Jazz Masters Series: Marshall McDonald

Catch Marshall McDonald and his band at WCT on July 6th.

Whether you heard him playing Lead alto during his 18 year tenure with The Count Basie Orchestra, or playing tenor saxophone with Paquito D’Rivera or baritone saxophone with Abdullah Ibrahim or clarinet solos with The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Marshall keeps the swing and dance that he learned in his hometown of Pittsburgh, at the heartbeat of his playing.    A seasoned reedman, having played over 30 years in the New York City area, he is known for his ability to play all of the saxophones and woodwinds, with a unique approach to each one.

Marshall was offered the baritone saxophone chair with the great Lionel Hampton on New Year’s Eve 1990 which included special guest Nina Simone.   Lionel learned that Marshall played clarinet, alto and tenor, and soon had him playing clarinet solos on Flying Home, Brand New Baby and Memories of You, and rotated him between alto in the big band, to tenor sax in the small group.  This led to a 10 year stint with Mr. Hampton,  learning from the master, and playing jazz festivals and concerts all over the world.  Marshall was honored to play in the Lionel Hampton Orchestra along with Wynton Marsalis, Illinois Jacquet, and Cyrus Chestnut at the Royal Jazz funeral for the maestro, capped off by a tearful speech of Mr. Hampton’s lifelong friend, President George H. Bush.

 Marshall also toured and recorded with Paquito D’Rivera and the United Nation Orchestra starting on alto and soprano and moving to tenor and baritone for 6 years.   Marshall plays baritone sax on the Paquito D’Rivera album Tropicana Nights  which won a GRAMMY for Best Latin Recording in the year 2000.  Frank Foster, Leader of the Count Basie Orchestra heard Marshall a few times in New York City bands, and Mr. Foster called upon him to fill Kenny Hing’s solo tenor sax chair as a sub in 1994, which began an over 20 year relationship with the famous Orchestra.  Mr Foster also gave Marshall a stint on the Lead alto chair in his own Big Band, The Loud Minority.   During this time he also played 2nd alto with The Illinois Jacquet Big Band, Lead alto with The Charli Persip Supersound Band, tenor saxophone with The Bobby Caldwell Band, and 2nd alto, clarinet and flute 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