jazz orchestra background & bios

Based in Baltimore, The Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra is a nonet comprised of 6 horns ( bass clarinet, alto saxophone/flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, trombone) along with piano, bass, and drums.   

Through the group's instrumentation, compositions, and arrangements, the ensemble achieves a uniquely dark and rich texture of sound.  The music often incorporates jazz with other influences from classical to middle-eastern themes but always swings hard and features strong solos from of each member in the ensemble.  Throughout however, the group swings hard and showcases the strongly individualized soloing of each member in the ensemble.

Todd Marcus - bass clarinetist and composer

Based in Baltimore, bass clarinetist and composer Todd Marcus 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.”   He actively leads both the Todd Marcus Quartet and his large ensemble, The Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra.  Self taught in jazz theory and composition, Marcus' work has been performed by jazz musicians such as Greg Osby, Gary Thomas, Michael Formanek, Howard Curtis, and Ingred Jensen.   His work also includes international performances, clinics, and radio play.  He was recently 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

Theljon James Allen - trumpet

A native of Baltimore, Theljon James Allen began playing trumpet at the age of 12 and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts and Randallstown High School.  He has attended Baltimore’s Peabody Conservatory and Philadelphia’s University of the Arts.  Allen regularly performs for many groups between Philadelphia and Washington D.C. including Cirius B and has also performed with Cyrus Chestnut, Tim Warfield, and others. 

Reginald Cyntje - trombone

Raised on the island of St. Thomas, Reginald Cyntje absorbed the sounds of calypso, reggae, and other African influenced music which now give his trombone playing a personal approach to jazz.  In 1993 he began to study jazz trombone at the Berklee Colleg of Music and performed with well-know artists such as Roy Hargrove, Bill Pierce, Phil Wilson, and Bobby McFerrin.  An accomplished bandleader of his own, he leads The Reginald Cyntje Group and has performed and/or recorded with Ron Blake, Heman Burney, Marc Cary, Buck Hill, Illinois Jacquet, Rene' McLean, Larry Willis, Rueben Rogers, Nasar Abadey, Ron Jackson, Wayne Andre, George Botts, Michael Bowie, James King, Bruce Williams, Charlie Youngs, New Life Jazz Orchestra, Dion Parson, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and others.

Originally from Northern Virginia, Joel Holmes moved to Baltimore to attend the Baltimore School For The Arts and later Peabody Conservatory where he graduated in 2005.   Holmes has studied with jazz luminaries Bobby McFerrin and Roy Hargrove and  performed with  artists including Gary Thomas, Ingrid Jensen, Sam Rivers, Greg Osby, and Don Braden.  Holmes has also performed with R&B groups such as the Persians, The Manhattans, and the Temptations.  His own band, The Joel Holmes Trio, recently released its debut CD entitled Eternal Vision.

A graduate of the prestigious Peabody Conservatory, saxophonist Russell Kirk is regularly heard throughout Baltimore and Washington DC in various musical styles and as a featured soloist with the George Clinton Parliament Funkadelic.  A Baltimore native, Kirk was a recent artist in residence at the John F. Kennedy Center under the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program and has performed at the Milford Jazz Festival with saxophonist Gary Thomas and bassist Micheal Formanek as well as the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival where he opened for Herbie Hancock.  His debut album Black and White was recently released.

A drummer, percussionist, vocalist, composer, and educator for more than 20 years, Eric Kennedy has performed, toured and recorded with Curtis Fuller, Richard Wyands, Gary Bartz, Yusef Salim, Charles Davis and Ronnie Mathews to name a few.  Kennedy recently toured with the 25^th anniversary Broadway musical revue “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and in 2004 he won second place in the Billie Holiday Annual Jazz Vocal Competition.  Kennedy also recently 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, Kennedy has taught all ages in the classroom, workshops,  clinics and private lessons ranging from Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory of Music to the Rytmisk Konservatorium Gastar Musikhogskolan in Malmo, Sweden.

Issa Lambson - alto saxophone

A graduate of Baltimore's school for the Arts, alto saxophonist Issa Lambson has performed with musicians such as Clark Terry, Terence Blanchard, Tim Warfield, Cece Winans, and Richard Smallwood.  As a soloist Lambson's playing has been recognized with a best soloist award at the 2001 Villanoca Jazz Festival and his current efforts lay in presenting his original compositions. 

A native of the Washington, DC area, alto saxophonist and flutist Lyle Link has studied at the University of MD, College Park and the University of the District of Columbia.  Primarily an alto saxophonist, he also performs on tenor, soprano, baritone, and clarinet.  A strong soloist on all horns, he can be heard on recordings of Washington, DC pianists Allyn Johnson, Wayne Willentz, and trombonist/arranger Bobby Felder.   Link has featured his original compositions and arrangements with the group while also working on a quartet CD project under his own name.

Following acceptance at Towson University in 1996 as a trombone major, Jeff Alan Reed began his study of jazz but soon switched to the electric bass. He later transitioned to the acoustic bass which he studied with Victor Dvoskin.  Reed had already been playing professionally upon graduating from Towson in 2002 with a Bachelor of Music degree. While playing regularly with many groups in the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area, Jeff has also performed with musicians Gary Thomas, John Hicks, Billy Hart, Antonio Hart, Paquito D'Rivera, Ronnie Matthews, Ron Blake, George Colligan, Mark Gross, Ethel Ennis, Tommy Williams, and Alex Norris and has studied with Eric Revis, Curtis Lundy, and Michael Formanek.