In addition to my work composing original music, I still love arranging jazz standards for my groups and this is a version of the jazz classic Summertime. The arrangement opens with a slow intro before going into a groove feel at 2:29 and features a rare use of a vocalist in my work. Filmed June 16, 2013 at the 14Karat Cabaret Club in Baltimore, MD The Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra Todd Marcus (bass clarinet) Gary Thomas (tenor sax) Brent Birkhead (flute and alto sax) Russell Kirk (alto sax) Alex Norris (trumpet) Alan Ferber (trombone) Alex Brown (piano) Jeff Reed (bass) Eric Kennedy (drums) Irene Jalenti (vocals)

Performing the Todd Marcus original composition Pompeii in 2009 at the Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick, MD. The performance features a gentle introduction before an uptempo theme and solos by Todd Marcus (bass clarinet) and Sean Jones (trumpet).

Blues for Tahrir is an example of one of my more recent fusions of jazz and Middle Eastern music as explained in the project description for my Todd Marcus Quartet. It uses a contemplative feel by the rhythm section and melodies by my clarinet that are composed of different Middle Eastern scales. This recording offers an alternate version of this composition to show how the piece can vary depending on which of my quartet musicians are on the performance. After solos the arrangement introduces a new Middle Eastern inspired melody which in a traditional Middle Eastern setting would be played in unison with other instruments or vocalists. In this setting though, I've assigned chords that fuse this Middle Eastern type theme with jazz harmonies without losing the essence of the Middle Eastern feel. Performed at Bohemian Caverns in December, 2012 in Washington, DC with: Todd Marcus (bass clarinet) George Colligan (piano) Warren Wolf (drums) Eric Wheeler (bass)

Blues for Tahrir is an example of one of my more recent fusions of jazz and Middle Eastern music as explained in the project description for my Todd Marcus Quartet. It uses a contemplative feel by the rhythm section and melodies by my clarinet that are composed of different Middle Eastern scales. The recording features clarinetist Don Byron, one of the pioneers of the clarinet in modern jazz. After solos by myself on bass clarinet and drummer Eric Kennedy, the arrangement introduces a new Middle Eastern inspired melody which in a traditional Middle Eastern setting would be played in unison with other instruments or vocalists. In this setting though, I've assigned chords that fuse this Middle Eastern type theme with jazz harmonies without losing the essence of the Middle Eastern feel. Performed at The MidAtlantic Jazz Festival, 2013 in Rockville, MD, DC with: Todd Marcus (bass clarinet) Don Byron (clarinet) Xavier Davis (piano) Eric Kennedy (drums) Eric Wheeler (bass)

A rare filmed performance of my Todd Marcus Trio. Here the band is playing two compositions by jazz great Bennie Maupin, one of the few horn players to prominently use jazz in modern jazz. Performed at Crème Restaurant in Baltimore, MD on February 2012 with: Todd Marcus (bass clarinet) Joe Bussey (bass) Mike Kuhl (drums) Creme Restaurant Lounge, Baltimore, MD

While much of my composing and arranging over recent years has used more complex harmonies and multiple themes, simpler pretty melodies remain a part of my work and this composition is an example of that. It is very much focused on a pure melody with a solo before introducing an interlude that leads to a second simple but powerful solo section featuring pianist George Colligan. Performed at Bohemian Caverns in December, 2012 in Washington, DC with: Todd Marcus (bass clarinet) George Colligan (piano) Warren Wolf (drums) Eric Wheeler (bass)

My arrangement of the jazz standard Epistrophy by the great pianist Thelonius Monk that features my quartet plus Don Byron, one of the pioneers of the clarinet in modern jazz. Performed at The MidAtlantic Jazz Festival, 2013 in Rockville, MD, DC with: Todd Marcus (bass clarinet) Don Byron (clarinet) Xavier Davis (piano) Eric Kennedy (drums) Eric Wheeler (bass)

An early original composition of mine written in 1999 with a free-jazz introduction, early shades of Middle Eastern themes, and then an in-tempo movement starting at 3:15 that lead into solos. An early example of interest in writing compositions with multiple movements. Performed at Bohemian Caverns in December, 2012 in Washington, DC with: Todd Marcus (bass clarinet) George Colligan (piano) Warren Wolf (drums) Eric Wheeler (bass)

Heartlands is an original composition that incorporates Native America motifs and was inspired during a 2009 cross country trip as I passed through the desert of New Mexico. Filmed June 16, 2013 at the 14Karat Cabaret Club in Baltimore, MD The Todd Marcus Jazz Orchestra Todd Marcus (bass clarinet) Gary Thomas (tenor sax) Brent Birkhead (flute and alto sax) Russell Kirk (alto sax) Alex Norris (trumpet) Alan Ferber (trombone) Alex Brown (piano) Jeff Reed (bass) Eric Kennedy (drums)

My arrangement of the popular jazz standard Bye Bye Blackbird including a solo intro by Marcus. Performed at Bohemian Caverns in December, 2012 in Washington, DC with: Todd Marcus (bass clarinet) George Colligan (piano) Warren Wolf (drums) Eric Wheeler (bass)