Raised in Washington, D.C., Marc Cary has become known as one of the most original jazz pianists in New York. A man of eclectic tastes, Cary has a strong post-bop foundation but has also explored Afro-Cuban rhythms, electronic groove music, and other directions with his various ensembles. Upon arriving in New York, Cary was taken under the wing of Mickey Bass and Beaver Harris. His first big-time gigs came in the early '90s with Arthur Taylor, Betty Carter, and Roy Hargrove. In 1994, he became Abbey Lincoln's pianist and arranger.