Eugene Marlow
Eugene Marlow, Ph.D., is a composer/arranger, producer, presenter, performer, author/journalist, and educator. He has written 300+ compositions for solo instruments, chamber groups, and jazz big band in various jazz, Afro-Caribbean, Brazilian, and classical genres. His indie label, MEII Enterprises, has released 33 albums and single tracks of his original compositions and arrangements. Four of his charts for big band appear on four Grammy-nominated albums. His bembé arrangement of “Maria” appears on the 2018 Grammy-nominated “West Side Story Reimagined” (Jazzheads) featuring the Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band.
Marlow is founder/leader/pianist of The Heritage Ensemble, a quintet that performs his original compositions and arrangements of Hebraic melodies in various jazz, Afro-Caribbean, Brazilian, and classical styles. The New York City Jazz Record described The Heritage Ensemble as “A cross-cultural collaboration that spins and grooves.” Marlow received a 2010 “Meet the Composer” grant for his work with The Heritage Ensemble. The Ensemble has released eight albums, including “A Not So Silent Night” which received four stars from Downbeat Magazine in 2017.
Marlow curated the Milt Hinton Jazz Perspectives concert series for 18 years (2000-2018) at Baruch College (City University of New York), where he teaches courses in media and culture (since 1988).
Author of 13 books in four languages and 400+ articles, his book Jazz in China: From Dance Hall Music to Individual Freedom of Expression (University Press of Mississippi 2018) was hailed as “. . .a sweeping, informative work of history” by Kevin Canfield in the November 2018 issue of the New York City Jazz Record and called “a pioneering study” by JazzHistoryOnline. The book was selected as “one of the five best jazz books of 2018” by the Jazz Journalists Association.
Marlow is also a documentarian. He is a recipient of the 2016 John Culkin Award for his DVD “Zikkaron/Kristallnacht: A Family Story,” a documentary short with a soundtrack for solo piano composed and recorded by Dr. Marlow. His 2022 “Jazz in China” documentary was selected by four international and eight domestic film festivals. It received an “Award of Excellence” from the “2022 Depth of Field International Film Festival” and was the winner of the 2022 American Insight “Free Speech Film Festival.”
More about Eugene Marlow.
Me, Alone is a nine-track album of original pieces for solo piano composed and performed by Eugene Marlow. These tracks were recorded by the composer in 1971 in his Merced, California apartment following a four-year stint in the United States Air Force.
The compositions are some of the earliest in Marlow's multi-decade musical career, and includes, among others, two blues, ballads, a semi-classical work, and a piece in the Afro-Caribbean genre.
Musicians:
Eugene Marlow, piano
Composer: Eugene Marlow
Various Artists
Set the mood for a romantic evening with this 12-track album of compositions by Eugene Marlow in three genres: classical (solo piano), jazz (trio), and Afro-Caribbean ensemble (octet).
Musicians:
Pianist Nada, piano
Michael Abene, piano
Chip Jackson, bass
Dave Meade, drums
Bobby Porcelli, alto saxophone
Arturo O’Farrill, piano
Hayes Greenfield, soprano saxophone
Rubin Rodriguez, bass
Phoenix Rivera, drums
Bobby Sanabria, bongos
Louis Bonilla, trombone
Michael Philip Mossman, flugel horn
Composer: Eugene Marlow
Eugene Marlow's Heritage Ensemble
Obrigado Brasil!—a nine track album of original sambas and bossa novas by award-winning Heritage Ensemble leader/pianist/composer Eugene Marlow—celebrates and pays homage to Brazilian musical culture that gave birth to the driving rhythms of the samba and the romantic feel of the bossa nova.
Read more below in “About the Album” and “Reviews”.
Musicians:
Eugene Marlow, leader/piano
Bobby Sanabria, drums/percussion/vocals
Michael Hashim, alto and soprano saxophones
Frank Wagner, acoustic and electric bass
ArcoIris Sandoval, guest pianist (Tracks 1,2,4, & 7)
Virginia Chang Chien, guest oboist (Track 8)
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble
Celebrations is a collection of festive melodies from the Hebraic Songbook and original melodies in various jazz, Afro-Caribbean, Brazilian, and classical styles.
Read more below in “About the Album” and “Reviews”
Musicians:
Eugene Marlow, leader/piano
Bobby Sanabria, drums
Michael Hashim, alto and soprano saxophones
Frank Wagner, electric and acoustic bass
Cristian Rivera, percussion
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Gene Marlow & Friends Live @ Rombex New York City is an album of nine original compositions for jazz quartet by composer Eugene Marlow.
On this eclectic album you’ll hear a lullaby, blues and Latin-jazz pieces, a ballad, and a jazz waltz.
The album was recorded on May 14, 1978 at Rombex Studios in New York City. Rombex was one of the early pioneers in the use of videotape technologies. The video recording session was performed before a live audience.
Read more below in “About the Album.”
Musicians:
Eugene Marlow, piano
Paul Cabri, guitar
Nancy Pollock, drums
Steve Powers, percussion
Composer: Eugene Marlow
Amelié Chérubin, Eugene Marlow
In Their own Voice (Vol. I) features French lyricist/songstress Amelié Chérubin on three tracks:
Le Phare (The Lighthouse) recounts the singer’s dream-like state while observing the lighthouse of the Eiffel Tower at night.
Je Ne Sais Plus (I don’t Know Anymore) is about a short-lived romantic relationship.
Mon Cher Ange (Dear Angel) is about an unattainable, perhaps, forbidden lover.
The lyrics are by Amelié Chérubin with original music by composer/producer Eugene Marlow. Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble is featured.
Read more below about the “In Their Own Voice” Series.
Musicians:
Amelié Cherubin vocals
Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble
Eugene Marlow, leader/piano
Bobby Sanabria, drums
Michael Hashim, alto and soprano saxophones
Frank Wagner, electric and acoustic bass
Matthew Gonzalez, percussion
Lyricist: Amelié Cherubin
Composer: Eugene Marlow
A Perfect Storm (Vol. II) features songstress Anne Mironchik. A Perfect Storm describes the cross-current of feelings during a relationship breakup. The lyrics are by Ms. Mironchik with original music composed by Eugene Marlow. Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble is featured. It is the second, digital-only, release in the “In Their Own Voice” series.
Read more below about the “In Their Own Voice” Series.
Musicians:
Anne Mironchik, vocals
Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble
Eugene Marlow, leader/piano
Bobby Sanabria, drums
Michael Hashim, alto and soprano saxophones
Frank Wagner, electric and acoustic bass
Matthew Gonzalez, percussion
Lyricist: Anne Mironchik
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Go Like the Wind (Vol. III) features the prodigious talent of vocalist Shira Lissek. Go Like the Wind inspires the listener to let go of the past, get past fears, and move forward in one’s life. Based on a Latin-tinged composition by Eugene Marlow and lyrics by Ellen Woloshin. The musicians feature Grammy-winning virtuoso pianist Arturo O’Farrill, with Bobby Porcelli on alto saxophone.
Read more below about the “In Their Own Voice” Series.
Musicians:
Shira Lissek, vocals
Arturo O’Farrill, piano
Bobby Porcelli, saxophone
Rubin Rodrigez, bass
Phoenix Rivera, drums
Bobby Sanabria, percussion
Lyricist: Ellen Woloshin
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
For the Children (Vol. IV) features “voice extraordinaire” Shira Lissek. For the Children expresses every parent’s wish to give their children the best in life and their hopes for their children’s future; and for the generations that follow. The lyrics for this Latin-tinged composition are by Janet Lawson with instrumentals by Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble.
Read more below about the “In Their Own Voice” Series.
Musicians:
Shira Lisskek, vocals
Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble
Eugene Marlow, leader/piano
Bobby Sanabria, drums
Michael Hashim, alto and soprano saxophones
Frank Wagner, electric and acoustic bass
Matthew Gonzalez, percussion
Lyricist: Janet Lawson
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Jenn Jade Ledesna, Eugene Marlow
Sin Mi (Without Me) (Vol. V) features the talent of vocalist Jenn Jade Ledesna. Sin Mi is a lament in a bolero mode from a woman’s perspective on the breakup of a relationship. The lyrics are by Rachel Kara Perez, with an original Latin-tinged composition by Eugene Marlow. Instrumentals are performed by Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble.
Read more below about the “In Their Own Voice” Series.
Musicians:
Jennifer Jade Ladesna, vocals
Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble
Eugene Marlow, leader/piano
Bobby Sanabria, drums
Michael Hashim, alto and soprano saxophones
Frank Wagner, electric and acoustic bass
Matthew Gonzalez, percussion
Lyricist: Rachel Kara Perez
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Inside Blues (Vol. VI) features Grammy-nominated vocalist Carla Cook, who performs this spoken-word track which reflects the anger of a woman upon discovering her lover’s betrayal and self-centeredness. The lyrics are by Rachel Kara Perez, original composition by Eugene Marlow, instrumentals by Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble.
Read more below about the “In Their Own Voice” Series.
Musicians:
Carla Cook, vocals
Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble
Eugene Marlow, leader/piano
Bobby Sanabria, drums
Michael Hashim, alto and soprano saxophones
Frank Wagner, electric and acoustic bass
Matthew Gonzalez, percussion
Lyricist: Rachel Kara Perez
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Reflections At Christmas (Vol. VII) features vocalist Mila Milosevic and keyboardist ArcoIris Sandoval. The song conveys a philosophical take on Christmas—as a woman reflects on Christmas from both her perspective from childhood and as an adult. Lyrics by Janet Lawson with original composition by Eugene Marlow.
Read more below about the “In Their Own Voice” Series.
Musicians:
Mila Milosevic, vocals
ArcoIris Sandoval, keyboards
Lyricist: Janet Lawson
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Rachel Kara Perez, Eugene Marlow
Lullaby (Vol. VIII) features vocals by Rachel Kara Perez. This track expresses the love of a mother for a newborn child and the commitment of that mother to always be there for the child. The lyrics are by Amy Cervini. The piano solo is from Eugene Marlow’s album, Les Sentiments D’Amour, performed by virtuoso classical pianist Pianist Nada.
Read more below about the “In Their Own Voice” Series.
Musicians:
Rachel Kara Perez, vocals
Pianist Nada, piano
Lyricist: Amy Cervini
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Rachel Kara Perez, Eugene Marlow
Whispers in the Air (Vol. IX) features vocals by Rachel Kara Perez. Whispers in the Air expresses and explores a woman’s realization that the relationship she is in is not “real.” with lyrics by Janet Lawson. Original Composition by Eugene Marlow and features Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble providing the instrumentals.
Read more below about the “In Their Own Voice” Series.
Musicians:
Rachel Kara Perez, vocals
Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble
Eugene Marlow, leader/piano
Bobby Sanabria, drums
Michael Hashim, alto and soprano saxophones
Frank Wagner, electric and acoustic bass
Matthew Gonzalez, percussion
Lyricist: Janet Lawson
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Tapped as the “Best Latin Jazz album of 2007” by the Village Voice, A Wonderful Discovery is the outcome of composer, Eugene Marlow’s aspiration to produce an album of Latin-flavored originals and to work with Arturo O’Farrill.
The all-star musicians on this album bring Marlow’s compositions to life. In many ways, collectively the musicians expanded the charts and lifted the compositions to another level.
Read more below in “About the Album” and “Reviews.”
Musicians:
Arturo O'Farrill, piano
Mario Rivera, Saxophone
Bobby Porcelli, Saxophone
Hayes Greenfield, saxophone
Jim Seeley, Trumpet
Luis Bonilla, trombone
Phoenix Rivera, drums
R. Guerrero, percussion
Bobby Sanabria, percussion
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble
Old World Melodies, New World Rhythms is narrated by Heritage Ensemble founder and leader Dr. Eugene Marlow.
In this six-minute track full of musical examples from many of The Heritage Ensemble’s albums, Marlow describes the Ensemble’s history, repertoire, and the multi-cultural nature of the players.
In his narrative Marlow also points to the choice of the Ensemble’s name incorporating the word “Heritage.” This was a purposeful tip of the hat to all the musical traditions and melodies that have come before, hence, the description “Old World Melodies.” The Ensemble also infuses its performances with jazz, Afro-Caribbean, and Brazilian rhythms, hence the description “New World Rhythms.”
Musicians:
Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble
Eugene Marlow, leader/arranger/piano
Michael Hashim, soprano & alto saxophone
Frank Wagner, acoustic and electric bass
Bobby Sanabria, drums
Matthew Gonzalez, percussion
Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble
A Not So Silent Night is a multi-track holiday album recorded by Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble celebrating an ecumenical array of Hebraic, Christian, and secular holiday music in various jazz, Afro-Caribbean, and Brazilian styles.
Read more below in “Reviews.”
Musicians:
Eugene Marlow, leader/piano
Bobby Sanabria, drums
Michael Hashim, alto and soprano saxophones
Frank Wagner, electric and acoustic bass
Cristian Rivera, percussion
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
The ArcoIris Sandoval Trio performs romantic jazz ballads composed by Eugene Marlow.
Musicians:
ArcoIris Sandoval, piano
Marty Kenney, bass
Allan Mednard, drums
Composer: Eugene Marlow
Eugene Marlow’s 14-minute chart for big-band — The Griot’s Tale — was premiered by the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra as part of a concert entitled “Imagines Nuevas: New Works for Afro-Cuban Orchestra.
The composition imagines the presence of a griot — a member of a class of traveling poets, musicians, and storytellers who maintain a tradition of oral history in parts of West Africa.
The composition employs odd meters in addition to traditional “swing “musical elements. Performed before a live audience at the Manhattan School of Music (New York City), the piece features a tutti section as well as instrumental and percussion solos.
Musicians:
Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra
Under the Direction of Maestro Bobby Sanabria
Composer: Eugene Marlow
The up-tempoTaylored for Billy is composer Eugene Marlow’s homage to Dr. Billy Taylor, America’s elder international statesman of jazz and Marlow’s “jazz father.”
Originally a composition for small ensemble, this track is a big band version of the composition and is performed by the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Bobby Sanabria. The small ensemble version, with pianist Mike Abene as leader, can be found on Marlow’s inaugural album A Summer Afternoon With You.
Musicians:
Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra
Under the direction of Maestro Bobby Sanabria
Composer: Eugene Marlow
Strata is Eugene Marlow’s foray into Third Stream composition—Gunther Schuller’s musical perspective of combining the jazz genre with classical music elements. In Marlow’s big band chart the traditional jazz big band is treated as a collection of brass (trumpets/trombones), woodwind (saxophones/flutes), and percussion/rhythm instruments (piano, bass drums) instruments, rather than a jazz big band.
The composition is mostly through-composed, save for a short section at the end where the piano is instructed to use open hands to play improvised, chaotic, non-melodic, out of time chords. The bass and drums play in double time.
Strata is more contemporary classical in sound than jazz, whereas the two “streams” come together by the end of composition. The composition was performed by the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop Big Band.
Musicians:
BMI Jazz Composers Workshop Big Band
Composer, Eugene Marlow
Generations is an early composition by Eugene Marlow that he introduced for the time at a 1981 ASCAP jazz songwriting workshop led by Dr. Billy Taylor. It was at this workshop that Marlow initiated an almost three-decade relationship with Taylor. The composition has a quasi-rock/bossa nova rhythmic feel, a version of which was recorded by pianist/composer Harold Danko-led quartet several years later.
Musicians:
Harold Danko Quartet
Composer, Eugene Marlow
Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble
Hallelujah is a 10-track anthology of arrangements of familiar Hebraic melodies and original compositions for piano and small ensemble in various jazz, Afro-Caribbean, and classical styles by pianist/composer Eugene Marlow, performed by his Heritage Ensemble.
Read more below in “About the Album.”
Musicians:
Eugene Marlow, leader/piano
Bobby Sanabria, drums
Michael Hashim, alto and soprano saxophones
Frank Wagner, electric and acoustic bass
Matthew Gonzalez, percussion
Classical portion of Yotvata performed by Nada Loutfi
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble
Changes is a departure from Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble’s usual reportorial approach of performing arrangements and compositions of Hebraic melodies. All eight tracks are original compositions with a range of jazz styles from Latin, to swing and even scat.
Read more below in “About the Album” and “Reviews.”
Musicians:
Eugene Marlow, leader/arranger/piano
Bobby Sanabria, drums
Michael Hashim, alto and soprano saxophones
Frank Wagner, electric and acoustic bass
Matthew Gonzalez, percussion
Composer: Eugene Marlow
Eugene Marlow's Heritage Ensemble
A Fresh Take is a re-recording of Eugene Marlow’s arrangements on “Making the Music Our Own” (2006). Whereas the 2006 album consisted of a trio (with Marlow on piano), A Fresh Take is a new ensemble (quintet) consisting of Bobby Sanabria (drums), Michael Hashim (saxophones), Frank Wagner (bass), and Cristian Rivera (percussion). On this album, the group explores the “performance” possibilities of familiar Hebraic melodies in terms of chords, rhythmic patterns, meter, and melodic structure in various jazz styles, Afro-Caribbean, Brazilian, and classical genres.
Read more below in “About the Album” and “Reviews.”
Musicians:
Eugene Marlow, leader/piano
Bobby Sanabria, drums
Michael Hashim, alto and soprano saxophones
Frank Wagner, acoustic bass
Cristian Rivera, percussion
Rachel Kara Perez, Vocal (“Adon Olam”)
Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble
This nine-track album is composer/arranger Eugene Marlow’s first foray into recording his arrangements of Hebraic liturgical and folkloric melodies into various styles of jazz, Afro-Caribbean, and Brazilian genres.
Read more below in “About the Album” and “Reviews.”
Musicians:
Eugene Marlow, leader/piano
Darmon Meader, saxophones
Norm Lotz, bass
Gary Schwartzman. guitar
Barry Atlschul, drums
Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble
Mosaica attempts to convey a picture of the possibilities of cultural collaboration through music. Mosaica combines the word “musika,” —or music—and “mosaic.” —a picture or decoration made of small, usually colored pieces of inlaid stone, glass, et al.
The title of this album—the combination of the two words—is purposeful. The Heritage Ensemble reimagines popular Hebraic melodies in various jazz, Afro-Caribbean, Brazilian, and classical styles. Instead of small, usually colored pieces of inlaid stone, our materials are small, black notes on a page and the influences of various musical cultures. This is why the New York City Jazz Record called the ensemble “a cross-cultural collaboration that spins and grooves.”
Read more below in “About the Album” and “Reviews.”
Musicians:
Eugene Marlow, leader/piano
Bobby Sanabria, drums
Michael Hashim, alto and soprano saxophones
Frank Wagner, electric and acoustic bass
Matthew Gonzalez, percussion
Shira Lissek, vocals
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Composer Eugene Marlow’s inaugural album, A Summer Afternoon With You, is about feelings expressed through highly melodic jazz music ranging from up-tempo themes to ballades written and performed for small jazz ensemble.
Read more below in “About this Album” and “Reviews”
Musicians:
Michael Abene, leader/piano
Chip Jackson, bass
Dave Meade, drums & percussion
Mike Mossman, trumpet & flugelhorn
Bobby Porcelli, alto saxophone
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow
Zikkaron/Kristallnacht is an original music track for solo piano composed and performed by Eugene Marlow for his documentary short “Zikkaron/Kristallnacht: A Family Story.” The track also includes narration by Ruth Landesberg Rack and incidental music at the end of the documentary performed by members of Eugene Marlow's Heritage Ensemble.
Read more below in “About the Track.”
Musicians:
Eugene Marlow's Heritage Ensemble
Eugene Marlow, piano
Bobby Sanabria, drums
Michael Hashim, soprano saxophone
Frank Wagner, bass
Composer: Eugene Marlow
Narrator: Ruth Rack
Laruen Kinhan, Eugene Marlow
In the Here & Now (Vol. X) features vocals by Lauren Kinhan. conveys the singer's struggle between perceived demons and reality. Vocalist Lauren Kinhan literally gives voice to the internal emotional struggle conveyed in the lyrics. The solo by pianist ArcoIris Sandoval provides a musical bridge between the singer's internal struggle and the resolve at the end, to work at being In The Here and Now. Lyrics by Janet Lawson, original composition by Eugene Marlow and features the ArcoIris Sandoval Trio providing the instrumentals.
Read more below about the “In Their Own Voice” Series.
Musicians:
Laruen Kinhan, vocals
ArcoIris Sandoval Trio
ArcoIris Sandoval, piano
Marty Kenney, bass
Allan Mednard, drums
Lyricist: Janet Lawson
Composer/Arranger: Eugene Marlow