Marshall Keys

Marshall Keys is one of the most versatile saxophonists to ever come out of Washington, DC. He began his training in the DC Youth Orchestra Program and continued it in the Jazz Studies Program at Howard University. He cut his teeth playing in local bands before gaining his first professional experience with The Blackbyrds and a long association with the great blues organist Jimmy McGriff with whom he recorded the album “Countdown”. Marshall has worked with many of the world’s greatest jazz and blues musicians including: Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Jimmy Witherspoon, Groove Holmes, Big Joe Turner and Hank Jones. He has worked with Branford Marsalis and Steve Allen, swung with Keter Betts and Al Grey, recorded with Cyrus Chestnut and Vinny Valentino, and jammed with Sonny Stitt and Stevie Wonder.

Keys cut his teeth playing in local bands before gaining his first professional experience with The Blackbyrds and a long association with the great blues organist Jimmy McGriff with whom he recorded the album “Countdown”.