Smooth Jazz

10 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Smooth Jazz, JAZZ: Traditional Jazz Combo



Details:
Heart and Soul is the best way to describe the way Malcolm Holley plays. With a sax in his hands, the echoes of the greats from the past can be heard. At Cass Tech High School (Class of 79) in Detroit, he lead all of the jazz soloâs, even though he could not read music and was not a part of the music department. He made his own schedule with his teacherâs in order to play. He also played in local clubs around Detroit. After graduating from high school, he attended Eastern Michigan University. He soon found himself playing clubs in and around the Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor area. At Eastern, he hooked up with an up and coming singer named Mark Mitchell, who opened a show for Al Hudson & One Way on Eastern Campus. This partnership produced many shows and many records.

After graduating from Eastern Michigan University, Malcolm started performing all over the Detroit area. He did horn work and performed with local rock group âRhythm Corpsâ. He formed his own group that featured Jazz Drummer Gayelynn McKinney. He also recorded with Mad Mike Banks and Underground Resistance.

A move to Chicago found him doing music for TV production that was shown on cable TV. With Grace Production, he wrote some music for the Chicago Matters series on WTTW Channel 11. He wrote music for an award winning video program by Ronald Holt titled, The Human Race: HIV/Aids in Chicagoâs Black Community, which won the Center for New Television Voice and Visionary Award. Chicagoâs local blues scene also had the pleasure of hearing Malcolmâs robust sound. As the saxophone player for Sam Cockrell & the Groove, they opened for some of Chicagoâs top blues acts including A.C. Reed, Maurice John Vaughn, and Detroit Junior.

His debut CD, âMad about Saxâ showcases his songwriting and playing abilities.