ABOUT
Marcus Rojas, native of New York City is considered one of "the best all around tuba players in the world" (Harvey Pekar, Jazziz); among the diverse groups in which he has played are the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, New York City Opera, American Symphony, American Ballet Theater, Joffrey Ballet, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, The New York Pops, EOS, Radio City Music Hall, Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy, Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis, ensembles led by Gil Evans, George Russell, Jim Hall, Lionel Hampton, Dave Douglas, Wayne Shorter, David Byrne and P.D.Q. Bach. He has also appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the Today Show, Saturday Night Live and The Grammys from New York City.
Marcus has played on over 500 recordings, from CDs of his own groups SpanishFly and Les Miserables Brass Band to Reggae stars Sly and Robbie and theMetropolitan Opera. He has performed and/or recorded with Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Paul Simon, Yo Yo Ma, Stevie Wonder, Dawn Upshaw, Queen Latifah, Edie Brickell, Donnie Osmond, Dr. John, Harry Connick Jr. Luciano Pavarotti, Aretha Franklin, They Might be Giants, John Lithgow, Rosie O'Donell, Barbara Cook, Andrea Bocelli, Bette Midler and Sting among others.
He has recorded for every major film, television and record company in the United States as well as countless commercial jingles and over 70 film scores including Wolf, Interview with the Vampire, Mission to Mars, Muppet Christmas Carol, Ed Wood, You've Got Mail, The Spanish Prisoner, Fargo,Snake Eyes, Primary Colors, 101 Dalmatians, Shaft, S.W.A.T. American Splendor,Everything is Illuminated, Sin Nombre, Across the Universe and Sleepless in Seattle. He can be heard regularly on Peg + Cat, Nick Jr's. Oswald and the Backyardigans.
Recent artists he has recorded and worked with are: Louden Wainright III, Sean Lenon, Clare and the Reasons, Jesse Harris, RichardJulian, Gabriel Kahane, Antony and the Johnsons and Bonnie “Prince” Billy. He is currently in Paul Simon’s touring band, having recently completed Paul Simon and Sting’s tour of Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
TESTIMONIALS
Tuba player Marcus Rojas is a blend of Motown bassist James Jamerson and a teenage mutant ninja turtle. With barely a pause, Rojas pumped enough air into that big brass behemoth to keep it percolating throughout two sets and, like the late Motown legend, never let a syncopated beat keep him from building a melodic part as well. This was tuba you could love solo.
-- THE BOSTON PHOENIX
...a master of versatility. Rojas in particular has the potential to become a major figure in future jazz, and is
already headed well down that path
-- Marge Hofacre, JAZZ NEWS
The greatest performance of the evening, was by a horn quintet fronted by much-sought-after tuba player Marcus Rojas, whose rendition of Mozart's Quintet for Horn and Strings k.407 in E minor literally left me with tears streaming down my hayseed, country-boy cheeks. Then, Rojas proceeded to play a solo Tuba piece that he wrote for a child named Joshua who died of pediatric AIDS. The most gripping, stirring, and powerfully emotional live solo Tuba performance I have ever witnessed. This guy was unbelievable.
--Blogger Chazarmaveth for HornRoller.com...attending a tribute concert held in memory of William Hamilton at the Society for Ethical Culture