Leicester saxophonist pushes musical boundaries with his second album
Marcus Joseph's 'Beyond the Dome' moves between a range of genres, from spiritual jazz to hip-hop.
Pictured above: Marcus Joseph
Submitted by Leicester Jazz House
A Leicester jazz musician has recently released his sophomore album, in which he explores themes of personal and external limitation.
Alto saxophonist, Marcus Joseph, has titled his album,' Beyond The Dome'. He says he uses his music to explore what binds us to who and where we are and the transcendence of perceived obstacles.
The album moves between a host of genres, from spiritual jazz to hip-hop. 'Puzzle Paradigm' echoes jazz predecessor, Pharoah Sanders.
Marcus says the energetic, 'Challenge Day', which features contemporary luminaries, Sheila Maurice-Grey, Nathaniel Cross, Tony Kofi, and Theon Cross, evokes a dynamic sense of pushing through. Joseph also acts as MC on the hip-hop inspired, 'Morning Affirmations'.
Hailing from Leicester and of Afro-Caribbean descent, classically trained Joseph started playing clarinet at the age of seven.
He originally gained airplay on BBC 1Xtra as a hip-hop DJ and MC. He was inspired to pick up the saxophone and study jazz at universities in Leeds, London, and New Orleans.
Never one to be bound by location, he spent a period of time living in Barcelona. Having supported such artists as Oscar Jerome, Blue Lab Beats, and the legendary Blackbyrds, he has also appeared at the Love Supreme and We Out Here festivals.
Beyond The Dome has been released on the 'Jazz re:freshed' label, which has been at the forefront of raising the profile of some of the UK's best young jazz musicians and contributing to the celebrated UK jazz revolution in recent years.
The Jazz re:freshed philosophy of challenging preconceptions about jazz, gels perfectly with Joseph's concept of thinking outside the box and beyond the dome.
For more information, please visit Marcus' website here.
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