Marcus Strickland is an American jazz soprano, alto, and tenor saxophonist who grew up in Miami, FL. Down Beat magazine’s Critics’ Poll named him ‘Rising Star on Tenor Saxophone’ in 2010 and ‘Rising Star on Soprano Saxophone’ in 2008. JazzTimes magazine’s Reader’s Poll named him ‘Best New Artist’ in 2006, and he placed third in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition in 2002. His band and concept project, Twi-Life, deals with the connection and intersection between jazz, soul and hip-hop as inspired by the J Dilla aesthetic of intricacy, “drunk drumming” and tonal nuance. He has nine releases as a leader: “People of the Sun” (2018), “Nihil Novi” (2016) on Blue Note Records; “Triumph of the Heavy, Vol 1 & 2” (2011), “Idiosyncrasies” (2009), “Open Reel Deck” (2007), & “Twi-Life” (2006) on his own music label Strick Muzik (launched in 2006); “Of Song” (2009) on Criss Cross Records; and “Brotherhood” (2002) & “At Last” (2001) on Fresh Sound Records.
Marcus Strickland
