Mac Isseks

Mac’s path to music being the primary focus of his life started when he attended Emory University, where he’d graduate in 2010 with an undergraduate degree in philosophy. His college years revolved around two main interests: philosophy and jazz.

Originally from Liberty, New York, Marshall Aaron Isseks graduated as his high school class’ salutatorian. Having always excelled in music and coming from a musical family on both sides, he developed a hunger to make music soon after moving to Atlanta, GA., studying there with Gary Motley, Dwight Andrews, Randy Hunter and EJ Hughes. Perhaps it was the difference between his small upstate, New York upbringing and life in the southern capitol city which sparked this intense interest.

While honing his craft seriously for the better part of his undergraduate days, Mac balanced a modest involvement in the Atlanta Jazz Scene with receiving high honors for his philosophical work on jazz music, entitled “Improvisation is the Non-Thetic Outwardness of the Imagination.”

Mac has made a living as a musician since graduation, working on cruise ships, spending time in the Portland, OR music scene before moving back to and playing music again in Atlanta in 2012 and earning his Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies from Georgia State University in 2015.

Involved in many Atlanta projects stemming from classic jazz such as a Dave Brubeck Quartet Concert Series with Alan Dyin, Scott Glazer and Adrian Ash, to straight ahead bebop with the likes of Kermit Walker, Louis Heriveaux and the Harper family, latin influenced music with Orquesta Taboga or Luis Cordero’s Serenata, Mac strives to be a major part of Atlanta’s fertile music scene.

At the young age of 25, he has successfully led groups to the city’s premier jazz clubs including Churchill Grounds and The Velvet Note. He was also the leader of the long-running Atlanta jam session at the Queen of Sheba from 2014-2017.