Photo by Don Berryman

“His improvisations come like a series of ascensions, releases of streaming ideas that accumulate until they plateau, gather themselves, then spout and spiral upward again to the next plateau.” (Thomas Conrad, Jazz Times)

I first heard young tenor/soprano saxophonist Marcus Strickland last year as part of the Roy Haynes Quartet, in St. Paul’s Artists Quarter and then again at the Healdsburg Jazz Festival. Haynes has a gift for identifying new talent, and in Strickland he found a supernova in the making. On March 24^th, Strickland brings a stand-out quartet of his own to the 55 Bar in Greenwich Village. Joining him on the bandstand will be pianist Robert Glasper, bassist Vicente Archer, and drummer Kendrick Scott.

Raised in Miami, Marcus and twin brother (drummer) E.J. Strickland were immersed in music by their father, a former percussionist for the Fort Lauderdale Symphony Orchestra and a jazz enthusiast. When he was 11, Marcus was attracted to the saxophone displayed by his middle school band teacher: “It just looked cool and looked like the most complicated,” he said. Starting on the alto, he received a soprano sax for Christmas at 13, and took up the tenor in high school. In 1997, the Strickland brothers moved to New York as students at the New School Jazz and Contemporary Music program. Soon the brothers were headlining at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center’s “Jazz In Progress” series.

For Marcus, his early work with Roy Haynes and Lonnie Plaxico has provided ideal opportunities for personal artistic development: “Virtually every prolific jazz musician that I listen to, spanning from the 1940's to now, has done at least two recordings with Roy Haynes… His vast knowledge and versatility has profoundly aided in my musical growth." Strickland has gained extensive experience with The Carnegie Hall Big Band, The Mingus Band, the Village Vanguard Orchestra, Tom Harrell Big Band, Milt Jackson Big Band, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Reggie Workman's African American Legacy Band, Eric Reed, Ravi Coltrane, Russell Malone, Freddie Hubbard, Nnenna Freelon, and Robert Hurst. In addition to the Roy Haynes Quartet, he currently works with the E.J. Strickland Project, Lonnie Plaxico Group, and Jeff “Tain” Watts, and participates in Jazz Reach, a program that incorporates live music, film and narration to educate students of all ages about the past, present, and future of jazz.

Strickland recorded his first CD as leader at age 22, after only a short time in New York. At Last (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2001) included pianist Robert Glasper, bassist Brandon Owens and twin brother E.J. on drums. This strong debut was followed in 2003 by Brotherhood (Fresh Sound New Talent) with the same quartet and more heavily emphasizing Strickland’s chops on soprano. Noted Thomas Conrad (Jazz Times), “What is most immediately striking is his tone: liquid and luminous, yet forceful and exact.” Citing the influences of Branford Marsalis, Lucky Thompson, and Steve Lacy, Strickland notes that “I have learned the most from players who approach the soprano as its own instrument rather that just an extension of the tenor."

Vicente Archer grew up in Woodstock, NY, listening to locally-based artists Dave Holland, Jimmy Cobb, and Jack DeJohnette, among many others. At 16 he taught himself to play guitar by listeining to his parents’ Wes Montgomery and George Benson records. Studying jazz at The New England Conservatory (NEC) in Boston, he worked with guitarist Gene Bertoncini, saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, and Latin/Jazz pianist Danilo Perez. After a year at NEC, Archer transferred to Boston's Northeastern University and switched to the acoustic bass. Still in college, Archer was invited to play with saxophonist Donald Harrison and pianist Eric Reed. With a business degree, he moved to New York, playing with Terence Blanchard, Tom Harrell, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Haynes, Geri Allen, Janis Siegel, Kenny Garrett, and The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, among others, and currently works with the Louis Hayes Cannonball Adderley Legacy Band, Mingus Big Band, Stefon Harris, and Nicholas Payton, in addition to Marcus Strickland.

Wrote Ken Hohman (All About Jazz). “If Marcus Strickland's blossoming artistry were judged on his sound alone, he would merit the attention of the jazz community. That he is also a thoughtful composer and galvanizing force for a crack quartet of spirited young musicians are all the more reason to watch his every move. ...” You can watch jazz history in the making on March 24^th in the Village at the 55 Bar. Two sets, at 10 and 11:30 pm, $10 cover.

The 55 Bar is located at 55 Christopher Street just east of Seventh Avenue. See www.55bar.com. For more information about Marcus Strickland, visit www.marcusstrickland.com