Concert Dates: 07/18/08 - 07/19/08
Ticket Cost: Free
Show Time(s): 7/18 6-7pm; 7/19 5-5:20pm
Event Description: Friday, July 18, 6-7pm (one set only)
Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra
Featuring Lyle Link (tenor), Russell Kirk (alto), Issa Lambon (alto), Theljon Allen (trumpet), Darent Polk (trombone), Joel Holmes (piano), Eric Kennedy (drums), Jeff Reed (bass) outdoors at Charles and Lafayette Streets on the Univeristy of Baltimore stage Baltimore, MD 21201
Saturday, July 19, 5-5:20pm (one short set only)
Todd Marcus Quartet
Featuring Eric Kennedy (drums), Joel Holmes (piano), Herman Burney (bass) in the Everyman Theater for live performance in Artscape's Chick Webb competition. 1727 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21201
Artist / Group Bio: Todd Marcus is critically acclaimed for expanding the language of the bass clarinet in jazz. The bass clarinetist and composer is one of the few jazz artists worldwide to focus exclusively on use of the bass clarinet as a primary soloing instrument. Jazz Times contributing journalist David Adler writes, “Marcus…brings a saxophonic rigor to the bass clarinet while also generating enough sonic power to front a nine-piece ensemble…With his melodic imagination and technical aptitude on an unorthodox horn, Marcus has something truly new and personal to offer.”
First exposed to jazz at the age of 20, Marcus made the switch from the more common soprano clarinet to bass clarinet and taught himself the fundamentals of jazz theory. Despite a lack of formal jazz training, he soon began to explore composition and in 2000 began to arrange his work for a larger ensemble that would eventually evolve into the Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra.
The Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra grew out of an interest to combine the broader sounds of a large jazz ensemble with the extended soloing typical of a quartet. The group's instrumentation utilizes a 6-horn front line that includes bass clarinet, alto saxophone/flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, and trombone and uses a 3-piece rhythm section of piano, bass, and drums. Unlike a more traditional approach that allows an ensemble’s leader to play each composition’s melody, Marcus arranges his pieces in multiple movements that attempt to harness the rich array of sounds and textures offered by the band’s full horn section. The instrumentation and the style the compositions enable the ensemble to achieve a uniquely dark and rich texture of sound.
The Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra debut album In Pursuit of the 9th Man (Hipnotic Records) features his compositions as arranged for his band of six horns and a three-piece rhythm section.
You can also visit Todd at http://www.myspace.com/toddmarcusjazz.
Artist's Website: http://www.toddmarcusjazz.com/
Artscape Address: Mt. Royal Ave & Cathedral St, midtown Baltimore & Charles St Baltimore MD 21201 U.S.
About the Venue: The largest free public arts festival in the country, Artscape features 150+ artists, fashion designers and craftspeople; visual art exhibits on and off site, including exhibitions, outdoor sculpture, art cars, photography and the Janet & Walter Sondheim Prize; incredible live concerts on four outdoor stages; a full schedule of performing arts including dance, opera, theater, fashion, film, experimental music and performances by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; family events such as hands-on projects, demonstrations, competitions, children’s entertainers and multiple street theater locations; and a delicious, international menu of food and beverages that is available throughout the festival site.
The festival is held rain or shine; many programs are held inside and/or tented.
Admission to the festival grounds, as well as all the indoor performing arts venues, is FREE and open to the public. Special thanks to our corporate sponsors, grantors and concessionaires who make this possible.
A variety of international menu choices can be found in the festival Food Court, and along Mt. Royal Avenue. Snacks, soda, bottled water, beer and wine are available for sale throughout the event.
Performing Arts Venues
The Main Stage, Saturn Stage, University of Baltimore (UB) Stage, DJ Culture Stage, “The Play’s The Thing” Theater Showcase, Opera, Film, Dance, Fashion at Artscape, Target Family Art Park, Exotic-Hypnotic Experimental Music Festival, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Concerts, Billie Holiday Jazz Vocal Competition, Cab Calloway Jazz Vocal Competition and Street Theater.
Transit Services
Public Transportation is the best way to get to the festival. The State Center Metro Subway Station is just steps away from the festival, and is open until midnight, seven days a week. The closest MTA Bus lines to Artscape are the No. 3, 11, 13, 14 (Sunday only), 19, 21, 27 and 64. The Light Rail stop at University of Baltimore/Mt. Royal Avenue is in the center of Artscape activities, and the Cultural Center stop on Howard Street is adjacent to the
Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Light Rail begins service at 6am on Friday, 7am on Saturday, 11am on Sunday. Some stops may have earlier service, so check the timetable for actual times for your boarding location. Light Rail operates until 11pm Monday-Saturday and the last trains will leave Artscape at 8pm Sunday, July 20. Due to the Warren Road Grade Crossing Rehabilitation Project, service north of Timonium will be provided by shuttle buses. For your convenience, please purchase MTADayPasses or round-trip tickets at the start of your trip to Artscape. All MTA services are accessible for individuals with disabilities. For more information on MTA Bus, Metro, Subway, Light Rail or Mobility service, call 410.539.5000 or toll-free 1.866.RIDE.MTA or TTY 410.539.3497 or visit www.mtamaryland.com.
Paid parking garages are located throughout the festival site including the University of Baltimore Garage on Maryland Avenue at Biddle Street, the Symphony Center Garage at Park and Preston streets, and the Central Parking System lot, located on 21 E. Lanvale Street. The Maryland State Office Parking lots at Eutaw and Preston streets are available with free parking during Artscape weekend.
Phone: 1-877-BALTIMORE
Directions: General Directions to Artscape - The Lyric Opera House sits at the center of the festival at 140 West Mt. Royal Avenue, 21201. This is a good landmark to use for directions; however, keep in mind that the festival street closures will impact traditional driving routes to the Lyric.
General Driving Directions to the Artscape neighborhood:
From Annapolis, Washington, D.C. and the Baltimore Beltway
Take I-95 to the 395 expressway into Baltimore city. Pass M&T Bank Stadium on your left. Bear to the right onto Conway Street. You will be facing the Inner Harbor with Oriole Park at Camden Yards behind you. Make a left onto Charles Street. Take Charles Street 13 blocks north to the corner of Charles Street and Mt. Royal Avenue. The road is closed at Charles Street and Mt. Royal Avenue. The festival runs on Mt. Royal Avenue, Cathedral Street and Charles Street.
From Pennsylvania, northern Baltimore county, etc.
Take 1-83S to the Jones Falls Expressway into Baltimore city, to the St. Paul Street exit. The festival is to the right on Mt. Royal Avenue (the Mt. Royal Avenue and Maryland Avenue JFX exits will be closed due to the festival).
Venue Website: http://www.artscape.org/
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