Jazz up your Christmas season with Marcus Anderson’s newest CD release Tender Loving Christmas! Blissful yet explosive, this CD is a must have for all family holiday dinners. It’s the “Winter Wonderland” of smooth jazz. Classic holiday favorites are given a modern saxy tune. Anderson turns a “Silent Night” into an inspirational evening filled with music and TLC. Just know that this CD will put you in the Christmas mood “Now,” these arrangements are “From the Heart,” and it’s going to be “My Turn” to have a “Tender Loving Christmas.” Featuring musicians James Lloyd, Julian Vaughn, Matt Marshak, Nicholas Cole and many more makes this is an all around instant classic. Get your blankets, hot cocoa and pull up next to the fireplace for more added holiday memories with the family. Enjoy the sounds of the season!

After his breakthrough in contemporary jazz circles as the 2009 winner of the Capital Jazz Fest Challenge, Marcus Anderson is embracing every opportunity to perform and inspire fans – and most importantly, as the title of his third and latest CD attests, fully living in the NOW. The multi-talented composer, saxophonist and flutist’s original working title was “Transition,” a nod to the powerful ongoing development of his career and his move toward the top tier of contemporary jazz. Anderson realized that the career he had always dreamed of was indeed happening right NOW, and it’s exciting. With the release of NOW, his third solo CD, Anderson’s goal is to capture the energy from his live shows and make this collection of music his most dynamic, joyful and creative recordings yet.

Anderson, a South Carolina native, is from a large musical family of seven siblings. Growing up, both of his parents sang regularly, but it was his father who introduced him to Jazz, which has become his passion. Aware of his natural talent, his parents nurtured his musicality and he began performing in church with his older brothers. He graduated from Dorman High School in Roebuck, SC and after graduation he continued his jazz studies at North Carolina Central University. There he was a member of the program’s world renowned Jazz Ensemble directed by Dr. Ira Wiggins. He studied with Branford Marsalis and Gospel Saxophonist, Donald Hayes for several years.

His numerous accolades include All-State High School Jazz Ensemble for South Carolina three consecutive years, receiving the Chancellor’s Award three times, and having performed for Hilary Clinton and Jesse Jackson. He was a member of the HBCU All-Star Jazz Ensemble as 1st Tenor Sax for three consecutive years, and he is a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America. He was recently nominated and won the North Carolina Gospel Announcers Guild 2011 Prestige Awards for Gospel Jazz Artist of the Year.