Curtis Macdonald

Curtis Macdonald
Background information
Also known asCurtis R. Macdonald
Born
Curtis Robert Macdonald

1985 (age 40–41)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
OriginNew York City, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Composer
  • Sound designer
  • Saxophonist
  • Producer
Instruments
Years active2007–present
LabelGreenleaf Music
Websitecurtismacdonald.com

Curtis Macdonald (also known as Curtis Robert Macdonald; born 1985) is a Canadian-American composer, sound designer, and saxophonist. He has written original scores for contemporary dance companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater,[1] Aszure Barton,[2] Kate Weare Company,[3] and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago,[4] and has worked for Audible.[5][6] He co-produced the music podcast Meet the Composer, which received a Peabody Award in 2015.[7]

Early life and education

Macdonald was born in 1985 in Calgary, Alberta, and moved to New York City in 2003.

Career

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]

Awards

  • 2024 — Rockie Award, Best Podcast: Fiction, Banff World Media Festival, for The Sesame Street Podcast with Foley & Friends (Season 3).[5]
  • 2023 — Telly Award (Bronze), General Promotional Video, for Letters from Camp (Season 3 promo trailer).[19]
  • 2023 — Webby Award Honoree, Video Media & Entertainment (Branded), for Letters from Camp (Season 3 sneak peek).[18]
  • 2022 — Webby Award Honoree, Best Family & Kids Podcast Series, for Letters from Camp (Season 2).[6]
  • 2020 — Webby Award Honoree, Best Podcast Series, for The Open Ears Project.[21]
  • 2020 — Webby Award Nominee, Best Music Podcast, for The Open Ears Project.[22]
  • 2015 — Peabody Award, for Meet the Composer.[7]

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Henry Threadgill:

Bibliography

  • Introducing Extended Saxophone Techniques (Mel Bay, 2013).

References

  1. 1 2 Kourlas, Gia (December 8, 2013). "'LIFT' by the Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe at City Center". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "A Dance That All Began With an Underwater Dream". Banff Centre. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Burke, Siobhan (February 25, 2015). "Review: Kate Weare Company Celebrates 10th Anniversary at BAM Fisher". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  4. 1 2 "Dance review: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago at the Irvine Barclay Theatre". LA Times. February 13, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 "2024 Rockie Award Winner — Best Podcast: Fiction". Banff World Media Festival. 2024. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "Best Family & Kids Podcast Series — Letters from Camp Season 2". The Webby Awards. 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "Meet the Composer". Peabody Award. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  8. ↑ Shea, Christopher D. (December 18, 2015). "What's on This Week Around the World". The New York Times.
  9. ↑ "DownBeat | Digital Edition | August 2011". DownBeat.
  10. 1 2 "Henry Threadgill / Ensemble Double-Up: Old Locks and Irregular Verbs Album Review". Pitchfork.
  11. 1 2 McClenaghan, Dan (2018). "Henry Threadgill: Dirt… And More Dirt". All About Jazz. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Henry Threadgill — Double Up, Plus and 14 or 15 Kestra: Agg". The Free Jazz Collective. June 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Jazz news: Saxophonist/Composer Curtis Macdonald Releases New CD "Community Immunity" on Greenleaf Music". All About Jazz. March 23, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  14. 1 2 "Curtis Macdonald: Community Immunity". All About Jazz. June 18, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  15. 1 2 "Curtis Macdonald: Twice Through the Wall". JazzTimes. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  16. 1 2 "Best of 2012: Jazz CDs, from Louis Armstrong to Christian Scott". The Mercury News. December 20, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  17. 1 2 davesumner (October 9, 2016). "Today's Bandcamp List: Strange Meetings, Curtis Macdonald, Liilaa, KOKO and Clark-Jones-Pottie". Bird is the Worm. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Branded Entertainment, Shows — Letters from Camp Season 3 Sneak Peek". The Webby Awards. 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  19. 1 2 "Letters from Camp Season 3 Promo Trailer (Bronze, General Promotional Video)". The Telly Awards. 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  20. ↑ Standley, Laura Jane; McQuade, Eric (December 27, 2019). "The 50 Best Podcasts of 2019". The Atlantic. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  21. 1 2 "Best Podcast Series — The Open Ears Project". The Webby Awards. 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  22. 1 2 "Best Music Podcast — The Open Ears Project". The Webby Awards. 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Curtis MacDonald". School of Jazz. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
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