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Anwar Marshall - The Most Traveled - Mixtapes
Jul 26, 2020
Since 2014, The Mysterious Traveler Concert Series, which takes place at the Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia in downtown, Philadelphia has become one of the most exciting musical events in the city. The series has introduced dozens of local artists to thousands of Philadelphia audience members. It has presented such awesome talents as Wayne Smith Jr., Dan Hanrahan, Elijah Thomas, Brent White, Bernard Samuel, Madison Rast, Victor North, Najwa Parkins and many more. The series continues with presentations by a superbly-talented collective of some of its finest performers called The Mysterious Traveler All Stars.
One of the many fine artists to participate in this series is Anwar Marshall: A talented drummer, briliant composer and co-leader of a ten-piece ensemble, Fresh Cut Orchestra. He has performed in venues all around the globe and has worked with musicians such as Jazzmeia Horn, Dave Douglas, James Poyser, Khemist, Orrin Evans, Tim Warfield, Duane Eubanks, Jaleel Shaw, Ray Angry, Robert Glasper, Josh Lawrence, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Sumi Tonooka, Leela James, Christan McBride, James Jamerson Jr., Adam Blackstone, Tom Harrell and The Captain Black Big Band.
In this mixtape series, Anwar Marshall - The Most Traveled, we showcase his talents as composer, performer, collaborator and bandleader. Here, Marshall is featured both as a leader, as well as band member. In either case, he always brings a dynamic sense of time, an exquisite attention to detail and subtlety, as well as a rollicking playfulness that is simultaneously very, very serious. We hope by the conclusion of your listening to the great series, that you will understand why Anwar Marshall is The Most Traveled.
With the release of this mixtape, PJP asked drummer Anwar Marshall to revisit his Mysterious Traveler experiences and to share his thoughts.
PJP: It seemed as if you were THEE drummer of choice for musicians participating in the early days of the Mysterious Traveler Concert Series at the Free Library. Looking back at your involvement in the Mysterious Traveler Concert Series at the Free Library, what, if anything did you learn or gain from participating in the series?
Anwar Marshall: That's high praise, so thank you! Being the drummer for several concerts in the Mysterious Traveler Concert Series, including my own, gave me the opportunity to concentrate on the craft of playing mostly original music. As a drummer it's easy to fall into the trap of being a good accompanist, keeping time well, and nothing else. But to work on people's original music, a drummer must be able to conceive of the correct style and approach for that material, even though it might not exist yet.
PJP: Philadelphia has a long history of producing, “musician’s musicians” particularly bassists and drummers. Artists like yourself, Justin Faulkner, Khary Shaheed, Dan Monaghan, Webb Thomas, Matt Scarano and quite a few other drummers continue that tradition. Everyone who has seen you play knows that you are an incredible drummer, but what I find most interesting is that folks aren’t aware of your exceptional skills as a composer. Can you briefly describe your musical direction as a composer and writer?
Anwar Marshall: I feel honored to be mentioned with those amazing drummers, who I have a lot of respect for! My direction as a composer is influenced by artists like John Coltrane, J Dilla, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and many others. I try to write music that goes straight to the soul, so much of the music that I've composed tends to be quite minimal, as to hold the attention of the listener and to express the emotions of the soul that we all share.
PJP: You’ve moved to New York City and have been quite busy touring with quite a few world class musicians. In your own work, how do you manage the task of creating and encouraging fresh, new, forwarding moving musical ideas while simultaneously exploring, celebrating and documenting the past?
Anwar Marshall: In my work as a touring musician for many different groups in NY, it's been very important to have one foot in music tradition, but to stay open and creative. I find that audiences want music that they can grasp, and that is somewhat familiar, but performed in an inventive way. That has kept me quite busy studying the history of my musical forefathers/foremothers, and finding new angles, and interpretations in those compositions and recordings.
PJP: When listening to your music what advice would you give the audience to assist with greater understanding and enjoyment?
Anwar Marshall: For my own compositions, the whole breath of the work exists in the title, the groove, and the main theme. The band always explores other territory, but it's always related to where we start.
PJP: Why Jazz? When you could be doing anything else, Why this music?
Anwar Marshall: For the past few years, I've been attempting to become as genre-less, or musically inclusive as I can. I consider myself to be a musician that's involved with expressing the different facets and emotions of the Black experience.
ANWAR MARSHALL - THE MOST TRAVELED MIXTAPES
MIXTAPE 1
1. Bachtify % [written by Nimrod Speaks]
2. Untitled/My Funny Valentine + [written by Anwar Marshall/Rodgers & Hart]
3. Keep Moving! (El Homage) ## [written by Victor North]
MIXTAPE 2
1. Geography + [written by Anwar Marshall]
2. Monk's Dream ** [written by Thelonious Monk]
3. The Eternal Struggle ## [written by Victor North]
4. Blues from Trenton ^^ [written by Anthony DeCarlo]
MIXTAPE 3
1. Yesterday's Relevance + [written by Anwar Marshall]
2. Dance You Out The Door ^^ [written by Anthony DeCarlo]
The performers featured in these recordings include:
**Anwar Marshall: Drums, Tim Brey: Keyboards, Madison Rast: Bass, Recorded live by sound engineer, Shevinah Johnson in the Montgomery Auditorium at the Parkway Central Library in Philadelphia, PA on Monday, January 25, 2016 mixed and edited at Lynasha Studios.
+Anwar Marshall: Drums, Adam Siegel: Alto Sax, Madison Rast: Bass, Recorded by Homer Jackson, in the Montgomery Auditorium at the Parkway Central Library in Philadelphia, PA on Monday, February 9, 2015, mixed and edited at Lynasha Studios.
##Anwar Marshall: Drums, Lucas Brown: Organ, Victor North: Tenor Sax, Recorded live by sound engineer, Shevinah Johnson in the Montgomery Auditorium at the Parkway Central Library in Philadelphia, PA on Monday, April 25, 2016 and edited at Lynasha Studios.
^^Anwar Marshall: Drums, Anthony DeCarlo: Guitar, Scott Zeigler: Bass, Jordan McCree: Electronic Percussion & FX, Recorded live by sound engineer, Shevinah Johnson in the Montgomery Auditorium at the Parkway Central Library in Philadelphia, PA on Monday, December 28, 2015 and edited at Lynasha Studios.
%Anwar Marshall: Drums, Brian Howell, Nimrod Speaks & Jason Fraticelli: Bass, Recorded by Homer Jackson, in the Montgomery Auditorium at the Parkway Central Library in Philadelphia, PA on Monday, April 13, 2015, mixed and edited at Lynasha Studios.
Mixed & Compiled by Homer Jackson
DOWNLOAD THE MIXTAPE HERES:
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ANWAR MARSHALL:
THE MOST TRAVELED #1
Released July 2020
Recordings from concerts at the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Duration: 34 minutes
File Size: 49 MB
You can also download PJP Mixtapes at:
ANWAR MARSHALL:
THE MOST TRAVELED #2
Released July 2020
Recordings from concerts at the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Duration: 37 minutes
File Size: 53 MB
You can also download PJP Mixtapes at:
ANWAR MARSHALL:
THE MOST TRAVELED #3
Released July 2020
Recordings from concerts at the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Duration: 41 minutes
File Size: 59 MB
You can also download PJP Mixtapes at:
Check out Anwar Marshall in action at the Mysterious Traveler Concert Series
Mysterious Traveler Concert Series is produced by Philadelphia Jazz Project in collaboration with The Free Library of Philadelphia.
Many Thanks: To Anwar Marshall and all of the fine musicians who worked along side of him in the Mysterious Traveler Concert Series; folks like Madison Rast, Victor North, Anthony DeCarlo, Brian Howell, Nimrod Speaks, Jason Fraticelli, Tim Brey, Adam Siegel, Lucas Brown, Scott Zeigler and Jordan Dupree,.
Special Thanks: To Adam Feldman and Perry Genovisi of the Free Library of Philadelphia, Leo Gadson of Producer's Guild, to sound engineer Shevy Johnson, to PJP Staff and supporters; Lynn Washington, Gail Fountaine, James Solomon, Asha Jackson, Julia Lopez, Melissa Talley Palmer and Stephanie Seiple.
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This mixtape is a production of The Philadelphia Jazz Project, which is a sponsored project of the CultureWorks | Greater Philadelphia, with funding provided by The Philadelphia Foundation.
