Professional artistryAs an active freelance musician based in Atlanta, Hare has performed and/or recorded with respected artists including Kirk Whalum, Donald Brown, Tia Fuller, Gunther Schuller, Joe Gransden, Jamal Ahmad, the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, and Sabor Brass Band. These collaborations placed him in contexts ranging from straight-ahead jazz and funk to soul, R&B, and brass-band traditions, broadening his expressive range. He has taken the stage at venues such as the Columbus Civic Center, the Jazz for Justice Festival, and Atlanta’s Orange Studios, connecting his sound to diverse audiences across the Southeast. Whether featured as a soloist or embedded in a horn section, Hare projects a tone that is warm, vocal, and unafraid of vulnerability. Recording and creative workHare’s work as a composer and bandleader comes into focus through original releases like “Chasing Rain” and “Transform’D,” which blend jazz harmony with the groove and lyricism of neo-soul. These projects showcase his commitment to telling stories without words, using saxophone and flute to trace arcs of struggle, hope, and spiritual renewal. As the leader of his own ensembles—including the Atlanta-based group Transform’D—he composes and arranges material that highlights interplay, spontaneity, and a strong rhythmic pulse. The result is music that feels meticulously crafted yet open, inviting listeners to hear both the discipline of the practice room and the freedom of the moment. Educator and advocateBeyond the stage and studio, Hare is a dedicated educator, teaching saxophone, piano, and flute privately and assisting band and orchestra programs in the metro Atlanta area. For his students, he models a path where technical command serves emotional clarity, urging them to make every phrase mean something. As a voting member of the Recording Academy and a visible presence in regional concerts and special events, he uses his platform to champion live music and the next generation of improvisers. In every setting, Marquis Hare approaches the horn not just as an instrument, but as a voice—one shaped by faith, family, and a relentless desire to move people.
Born in Cleveland, OH, raised in Atlanta, GA, Marquis received his Associate of Arts degree in music with an emphasis in Choral Studies from Gordon College. In 2007, received his Bachelor of Arts in music from the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University. While at Columbus State University he played for the famous 1950’s Do-Wop group formed out of Chicago “The Impressions.” He also played for a variety of churches while running band camps in Columbus, GA. He has had the opportunity to perform with Tia fuller and Brandford Marsalis. Finally in 2010, received his Master of Music in Jazz Studies from The University of Tennessee, where he has had the pleasure of studying with Donald Brown (Internationally known Jazz pianist), Greg Tardy (jazz saxophonist), Mark Boling (jazz guitarist), Keith Brown (jazz drummer), Rusty Holloway (jazz Bassist), and Vance Thompson (Trumpter), just to name a few. Also have had the opportunity to play with Kirk Whalum at a charity called “Jazz for Justice” in 2007. He also has recorded with Donald Brown and a neo-soul group called Aftah Party. He has performed with the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra and Impressions.
Currently, Marquis performs with Sabor Brass Band and composes/arranges for his group “Transform’D” out of Atlanta, Ga. He also teaches lessons privately in saxophone, piano, and flute. He has released his first single called “Chasing Rain” in 2018 and his current album “The Human Experience” was just released on all digital platforms in April 2020.