Called by
The Oregonian "...a fine
pianist with an ear for avant-garde-leaning melodic
sensibilities..." pianist and composer Marcus Reynolds has
begun to make his mark on contemporary jazz as a solo
pianist, leader of his own groups and as co-leader of the
Farnell Newton-Marcus Reynolds Quartet. His high energy
live performances are notable for his angular, rhythmic
playing and dedication to presenting original music and
contemporary, unique treatments of the standard jazz
repertoire. Influenced by modern pianistic figures such as
Herbie Hancock, Bud Powell, and Fred Hersch, Marcus is also
informed as a composer by European 20th Century classical
harmony and the Afro-Caribbean rhythmic tradition. Marcus
has opened for jazz giants Betty Carter and Mel Torme in
festival settings, and has performed with singers ranging
from Michigan vocalist Sunny Wilkinson to cabaret artist
Lorna Luft. He is a graduate of Western Michigan University
where he majored in Classical Piano Perfomance and Jazz
Studies (with Dr. Stephen Zegree), and also studied
composition with C. Curtis-Smith and Richard Adams. He
often performs in duo with his wife (jazz vocalist Jessica
Schultz) at such venues as the Heathman Hotel in Portland,
Oregon. In addition to performing, Marcus maintains a
private piano teaching studio in West Linn, Oregon where he
advocates a healthy, tension free approach to playing the
instrument.
