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Mark Walker
Since moving to New York in 1995, he has performed and recorded with: Oregon, Paquito D'Rivera, Michel Camilo, Caribbean Jazz Project, Dave Samuels, Andy Narell, Lyle Mays, David Liebman, Cesar Camargo Mariano and many more.
He has appeared on major television shows such as: "Late Night with David Letterman," "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," "PBS presents..." and "BET On Jazz."
He also appears on screen with Paquito D'Rivera in Fernando Trueba's Latin jazz documentary Calle 54 (Miramax).
In the Education field he was appointed Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston (2001) creating a new curriculum, serving on the Education committee and teaching drummers, percussionists and ensembles.
He has also served on the faculty at Drummers Collective in New York City. Mark has given master classes, clinics and workshops in South America, North America and Europe.
As an author he's written for the all-star instructional drum set book Killer Grooves published by Carl Fischer. He is currently working on a book for Berklee press tentatively titled World Jazz Drumming.
His solo projects include the sample/loop discs Chameleon Drums, Vol 1 & 2 (Sonic Emulations) and Ritmo De Las Americas (Sampleheads).
He has also composed and arranged for the group Oregon, the Paquito D'Rivera Quintet, Bob McGrath and David Onderdonk. His compositions can be heard on new releases by Oregon and Paquito D'Rivera Quintet.
He has won three Grammy Awards and earned several Grammy nominations for his work with various artists, including Oregon, Donato Poveda, Paquito D'Rivera and Caribbean Jazz Project.
He's won in 1996 the grand prize for Jazziz magazine's competition "Percussion On Fire." Mark has also earned the Indie award and the Jazz award (German record manufacturers) for his work with Oregon.
Mark Walker is a Yamaha, Paiste, Remo, Vic Firth and LP artist.
Awards
Grammy Nomination 2008 "Best Instrumental Composition" for his composition "Deep Six" recorded by Oregon Played on several Grammy Award and Latin Grammy Award winning recordings by Paquito D'Rivera, such as "Portraits of Cuba", "Live at the Blue Note", "Tropicana Nights", "Funk Tango"and "Panamericana Suite." Played on the Grammy winning recording by Dave Samuel and the Caribbean Jazz Project, "Here and Now: Live in Concert" Played on many other Grammy nominated recordings. Please see http://www.markwalkerdrums.com/discography.html for more info.
Tags
Omar Thomas Large Ensemble: Griot Songs
by Alberto Bazzurro
Dopo una lunga gestazione, giunge a noi questo che è il terzo lavoro del Large Ensemble diretto dal compositore newyorchese Omar Thomas (incisione del maggio 2024), un doppio album ambizioso e di chiaro intento anche didascalico in cui l'orchestra appare eloquentemente come il naturale prolungamento del gesto autoriale, con risultati di notevole impatto, sette brani di ampio respiro (dai nove ai diciassette minuti) in cui la massa orchestrale tende a muoversi per lo più compatta, lungo partiture belle piene, solide, ...
Continue ReadingRon Rieder: Latin Jazz Sessions
by Jack Bowers
Even while pursuing a long and successful career in the physical sciences, Bostonian Ron Rieder never abandoned his life-long love for jazz, especially the tantalizing melodies and lively rhythms of Latin America, composing music at every opportunity before returning to writing full-time and at long last recording his debut album, Latin Jazz Sessions It was worth the wait. Rieder's colorful tunes ensnare the ears from the outset and never let go, while his septet plays Latin jazz about ...
Continue ReadingTim Ray Trio: Fire & Rain
by Jack Bowers
Boston-based pianist Tim Ray and his rhythm mates, bassist John Lockwood and drummer Mark Walker, have been performing together since 2013, and Fire & Rain is their second recording as a trio. Their years working arm-in-arm and side-by-side have spawned a symbiotic relationship, and it shows. Even when the trio tests the free-jazz waters--as it does only once, on a seat-of-the-pants salute to Chick Corea, “Improv #1 (for Chick)"--everyone is on the same page and no one ...
Continue ReadingTim Ray Trio: Fire & Rain
by Edward Blanco
Veteran educator and jazz pianist Tim Ray pays homage to some of his musical heroes with a piano trio album simply entitled Fire & Rain. It features various well-known standards from those who have been a major influence in his career, along with three original tunes added to the mix. Joining the pianist on this new adventure are familiar band mates, bassist John Lockwood and drummer Mark Walker, originally together for a Greg Abate concert and then for the Abate ...
Continue ReadingThe New World Jazz Composers Octet: The Next Stage
by Nicholas F. Mondello
The jazz octet has long been somewhat of a “Swiss Army Knife" for composer-arrangers. Consider, for example, the great Dave Pell, Ornette Coleman, David Murray, and the J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding Octets. In the hands of great arrangers, the eight-piece format allows arrangers to leverage the flexibility and creativity of a “Messengers" frontline with the total sonic impact of a classic big band. The Next Stage from The New World Jazz Composers Octet is a superb ...
Continue ReadingNelson Riveros: The Latin Side of Wes Montgomery
by Dan Bilawsky
After delving into the repertoire of legendary guitarist Wes Montgomery at a gig in the not-so-distant past, six-stringer Nelson Riveros was struck with the idea for this tribute project. Playing true to Montgomery's work and legacy, while pulling from his own Colombian roots and imbuing the music with varied elements drawn from the broader Latin lexicon, Riveros brands this album with a syncretic signature and a hefty helping of pure joy. Opening with “Road Song," Riveros retains ...
Continue ReadingDouglas Olsen: 2 Cents
by Jack Bowers
What seems at first blush to be a nonet on this splendid new album is actually trumpeter Douglas Olsen's core quartet, amplified on various selections by talented guests who raise the number anywhere from a quintet to an octet. Even though Olsen has been a super-busy free-lancer on the New England jazz scene for more than two decades, 2 Cents is apparently his first recording date as leader of his own group; with that in mind, perhaps Olsen reasoned it ...
Continue Reading11th Annual Arlington Jazz Festival with Headliners Randy Brecker And Mark Walker's World Jazz Ensemble from April 7-10, 2022
Source:
Mary Curtin Productions
The Arlington Jazz Festival (Boston) has scheduled a wide variety of musical events over a 4-day stretch in several venues around the town. The Festival, now in its 11th year, is presented by Arlington Jazz. This year’s headlining concert, held at the Regent Theatre on the final day of the festival, showcases legendary multi-Grammy award winning jazz trumpeter/composer Randy Brecker performing with Grammy winning drummer/composer Mark Walker and his World Jazz Ensemble, which features French pianist Alain Mallet, Peruvian bassist ...
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Primary Instrument
Drums
Willing to teach
Intermediate to advanced
Credentials/Background
Associate Professor, Berklee College of Music (2001-present), available for private instruction
Photos
Music
Obeah Woman
From: Griot SongsBy Mark Walker
La Oncena
From: En DiabladaBy Mark Walker
Rothko Sketches
From: Strange TimesBy Mark Walker
I Feel Free
From: April & Joanie Sing!By Mark Walker
Ondé
From: Dice Que Vive (Signs Of Life)By Mark Walker
Numbers
From: UnsaidBy Mark Walker
Waltz for Moe
From: Panamericana SuiteBy Mark Walker
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