Mitch Marcus founded the Mitch Marcus Quintet in 1999. The sound is a unique one, taking listeners through a labyrinth of shifting sonic textures. The quintet describes it as ranging from post-apocalyptic jazz to scintillating trance hypnotism. Comprised of some of the Bay Area's finest musicians, this dynamic collective features the extended compositions of saxophonists Marcus and Sylvain Carton, as well as the “rumbling opuses” of drummer Ches Smith. The members of the quintet also play in a diverse array of Bay Area bands, such as Donovan, Stanley, Trevor Dunn's Convulsant Trio, Good for Cows, Japonize Elephants, Realistic Orchestra and Shotgun Wedding Hiphop Symphony.