Curtis Macdonald

Composition

Macdonald has composed scores for contemporary dance, including works for Aszure Barton & Artists,^[2] Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater,^[1] Kate Weare Company,^[3] and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago,^[4] among others.^[8] He draws on a background in sound design as part of his compositional approach.^[9]

In 2016 Macdonald appeared as a soloist on Pulitzer Prize winner Henry Threadgill's Old Locks and Irregular Verbs, an album in tribute to Lawrence D. "Butch" Morris released on Pi Recordings;^[10] the album was voted best jazz album of 2016 in both the NPR and JazzTimes Critics Polls. He continued with Threadgill's ensembles on Dirt… And More Dirt (2018), recorded with the 15-piece 14 or 15 Kestra: Agg,^[11][12] and Double Up, Plays Double Up Plus (2018), an expansion of Ensemble Double Up to three concert grand pianos.^[12]

Saxophone and recordings

Macdonald's principal instrument is the alto saxophone. His debut album, Community Immunity, was released on Greenleaf Music in 2011.^[13][14] He followed it with Twice Through the Wall (2013)^[15][16] and Scotobiology (2016).^[17] In 2013 he authored Introducing Extended Saxophone Techniques, published by Mel Bay.

Sound design and production

Since 2020, Macdonald has been at Audible, where he contributes to Audible Originals including The Sesame Street Podcast with Foley & Friends (in collaboration with Sesame Workshop) and Letters from Camp (in collaboration with Comet Pictures). These productions have received recognition from the Banff World Media Festival,^[5] the Webby Awards,^[6][18] and the Telly Awards.^[19]

As a producer he was part of the team behind the music podcast Meet the Composer, produced for WQXR; the program received a Peabody Award in 2015 and was hosted by violist Nadia Sirota.^[7] He was also Technical Director of The Open Ears Project from WNYC Studios, hosted by Clemency Burton-Hill,^[20] a Webby Award Honoree for Best Podcast Series^[21] and Webby Nominee for Best Music Podcast^[22] in the 24th Annual Webby Awards (2020).

Teaching

Macdonald previously served on faculty at The New School, including The New School for Jazz.^[23]

As leader

• 2011 — Community Immunity (Greenleaf Music)^[13][14]
• 2013 — Twice Through the Wall^[15][16]
• 2016 — Scotobiology^[17]

As sideman

With Henry Threadgill:

• 2016 — Old Locks and Irregular Verbs (Pi Recordings PI64), Ensemble Double Up^[10]
• 2018 — Dirt… And More Dirt (Pi Recordings PI73), 14 or 15 Kestra: Agg^[11][12]
• 2018 — Double Up, Plays Double Up Plus (Pi Recordings PI75), Ensemble Double Up^[12]