Fillmore Jazz Festival 2025
Celebrating John Handy ceremony
Marcus Shelby is a San Francisco bassist, composer, and bandleader whose work has been closely connected to the Fillmore Jazz Festival and the cultural life of the Fillmore District. Through his quartet and larger ensembles, Shelby has presented music that reflects both the jazz tradition and the history of African American communities in San Francisco.
As a performer and composer, Shelby has created numerous works exploring jazz history and its connection to social and cultural themes. His appearances at the Fillmore Jazz Festival continue a longstanding relationship with the event, where he has performed, curated, and contributed to its role as a celebration of the neighborhood’s musical heritage.
With his quartet, Shelby presents music rooted in jazz tradition while continuing his work as one of the central musical voices associated with the Fillmore.