Marcus McLaurine

summer workshop faculty
bass

Composer, leader and sideman, Marcus McLaurine has become one of the most sought-after bassists in jazz, sharing bandstands with Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Burrell, James Moody, Lou Donaldson, Dame Cleo Laine, Joe Williams, Jon Hendricks, Abbey Lincoln, and the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones. Marcus was a stalwart member of Clark Terry’s quintet, whose band he was with from 1981 until Terry’s passing.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Marcus studied music at the University of Nebraska, then moved to Los Angeles to further his musical ambitions. In 1976 Marcus entered the Air Force as a member of the 590th Air Force band and after his four-year stint in the military moved to New York City, where he has lived for the past 36 years. In addition to his work as a leader and first-call sideman, Marcus is focusing on his burgeoning career as a composer, writing both jazz and contemporary pieces.

Marcus has been an adjunct professor at William Paterson University for the past nineteen years. He teaches acoustic and electric bass, focusing on a broad repertoire including classic standards, bebop and more progressive styles to prepare his students to be able to compete on a professional level.