"[an] incredible bass clarinet player, arranger, and composer" --- The Urbanite, February 2012 Todd Marcus – bass & soprano clarinets Xavier Davis – piano Eric Wheeler – bass Eric Kennedy – drums  The Todd Marcus Quartet presents the release of its new album “Inheritance” - a straight-ahead jazz recording that features the rare use of Marcus’ bass clarinet as a lead horn.  The music features Marcus’ original compositions, often with Middle Eastern influences, as well as arrangements of jazz standards and departs from more common usages of bass clarinet which tend to heavily lean towards avant-garde and free jazz styles.   "Marcus, a musical autodidact, plays the clarinet and bass clarinet (rarities in the jazz world) with sharp ease.  His tidy but sprawled-out compostions have a similar preternatural comfort about them. As a result his swingin' punchy post-bop often comes off both comforting & challenging." --- CapitalBop, July 2011  "...masterfully performed solos...If you need to get your blood pumping, this [music] will fit the bill." --- Examiner.com, November 26, 2010  "Powerful, intricate jazz flowing through a bass clarinet" --- The B Daily, February 2010  "One of the area's finest jazz musicians." --- Baltimore Times, September 2008  "...a fabulous ear and brain cleaner...Truly refreshing in a world of sameness."--- Linda Yohn, WEMU Music Director, February 2007  "[Marcus'] bass clarinet playing has an original sound, and his arranging has a style of his own…[The band's] energy is awesome and the ensemble has a bright future." --- Jazz Radio 247.com, February 2007  "[T]he Baltimore-based Marcus has fashioned a career on the bass clarinet of blending traditional bebop and swing with some world music touches that make him deserving of wider recognition."  --- Jazzreview.com, October 2005   Todd Marcus (bass clarinet) is one of the few jazz artists worldwide to focus exclusively on use of the bass clarinet as a primary soloing instrument.  He actively leads small ensembles such as the Todd Marcus Quartet, Trio, and Duo as well as his nonet, The Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra.Self taught in jazz theory and composition, Marcus’ compositions draw largely on straight-ahead jazz and classical influences but over recent years have also increasingly explored the Middle-Eastern sounds from his Egyptian-American heritage.  His work includes international performances, clinics, and radio play and he has worked with other jazz artists such as Larry Willis, Don Byron, Odean Pope, Tim Warfield, Sean Jones, Xavier Davis, George Colligan, Orrin Evans, Joel Frahm, Mike Formanek, and Gary Thomas.  Marcus was also a featured guest at the 1st World Bass Clarinet Convention in Rotterdam, Holland where his work was recognized for both his compositions and unique solo voice.  Marcus balances his music career by running Newborn Holistic Ministries, a nonprofit addressing poverty related issues in his Baltimore, Maryland neighborhood. The organization runs an art program providing children and adults with alternatives to drugs and violence in the community, a recovery program for women overcoming drug addiction and homelessness, and has achieved significant community revitalization by renovating abandoned buildings and vacant lots.  Xavier Davis (pianist) has peformed and/or recorded with many of today's great jazz musicians. He started his professional career by working with the legendary vocalist Betty Carter for nearly two years and has since worked and/or recorded Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Fortune, Abbey Lincoln, Joe Lovano, Donald Byrd, Tom Harrell, Regina Carter, Stefon Harris, Bob Berg, Joe Chambers, Gary Bartz, John Faddis, Nat Adderley, Nicholas Payton, Wessell Anderson, Vincent Herring, Antonio Hart, Don Braden, The New Jazz Composer's Octet, Ron Blake, Vanessa Rubin, Nnenna Freelon, Steve Turre, Russell Malone, The New York Voices, Billy Hart, Manhattan Projects and Diahann Carroll, among others. Davis has served as the musical director of the Boy's Choir of Harlem and also played keyboard for the television series "Cosby." When he is not touring, he is writing music for national television commercials as well as an upcoming PBS documentary. Eric Kennedy (drums) - Drummer, percussionist, vocalist, songwriter and educator with more than 20 years of experience in the US and abroad, Eric Kennedy has performed, toured and recorded with jazz legends: Bobby Watson, Curtis Fuller, Larry Willis, Richard Wyands, Gary Bartz, Yusef Salim, Charles Davis and Ronnie Mathews to name a few. Kennedy spent 2003 touring the nation with the 25th anniversary Broadway musical revue “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and in 2004 he won second place in the Billie Holiday Annual Jazz Vocal Competition.  Also in 2004, Kennedy composed solo music and worked and performed with world renowned Deaf dancer and choreographer Yola Rozynek for the  Gallaudet University dance company. As an educator, Eric has taught all ages in the classroom, workshops,  clinics and private lessons. Teaching highlights include the Eubie Blake Cultural Arts Center, Mount Royal Elementary, the Middle School Symphonic Program, the Peabody Conservatory of Music, and the Rytmisk Konservatorium Gastar Musikhogskolan in Malmo, Sweden. Eric Wheeler (bass) - Eric Wheeler is a Washington, DC native and has been studying string bass for 16 years. He began studying classical music at the age of nine at the DC Youth Orchestra Program in Washington, DC. At age thirteen he was accepted into the Duke Ellington School for the Arts, where he began to study jazz music. At Ellington, he had the opportunity to travel to places such as Canada, France, England, and Germany. This greatly influenced Eric to pursue a career in music. While attending Howard University as a music major, he worked professionally in the DC metro area as a jazz and classical musician. Eric received both his Bachelor and Master’s degrees from Howard University as of May 2006. He has performed with notable jazz artist such as Tim Warfield, Cyrus Chestnut, Wallace Roney, Jimmy Heath, Roy Hargrove, Eric Lewis, Stefon Harris, Terell Stafford, Eddie Henderson, and Mickey Roker. Presently, Eric works as a full time musician and educator in the DC metro area. For more info about the artists visit www.toddmarcusjazz.com  Tickets:  $38/General, $33/Baltimore Jazz Alliance members (discount is PER member), $18/Students w valid ID ALL tickets include an elegant dessert, fruit and cheese buffett and soft drinks. ticket link:http://www.jazzway6004.org/products.html