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Home » Products » New Releases » That’s a Different Groove, Marcus Eley


That’s a Different Groove, Marcus Eley

September 1, 2025

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Limited Pressing Agreement

Clarinetist Marcus Eley of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) is celebrated for championing African American composers and expanding the classical music discography. His latest recording features music by jazz icons Alvin Batiste, David N. Baker, Yusef Lateef, and Oliver Nelson. Here, rhythm diverts from robotic toe tapping to “feeling the groove.” A centerpiece of this recording is Batiste’s “Swing in the Abstract” from “Tune Suite No. 1” scored for clarinet, string quartet, and jazz trio.

Recorded under an AFM Limited Pressing Agreement, with musicians from Local 47 and the Music Alive Ensemble (MAE) of Local 174-496 (New Orleans, LA), Eley says, “It was an intra-union recording of chamber music.” He traveled to New Orleans to hire union musicians who had performed with Batiste, honoring a promise he made to his friend to record this composition.

“It’s a salute to a friend, clarinetist, and jazz legend, Alvin Batiste,” Eley says, adding, “My friendship with ‘Bat’ goes back many years. I’ve learned so much from him and continue to marvel at his artistry.” The session was held onstage at the historic Marsalis Center for Music and released by Navona Records.

Also featured is the premiere of Lateef’s “Sonata for Clarinet and Piano,” a bold reimagining of Brahms’ Sonata No. 1 in F minor. With Lucerne DeSa at the piano, their collaboration is conversational, poignant, and deeply felt. Remastered sonatas by Baker and Nelson complete the program. Joining Eley are MAE members of Local 174-496 Rachel Jordan and Amy Thiaville (violins), Rachel Hsieh of Local 301 (Pekin, IL) (cello), Sixto Franco (viola), Yuiko Asano (piano), and Jason Williams (percussion). Other musicians include Karl Vincent Wickliff of Local 47 (bass) and Steve Hass (drums).






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