Virginia MacDonald & Todd Marcus Quintet
August 5, 6, 7, 8 @ 8:00 PM

Virginia MacDonald: Clarinet

Todd Marcus: Bass clarinet

Xavier Davis: Piano

Blake Meister: Bass

Eric Kennedy: Drums

Mr. Marcus is probably the most inventive bass clarinetist working in straight-ahead jazz today" - New York Times" [Virginia] is one of the only people I've heard get that completely soulful essence that you get on the saxophone; she gets it on the clarinet. She's got her own voice" Grammy- Award winning trombonist Michael Dease, London Jazz NewsLong considered a fringe instrument within the jazz lineage, Virginia MacDonald and Todd Marcus are bringing the clarinet to the forefront of the music with their unique quintet that features a rare soprano and bass clarinet frontline. The two clarinetists started their musical partnership in 2022, and have since completed several successful tours across Canada and the United States, performing in 20+ cities throughout their short time as collaborators. They have played together at venues such as Smalls, The Baltimore Museum of Art, Takoma Station Tavern, and the Bop Stop, and have performed at multiple festivals across North America, including headlining the 50th anniversary celebration of the International Clarinet Association in Denver in 2023.The rare appearance of the clarinet in a modern, straight-ahead jazz setting has been a point of interest and excitement for audiences listening to the MacDonald-Marcus Quintet. In a 2023 interview with music journalist John Chacona, MacDonald said "I think we both really feel that clarinet in jazz music has been underrepresented even though there are a lot of great players out there. So to bring it to the forefront by having two clarinets in the same band catches a lot of people's attention."Todd and Virginia enjoy playing a mix of their original music and jazz standards together. Their quintet has featured leading voices of jazz including pianists Bruce Barth and Xavier Davis, bassists Ira Coleman and Kris Funn, and drummer Eric Kennedy. With collective decades of musical experience and accolades between them, both Marcus and MacDonald have dedicated followings and a strong presence on the international jazz scene. They are looking forward to further collaborations, including releasing their debut album as co-leaders imminently.Baltimore bass clarinetist, composer, and arranger Todd Marcus is one of the few jazz artists worldwide to focus exclusively on use of the bass clarinet as a solo instrument. While most uses of bass clarinet in jazz typically lean towards avant-garde and free-music styles, Marcus' playing presents the instrument with a modern straight-ahead jazz approach. His music swings hard with both fiery and introspective intensity but also maintains a strong lyrical sensibility.Marcus has presented music for 15 years and along the way received accolades including a Jazz Hero Award from the Jazz Journalists Association in 2017, Maryland's $25,000 Baker prize in 2014, selections as a rising star by national jazz magazine Downbeat annually in its annual critics poll since 2013, an NPR pick for one of the top 10 jazz albums of 2012, and a JazzTimes pick for one of the top 40 albums of 2015.In 2006, Todd released his debut album In Pursuit of the 9th Man with his Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra, and his sophomore album Inheritance was released in 2012 for jazz quartet. He again featured his jazz orchestra with 2015's Blues for Tahrir and a 2018 quintet album On These Streets before the trio album Trio+ in 2019.His work includes international performances, clinics, and radio play and he has worked with other jazz artists such as Gary Bartz, Bennie Maupin, Don Byron, Larry Willis, Odean Pope, Gary Thomas, Joel Frahm, Tim Warfield, Ralph Peterson, Warren Wolf, Sean Jones, Xavier Davis, George Colligan, and Orrin Evans. He was a featured artist in 2017 Jazz Tales Festival in Egypt, 2015 Cairo Jazz Festival in Egypt, and in 2005 at the 1st World Bass Clarinet Convention in Rotterdam, Holland.Juno Award-winning clarinetist Virginia MacDonald has established herself as a rising star of her generation. Known for her lyrical and dynamic approach to the clarinet, Virginia has been described as playing "like a scholar, very refined with plenty of soul" by legendary clarinetist Doreen Ketchens. As a highly in-demand bandleader, sidewoman, and composer, she keeps a regular performance schedule across Canada, the United States, and Europe, and can be found on stage at venues such as Ronnie Scott's, Birdland, Smalls, and Dizzy's Jazz Club. Virginia has performed at jazz festivals globally including the Detroit Jazz Festival, Rochester Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, and Toronto Jazz Festival, to name a few.In 2020, Virginia was selected as the first-prize winner of the International Clarinetist Corona Competition; judges included Anat Cohen, Victor Goines, Ken Peplowski, and Doreen Ketchens.Virginia has recorded and performed with esteemed artists including Kirk Lightsey, Geoffrey Keezer, Ira Coleman, Michael Dease, Dick Oatts, Joe Magnarelli, Harold Mabern, Bruce Barth, and Derrick Gardner. She was featured on Caity Gyorgy's 2022 Juno Award-winning album "Now Pronouncing" and her 2023 Juno Award-winning follow-up "Featuring". She has been a recent and frequent collaborator of Grammy Award-winning trombonist Michael Dease and appeared on his 2023 album "The Other Shoe: The Music of Gregg Hill" and his 2024 release "Found in Space: The Music of Gregg Hill". Virginia has appeared on twenty-plus albums as a sidewoman.Virginia's debut album is set to be released in 2025 on Cellar Live. Comprised of original compositions for quartet, her band features luminaries Geoffrey Keezer on piano and Ira Coleman on bass, along with preeminent voices of the next generation, drummer Curtis Nowosad and vocalist Laura Anglade.