JAZZ & CONTEMPORARY MUSIC PROGRAM
E.J. and Marcus Strickland
The Strickland brothers, twins Marcus and E.J., grew up in Miami, Florida, and left for New York City immediately after high school.
They enrolled in New School University’s Jazz & Contemporary Music Program, where they both earned their B.F.A. degrees in 2001.
Marcus, a saxophonist, and E.J., a drummer, had the opportunity at the New School to study with Reggie Workman, Billy Harper, Patience Higgins and George Garzone. Marcus says, “The New School’s appeal to young aspiring musicians is due to the fact that, besides
its location within New York City, the Jazz Program provides an atmosphere that encourages individualism and creativity. It’s easy to be yourself at the New School.” E.J. continues, “On top of meeting encouraging professors who inspired creativity, my experience was that
of a nourishing student environment. I’ve shared and learned a lot from my classmates.”
In a recent review of a Marcus Strickland appearance at a Brooklyn jazz festival,
New York Times jazz critic Ben Ratliff wrote, “Never forget that New York is always full of impressive young jazz performers.” Only a few years out of the Jazz Program, Marcus was gaining critical attention. His first album,
At Last, was followed up by
Brotherhood. On that album, Marcus wrote eight of the nine tracks, and E.J. contributed the ninth.
Regarding the rich learning environment at the
New School Jazz program and the potential of its students, Marcus says, “I don’t find it surprising that when I come across a young musician that I may hire someday because of their distinctive sound, they are often attending the New School.”
