The Lenny Marcus Trio, bolstered by Afro Cuban percussion, guitar, sax and flutes, creates a wonderful compilation of music with “Gloria’s Step.” 

The album starts off fittingly with an original song, Bartolomeo, the first name of B. Cristofori, inventor of the piano!  Next comes the title track, a nice & easy version of the Bill Evans/Scott La Faro masterpiece, followed by Morning Has Broken. From there, the trio and collaborating musicians begin to delve deeper into Marcus’s original tracks, McCoy Tyner Themes, and even Beethoven lines & classical influences. From playful tunes, to swinging jazz, to straight out bluesy and mainstream jazz, to the hauntingly beautiful Song For The Full Moon, this album runs the gamut.  

Gloria’s Step is elegant, swinging, moving fun!

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JAZZTIMES Magazine described the Lenny Marcus Trio’s music as “infectious”- and you will certainly catch the jazz bug with this music! The album includes Lenny’s tune “Mocha”, a fast latin romp in 7/4 time, then a moving “Ode To McCoy” paying homage to the great pianist McCoy Tyner along with a brilliant new composition called “Seven Heavens,” also in the odd 7 meter. The trio of Lenny Marcus on piano, Rick Eckberg on bass and Larry Scott on drums, is bolstered by Afro-Cuban percussionist Vladimir Espinosa and a riveting horn section with Tom Artwick on sax and flute, Ken Hitchcock on tenor, and Chris Magee playing trumpet and flugelhorn. The group takes us through an eclectic mix of original tunes, Beethoven-flavored themes, and jazz standards. From exciting high energy tracks, to playful, to highly emotional and melodic, to bluesy and funky grooves, this music swings!

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A blend of classical music and the rhythmic density and richness of jazz!, Marcus’s innovative jazz piano trio bolstered by sax/flute and afro-cuban percussion to create a clever and joyous mix of Joplin, Cole Porter, Rodgers, Hammerstein, and Beethoven!

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This clever album mixes the infectious jazz style of Marcus’ trio with the motifs and masterpieces of Ludwig Van Beethoven. What you get is a uniquely creative album that is a joy to listen to! 

Peace For Beethoven is actually a continuation of the trio’s The Jazz Of Beethoven album, which received rave reviews from both JAZZ TIMES and CADENCE magazines, as well as many appreciative audiences. 

Pianist Lenny Marcus, bassist Rick Eckberg, and drummer Larry Scott are joined by Cuban percussionist Vladimir Espinosa to give their jazz take on some famous Beethoven classics, from respectful, to meditative, to just plain fun arrangements. Marcus also introduces some of his original compositions inspired by the great Master, such as Two Hundred Stars, Never A Stranger, and the title track of the album, Peace For Beethoven. This album yet again showcases the trio’s innovative jazz explorations into the classical realm.

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TONK, A Ray Bryant Tribute, follows Lenny Marcus Trio and Friends’ first tribute to Bryant called “SUN RAY,” which came out in April 2012 and quickly climbed up the top fifty jazz charts in the USA and Canada. SUN RAY made it all the way to #4 by June 2012 and was also listed #9 by JAZZ TIMES contributor Owen Cordle as one of the top jazz albums in 2012. Now, one year later comes TONK, another loving and joyous tribute to jazz master Bryant, Marcus’s piano teacher, mentor, and his Dad’s best friend. Bryant passed away in June 2011. 

In TONK, pianist Lenny Marcus, bassist Rick Eckberg, and drummer Larry Scott are joined by saxophonist Tom Artwick and percussionist Vladimir Espinosa. The musicians explore more of Ray’s compositions such as Slow Freight, Tonk, Up Above the Rock, a new take on Cubano Chant, among others. TONK also features songs Bryant loved to play, such as the St. Louis Blues, C Jam Blues, and Old Devil Moon, and includes some Marcus originals, Blues Song For Ray, Break Tune in G, and Swamp Boogie. The Lenny Marcus Trio showcased TONK at Blues Alley in D.C. in January 2013 and “brought the house down” as Ray used to do at that same venue for decades. This album, in a word, swings!

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Distant Dream is both moving and compelling; Marcus mixes modern jazz, blues, and funk, to a more meditative approach, interwoven with elements of latin, afro cuban, classical music. Marcus has a unique way of “putting it all together.” From Groove’s Bag (a take off on the jazz standard, Bag’s Groove) to the lyrical This Is Not Goodbye, from the humorous Seven Ate Nine to the contemplative For My Friend (composed by Marcus for his mentor and late jazz piano great Ray Bryant), this CD is both wide-ranging and soul-fulfilling.

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“Sun Ray” is a tribute to one of my first piano teachers, my mentor, my friend, legendary jazz pianist Ray Bryant, who passed away in June, 2011. Actually, Ray was much more than that, he was part of my family, my Dad’s best friend. He used to laugh and call me his “nephew” as I ran around the house as a little kid, showing me how to play chords on the piano with both hands, and how to develop a strong powerful left hand to compliment the right. He showed me some of his unique jazz and blues changes, the way to thicken jazz chords to get that “Ray Bryant sound.” My Dad would say, “You know why Ray is great? It’s because whenever you hear him play, you know it’s HIM.” 

I am delighted to dedicate this album to Ray Bryant, from his first song “Minor Trouble,” to “Gotta Travel On,” the famous “Cubano Chant,” and many others, mixed with some originals. “Sun Ray” was written for him and “Downside Up” is sort of a reverse melody of his famous “Threesome.” “Little Susie” is for both him and my Mom, whose name happens to be Suzie (she loved to joke that this song was written especially for her). 

There will never be another pianist quite like Ray Bryant. “Sun Ray” is for him, and for all of us who will never forget his wonderful music. It’s blues. It’s jazz. It swings!

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This unique music brings many classical and jazz influences together in the setting of Beethoven masterpieces, with afro-cuban rhythyms, modal elements, Marcus' innovative interpretations, refreshing, original, and uplifting Jazz of Beethoven!

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An eclectic mix of funk, jazz, blues, shuffles, all the wonderful beats and grooves that came from Marcus' experience playing music down in the deep South. Featuring many of Marcus' funky originals and contemporary jazz pieces and New Orleans music.

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An eclectic mix of driving jazz, haunting melodies, afro-cuban and american jazz rhythms, New Orleans jazz and blues grooves, and refreshing original songs that have a sound all their own. JAZZ TIMES magazine calls this group's jazz style "infectious!"

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This Holiday album swings! Interweaving traditional holiday songs with Christmas Charlie Brown music and selected works of Beethoven, Marcus has created a musical mix that is pure "Comfort and Joy!" Sure to warm the heart all year long.

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A compilation of some of Marcus's finest jazz compositions, brought to life by beautiful flute and lyrical sax, three fine jazz bassists, the sensitive drumming of L Scott, and Marcus' cool jazz piano style, plus vocal on Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927."

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An intriguing album, departing from Marcus' usual jazz mold and instead using an eclectic mixture of both classical and jazz influences to create this beautiful ambient "soundtrack" music, using acoustic grand piano, synths, flutes, bass, drums.

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"Trapped" will draw you in and not let you go! With the sweet sax of Artwick, plus Marcus' strong jazz piano style and playful vocals, backed up by great jazz bass/drums, this album will have you listening over and over again. This is the good life trap!

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A beautiful, introspective solo piano album by jazz pianist Lenny Marcus. 19 total tracks, all original, save Harold Arlen's Somewhere over the Rainbow. An intriguing, soul-fulfilling, flowing solo piano album that is sure to please.

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Lenny Marcus's music has a jazz sound that is unique, a mixture of Vince Guaraldi meets early Keith Jarrett and McCoy Tyner, interweaving meditative, melodic compositions with high energy contemporary jazz.

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A moving, deeply meditative and moving performance, strong jazz compositions interwoven with acoustic guitar and flute; sounds like early Keith Jarrett.

A stellar group of jazz musicians featuring blues-jazz vocalist, Jane Powell backed up by The Lenny Marcus Trio and featuring a cameo appearance by the late, great, Charlie Byrd.

Straight ahead jazz with a modern flavor.

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A concentration of emotional energies; a group of musicians getting together to pool all of their talent, their energy, their drive, their humor, their personalities, into one big whirling "Cathexis."

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This well-schooled and innovative jazz trio joins up with two very well established sidemen, Brian Lynch of the Phil Woods Quintet, and Chip McNeill of the Arturo Sandoval Band.

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The trio's fourth album featuers the two legendary saxophonists Frank Foster and Sonny Fortune. Many will remember Frank's seminal work arranging for, and playing with, the Count Basie Orchestra for many years.

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The second album, features the magnificent guitar work of the late Charlie Byrd.

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The Trio's first album features the wonderful tenor sax of Chip McNeill. Chip is also an accomplished composer and arranger and was Musical Director and Producer for Maynard Ferguson for over six years.

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Debut album by Lenny Marcus.

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