Lenny Marcus hails from Washington, D.C., beginning his jazz career studying with Ray Bryant, then moving to New Orleans where he worked for many years, studying  with legends Ellis Marsalis & Alvin Batiste. He then went on to record with a host of stellar jazz artists, including David “Fathead” Newman, Charlie Byrd, Herb Ellis, Lou Donaldson, Frank Foster, Sonny Fortune, Brian Lynch, Jane Powell and many others.  His band is a well schooled jazz group. “Their jazz is infectious!,” Jazz Times magazine.

Lenny has recorded 22 albums as leader to date, performed in several international jazz festivals, three New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festivals, and has had his music featured on radio and TV, including song placements on CNN’s Hero’s series, the National Weather Channel (many songs over several years), NPR’s ALL that Jazz and ALL Songs Considered. Two of his songs were finalists in the ISC international song writer’s competition, and he’s received rave reviews for “The Jazz Of Beethoven” from both JAZZ TIMES and CADENCE magazines. His album, SUN RAY- A Tribute To Ray Bryant, is a heartfelt homage to his first piano teacher and family friend. SUN RAY has been rated among the top jazz albums on the National Jazz Charts for radio airplay in the USA/Canada, reaching #4 on the charts in June 2012, and being listed by JAZZ TIMES Magazine contributor Owen Cordle as #9 in the TOP 50 Jazz albums of 2012.  The music of SUN RAY- A Tribute To Ray Bryant,  and THE JAZZ OF BEETHOVEN were showcased at Blues Alley in DC in January 2013 and “brought the house down!” His latest albums, TONK and PEACE FOR BEETHOVEN – A Jazz Of Beethoven Companion, were both released in April 2013 sparking another Fall Tour in 2013.  The trio played their innovative jazz arrangements of Beethoven Masterpieces up and down the East Coast, then they were invited back to Blues Alley to feature “TONK,” gathering more fans and receiving standing ovations.

Lenny’s music goes from modern high energy to a more contemplative, meditative approach. Lenny is a highly trained jazz pianist who also plays flute and adds vocals. His compositions are refreshing and uplifting, and he has been compared to Vince Guaraldi, Oscar Peterson, Keith Jarrett, McCoy Tyner, Mose Allison-type vocal style, Ray Bryant, and many others. His original melodies and harmonic counterpoints have also been used for film/TV soundtracks.