Joshi Marshall Project: Back to Basics

Joshi Marshall Project: Back to Basics

The Joshi Marshall Project
“Back to Basics”The Joshi Marshall Project will be performing music ranging from bebop to Bob Dylan, including selections from Joshi’s debut album "In the Light." Joining Joshi in rounding out this powerhouse trio are Micah McClain on drums and Sam Heminger on bass, both prominent forces in the San Francisco Jazz scene.Joshi Marshall Tenor SaxophoneSam Heminger Upright BassMicah McClain DrumsBIOJoshi Marshall has had a large role in the Acid Jazz and Hip Hop Jazz scene in the San Francisco club area known as South of Market. He played and recorded with Groove Shop, Daddy Goddess, Human Flavor, The Mofessionals, Jungle Biskit, Alphabet Soup and Bop City. By 1995 Joshi had established himself as one of the premier sax players in the Bay Area and became one of the founding members of the popular, innovative jazz band, Mingus Amungus, who in 1997, won the Bammy Award, the Bay Area's equivalent to the music industries Grammy's, for Best Jazz Club Band.Over the years Joshi has continued to play and record with a growing number of local, national and international musicians which include John Santos, Pete Escovedo, Blackalicious, Goapele, Nicodemus, Big Youth, Sister Carol, reggae icon Don Carlos, rock legend, Carlos Santana and Southern rockers, The Black Crowes. Joshi is currently working with his own ensemble, The Joshi Marshall Project.  Joshi reflects on his teaching career and its roots: I have worked with drum set students of all ages for 32 years, and 2024 marked my 20th year of teaching music in the classroom. I constructed my first drum set at age five from a collection of tupperware bowls and pan lids. Family inspiration, a strong school music program, and generous mentorship from Shawn Pelton, Kenwood Dennard, and Kenny Aronoff paved the way for early performances with jazz luminaries David Baker, Dave Liebman, James Moody, and Red Rodney. I attended Indiana University on a jazz studies scholarship and later landed in Chicago where I immersed myself in the rich jazz, funk, and soul traditions that still survive there. I have performed music on six continents, and studied West African drumming and dance in Ghana, North Indian classical music, and royal Ugandan court music. I am a certified in the Orff Schulwerk approach to teaching music and movement. I have lived in the San Francisco Bay area since 2004 and currently teach drum set and music and movement classes at East Bay Montessori in El Cerrito and my home studio in Oakland. I also work as a freelance drummer. My current projects include My 3 Sons, Andre Cruz & Chris Lujan, and the Pentatonics.