Mark started out playing on the Birmingham jazz and - then-embryonic, now-flourishing - improvised music scenes, working regularly in groups led by pianist Steve Tromans and altoist
Chris Bowden. He was an early member of Hans Koller Ensemble, recording 2 CDs (one with soprano legend Steve Lacy), and shortly after moving to London he helped co-found the Loop Collective and became one of the busiest players on the capital's new jazz scene.
He has appeared on over 30 CDs with groups including Nostalgia 77, Outhouse/Ruhabi, Twelves, Jonathan Bratoeff Quartet and Keith Tippett. He has played at many major festivals and venues in the UK, Europe and US and has been broadcast several times on Resonance 104.4FM, BBC Radios 1 and 3, and on internet stations.
Since turning his attention back towards purely improvised music he began to play regularly with many of the leading figures on that scene, including flautist Neil Metcalfe, pianist Veryan Weston, drummer Javier Carmona; in the trio TOM-MIX with Tony Marsh and Olie Brice; and also with Bruce Coates, Paul Dunmall and Mike Hurley in the Midlands.
Outside of Loop he co-leads and composes for the Twelves, plays in gifted composer/guitarist Jonathan Bratoeff's groups, bassist Olie Brice’s Quartet with pianist Leon Michener and US drummer Jeff Williams and drummer Tony Bianco’s new project.
Mark’s current projects include a duo with Barcelona-based drummer Javier Carmona and Hanslip/Hurley/Sanders trio, while future plans include concerts in duo with Parisian alto saxophonist Stephane Payen (of Thot and Hask Collective) and in trio with bassist Dominic Lash and drummer Phillip Marks, and a recording of new and old/rehashed compositions (group lineup TBC..).
He is a jazz tutor at Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD) and at Kings College, London (KCL).
'An improviser of tremendous feeling and an adventurous risk-taker'
Daniel Paton, Music OMH website
'Can play anything from straight-ahead jazz to free improvisation, and his technique, both traditional and extended, is exceptional'
Ian Mann, The Jazz Mann website
'The go-to guy for the tricky art of playing free-fall improv with a melodic shape.'
John Fordham, The Guardian
Projects
