Marcus Shelby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marcus Shelby
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | February 2, 1966 |
| Origin | Anchorage, Alaska, US |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, bandleader, educator |
| Instruments | Bass |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Labels | Noir Records |
Marcus Shelby is an amazing American bass player, composer, and teacher. He was born on February 2, 1966, in Anchorage, Alaska. He is famous for his big musical pieces for jazz orchestras. Some of his well-known works include Port Chicago and Harriet Tubman.
Since 2001, he has led the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra. He has also played music with many different artists, like Ledisi and Tom Waits. Marcus Shelby has also created music for dance groups and theater shows.
Contents
Marcus Shelby's Early Life and Musical Journey
When Marcus was five years old, his family moved from Memphis, Tennessee, to Sacramento, California. He briefly played the double bass as a teenager. However, he stopped playing music for a while.
In 1988, Marcus went to a Wynton Marsalis concert with his father. This concert really inspired him to start playing music seriously again. He decided to dedicate himself to music once more.
Studying Music and Joining a Band
Marcus moved to Los Angeles and began working with a drummer named Billy Higgins. In 1991, he won the Charles Mingus Scholarship. This scholarship helped him study music at the California Institute of the Arts. There, he learned from great musicians like Billy Higgins, composer James Newton, and Charlie Haden.
From 1991 to 1996, Marcus recorded and toured with a hard bop group called Black/Note. He was known as Mark Shelby during this time.
Moving to San Francisco and Starting New Groups
When Black/Note broke up in 1996, Marcus moved to San Francisco. He wanted to explore new musical styles and grow as an artist. In San Francisco, he started two new groups: the Marcus Shelby Trio and the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra.
Marcus has also been an Artist in Residence at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival. He was also a Composer in Residence at Intersection for the Arts. In 2013, he was chosen to be part of the San Francisco Arts Commission. Marcus is also a long-time teacher at the San Francisco Community Music Center. He has two daughters.
Marcus Shelby's Main Musical Works
Marcus Shelby is known for creating several large musical pieces. These works often tell important stories or explore big ideas.
- 2002: Port Chicago, a 14-part musical piece for jazz orchestra.
- 2007: Harriet Tubman, a musical story for voice and jazz orchestra.
- 2011: Soul of the Movement: Meditations on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a reflection on Dr. King's work.
- 2015: Beyond the Blues: A Prison Oratorio, a musical piece about life in prison.
Marcus Shelby's Music Albums
Marcus Shelby has released many albums throughout his career. Some of these were with his band Black/Note, and others were as a bandleader. He has also played on albums for other artists.
Albums with Black/Note
- 1991: 43rd & Degnan
- 1994: Jungle Music
- 1994: L.A. Underground
- 1996: Nothin' But the Swing
Albums as a Leader
- 1997: Un Faux Pas!, with the Marcus Shelby Trio
- 1998: Midtown Sunset, with Marcus Shelby and the Jazzantiqua Music Ensemble
- 1998: Sophisticate, with the Marcus Shelby Trio
- 2001: The Lights Suite, with the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra
- 2006: Port Chicago, with the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra
- 2008: Harriet Tubman, with the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra
- 2011: Soul of the Movement: Meditations on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra
Albums as a Sideman or Contributor
Marcus Shelby has also played bass or contributed to many albums by other musicians.
- 1994: Judgement, by Robert Stewart
- 1996: Flow, by Faye Carol
- 1998: Mortyfied, by New Morty Show
- 1998: Intimate Strangers, by Marcus Poston
- 2004: Too Good to Be True, by Buford Powers
- 2005: First Pitch Swinging, by Danny Grewen
- 2006: It's a Good Thing, by Jamie Davis
- 2006: Blue Divine, by Tammy Hall
- 2007: The Shotgun Wedding Quintet, by The Shotgun Wedding Quintet
- 2007: The Code, by John Calloway
- 2007: 12 Gates to the City, by Howard Wiley
- 2008: Extraordinary Rendition, by Rupa & the April Fishes
- 2010: On a Day Like This..., by Meklit Hadero
- 2011: Bad as Me, by Tom Waits
Marcus Shelby's Collaborations
Marcus Shelby has worked with many different artists and groups. He often combines music with dance and theater.
- 1993–2006: He was the Musical Director for the Jazz Antiqua Music and Dance Ensemble.
- 1998–2004: He was the Musical Director for the Savage Jazz Dance Company.
- 2014: He worked with the California Shakespeare Theater on The Legacy of Duke Ellington: 50 Years of Swing!.
- 2015: He collaborated with Anna Deavere Smith on Notes from the Field: Doing Time in Education, The California Chapter.
Awards and Recognitions for Marcus Shelby
Marcus Shelby has received many awards and honors for his musical talent and contributions.
- 1991: Charles Mingus Scholarship
- 2000: Meet the Composer residency
- 2000: Creative Work Fund commission
- 2003: Equal Justice Society commission
- 2005: Oakland Ballet commission
- 2006: Fellow, Resident Dialogues Program of the Committee for Black Performing Arts, Stanford University
- 2008: Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Award for Best Original Music Score for Sonny's Blues
- 2009: Black Metropolis Research Consortium Fellowship
