. A seasoned reedman, having played 30 years in the New York City area, he is well known for his ability to play all of the saxophones and woodwinds.
Marshall was offered the baritone saxophone chair with the great Lionel Hampton in 1991, a position he quickly accepted and toured the world with Lionel, playing jazz festivals and concerts in The United States, Europe, Canada, South America and Asia.
Marshall toured and recorded with Paquito D’Rivera and the United Nation Orchestra on alto, tenor, soprano and baritone for 4 years. During this time he also played alto saxophone with The Illinois Jacquet Big Band, lead alto with The Charli Persip Supersound Band, tenor saxophone with The Bobby Caldwell Band in New York City, and alto saxophone with The Chico O’Farrill Orchestra. Playing with Chico O’Farrill led to a close up in the Pierce Brosnan movie, The Thomas Crown Affair during the famous ballroom dance scene, and participation in the historic jazz movie, Calle 54. In addition, Marshall was asked to play lead alto by Frank Foster and the Loud Minority Big Band.
Marshall has been a full time member of The Count Basie Orchestra for 15 years, the last ten of which has found him holding down the lead alto sax chair famously held by the great Marshal Royal. He first started in the band underneath lead alto player, Danny Turner, and Mr. Turner explained to him, “The style of lead playing in the Basie band was passed down from Marshal Royal to Bobby Plater and then to me.” Marshall had studied the Basie style while in music school at University of Pittsburgh, and now he was getting firsthand knowledge from Danny Turner, Frank Foster, Kenny Hing and John Williams.
Marshall began by playing clarinet at age 10, with his first years of studies on classical clarinet with Principal Clarinetist Thomas Thompson of The Pittsburgh Symphony at Carnegie-Mellon University, continuing with William Balawadjer of Carnegie-Mellon University for 6 years and for 2 years with Paris Conservatory graduate Nestor Koval at Duquesne University.
Marshall has played soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone with the giants of music including Tony Bennett, Milt Jackson, Nina Simone, Freddie Hubbard, Rosemary Clooney, Frank Foster, Frank Wess, Charli Persip, Gerry Mulligan, Pete Christlieb, Diane Schuur, Bill Waltrous, Ronnie Cuber, Illinois Jacquet, Doc Cheatham, Ray Brown, Art Farmer, Hank Jones, Elvin Jones, Patti Austin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bobby Watson, Jon Hendricks, Geri Allen, Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, Frankie Avalon, The Dells, The Temptations, Melba Moore, Wynton Marsalis, Jon Faddis, George Benson, Bob Berg, Paquito D’Rivera, Chico O’Farrill, Steve Turre, Lizz Wright, Jamie Callum, Ledisi and many others.