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WELCOME
TO MARSHALLMCDONALD.COM!
Last
Updated May 27, 2005
Marshall
McDonald is a current member of The Count Basie Orchestra and
an 8 year veteran of The Lionel Hampton Orchestra, and has played
with Paquito D'Rivera and the United Nation Orchestra, The Charli
Persip Superband, The Illinois Jaquet Big Band and the Chico O'Farrill
Afro-Cuban Orchestra. Marshall is available for clinics, engagements
recordings, and performances. He has performed in concert halls
and venues all over the world. If you would like to hire Marshall
McDonald, or one of his musical groups for a function of any nature,
please contact him via email.
Send
Marshall email
Front
Page News from the Sax
Check out the schedule page for more info!
LATEST NEWS:
On April 23, I had a great gig with Paquito
D'Rivera celebrating Cuban music at NJPAC that was broadcast live
on WBGO 88.3 FM, and streamed live on the internet. A special
tribute was paid to the father of the Cuban trombone, Generoso
Jimenez, 87 years old, and an amazing musician.
Marshall and Cuban legend, Generoso Jimenez
Marshall with trombonist, Steve Turre, April 23 Concert
Just had a nice recording session in Los Angeles
on May 25th & 26th with Basie vocalist alumnus, Jamie Davis,
big band session directed by Shelley Berg, producer Greg Errico
(original drummer and founding member of Sly and the Family Stone),
with the Count Basie rhythm section and recording legend John
Kelson, and the fabulous Lead trumpet of Chuck Findley.
in the studio in Pasadena, California May 26, 2005
The World Famous Count Basie Orchestra has
some fabulous tours coming up this year to Europe and the U.S.
and we will be re-uniting with the great Tony Bennett, be sure
to check the schedule page for info!
John Kelson retired from the Count Basie Orchestra at the end
of January of this year. He will be missed, every job with John
was a learning experience. I have been advanced to the Lead Alto
seat in the Count Basie Orchestra at the beginning of February,
and I am look forward to bringing my style of Lead playing to
the sax section. The great Marshal Royal, definitive Lead Alto
for many years of the Basie Orchestra has been a major influence
on my style of Lead playing. It is my sincerest hope that the
late Marshal Royal would approve of my turn at the helm of his
famous ship.
Special thanks to
Dave Tofani, one of the finest and most knowledgeable woodwind
players in the world, for all of his great help!
You
might want to check this out: Many people are into Home Recording
using their computer today. A good place to find out more information
on that and many other music related subjects is Audiominds.com.
Tell my brother "Mac" hello for me and be sure to visit
his writings on the order of recording.
Keep Swinging!!
at the 2005 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival - Moscow, Idaho
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IN
MEMORY OF
Dr. Alonzo Earl McDonald
1922-2003
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Here's an excerpt from a review about a CD
I recorded on last year:
Settin' the Pace
The George Gee Big Band | GJazz Records
... and now comes the seventeen-piece George Gee
Big Band, Settin' the Pace for those who prefer their jazz on
the contemporary side of the scale with an album devoted to the
compositions and arrangements of former Count Basie stalwart Frank
Foster—and on Gee's own label too!
Even though Gee's band isn't Basie, two of his sidemen—trumpeter
Shawn Edmonds and saxophonist Marshall McDonald—are
members of the current Basie orchestra, and everyone else responds
with alacrity to Foster's ebullient music, producing a remarkably
snug fit. Of course, it's hard to go astray playing anything that
Foster writes, and he gives the band a pretty wide comfort zone
in which to operate. Everyone takes advantage, and the result
is a sharp, consistently swinging slice of contemporary big band
jazz.
~ Jack Bowers
www.allaboutjazz.com
with The Count Basie Orchestra playing Easy Livin' in Connecticut
2004
At the Yonkers
Summer Jazz Series leading my quartet, Don Friedman Dwayne Burno
and Neal Smith(hidden)
with the great
Johnny Griffin in St Gaudens, France
Be
sure to check out the new photo page!
To
contact the Count Basie Orchestra, please visit Count
Basie.com or, countbasieorchestra.com.
Soaking in
the vibes in the US Northwest
We
had a great gig at Carnegie Hall in January 2004 to kick off the
celebration year of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Count
Basie on August 21, 1904. This was the real deal, with the original
Count Basie Orchestra, with long standing members Bill Hughes,
John Williams, Butch Miles, Clarence Banks and James Leary leading
us in a demonstration of what made the Count Basie Orchestra one
of the most celebrated big bands of all time. Lead Alto player
tossed me the Lead book for Nancy Wilson's show, so I ended up
playing Lead Alto at Carnegie Hall backing up the great, Nancy
Wilson.
My
Mom has some health concerns. She is my greatest fan and support.
She bought for me my first Buffet clarinet, my first Selmer alto,
and arranged for clarinet lessons for me with the reknowned Nestor
Koval at Duquesne University. My Mom is a great woman, your prayers
for her would be greatly appreciated.
UPDATE
ON MAMA:
March
25, 2005----My mom is doing very well, and she is thankful for
all of your prayers, she is going strong in her 80's, Praise God!
Grover
Mitchell, leader of the Count Basie Orchestra, died in August
of 2003. Obit
Grover was from Pittsburgh PA, and after meeting
Grover for the first time in 2001, we both dscovered that he was
raised in the same neighborhood as my mother, and remembered her
brothers from High School. I owe Grover for hiring me as a full-time
member in the Count Basie Orchestra. It continues to be a learning
experience, which is making me a stronger and more polished musician.
God bless you Grover.
Bill
Hughes, 54 Year veteran of the Basie Orchestra, has been leading
The Count Basie Orchestra since the end of 2003.
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FIRE
UPDATE
We
survived a major fire in March 2003. One of it's residents, Patrick
Desmond had his digital camera with him on the day of the fire,
check out his website for some chilling pics of this tragedy.
Patrick's website.
Hope
to see you on one of my upcoming performances!
Please check the schedule page regularly!
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