Award-winning composer, arranger, and bassist Marcus Shelby presents his 15 piece orchestra performing “Port Chicago”, a jazz suite honoring the African American naval men killed in the 1944 munitions explosion at the Port Chicago Naval Base, near Vallejo, CA.
For this composition, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi awarded Marcus Shelby the Congressional Certificate of Community Service, underscoring the historical and artistic significance of “Port Chicago”, which was released on CD in February, 2006.
Marcus Shelby studied under James Newton and Charlie Haden, and his credits include original scoring for film, theater, and dance as well as jazz compositions for his own groups, the 15-piece Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra, the Marcus Shelby Trio, and the Marcus Shelby Septet. He is nationally recognized for his innovative and collaborative approach to composing and arranging for text, the visual arts, dance and theater, as well as for his commitment to using jazz to narrate the rich history of African-Americans.