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marcus cummins

British saxophonist Marcus Cummins has been associated with the UK jazz and improvised music scene since the early 90's

About Me

British saxophonist Marcus Cummins has been associated with the UK jazz and improvised music scene since the early 90's. He has worked extensively as a solo artist, in duo's and larger bands but is perhaps best known internationally for his involvement in Trevor Watts' 'Celebration Band'.

Born in 1970, London, he spent his teenage years playing music in fusion and ska bands. Then came the aural revelation of jazz, notably saxophonists John Coltrane and Lol Coxhill, and the innovative music coming out of the British avant jazz scene at that time. At the age of 18 he joined the afro - jazz band 'The Hamptons' who he performed with in bars, universities and clubs around London and the south of England. Cummins then studied music formally at Leeds City College of Music and Dartington College of Arts. During this time studying primarily jazz and Indian music (with the council of many masters such as Bobby Wellins; Evan Parker; Paul Dunmall and Dharambir Singh) he developed a personal style unlike that of any of his contemporaries. Cummins has always gravitated towards the idea of musical freedom but continues to fit perfectly into more conventional line ups and in fact thrives from working (albeit subversively) within more traditional musical structures. Consequently he has performed in a wide variety of arenas from traditional jazz clubs such as Ronnie Scotts, London to more 'improvised' music festivals such as 'Edgefest', Ann Arbor, Mitchigan.

From 1999 to 2005 Marcus Cummins played and toured throughout Europe, Canada and America with Trevor Watts' jazz, folk and African infused 'Celebration Band' and the London based singer / songwriter Rosie Brown. The Celebration Band CD is in the 2011 Penguin guide as amongst the best 1001 CDs ever. Cummins has performed on radio and television, won awards, bursaries and commissions and worked for the British Arts Council and the BBC. He currently lives and works in NYC continuing to collaborate with improviser and band leader Jeffrey Hayden Shurdut; as part of Nivedita Shivraj’s ‘Charanams’ – performing compositions blending carnatic and jazz styles; and as a member of ‘Arki’ - playing Ethiopian music. As well as working with many musicians in America, Cummins continues to work with long time musical associates from Canada and Europe such as the jazz group 'snow cycle' based in Rome.