Mark Sherman

After nearly 30 years of recording, composing, and performing with countless orchestras, jazz artists, and vocal artists, vibraphonist /composer Mark Sherman a Yamaha performing artist and a Vic Firth artist, has a beautiful quintet featuring Joe Magnarelli on trumpet, Allen Farnham on piano, Dean Johnson on bass, and Tim Horner on drums. Winner of Rising Vibes in 2007 and 2008 by Down Beat magazine, Sherman’s recording in 2005 “One Step Closer” featuring Joe Lovano was in the top ten on jazz radio for 12 weeks in the United States. The recording in 2007 “Family First” was the most spun CD in the United States in it’s opening week on the charts, and his most recent recording done live at the Bird’s Eye Jazz Club in Basel, Switzerland at the close of a 2 week European tour, is entitled Mark Sherman Quartet “Live at The Bird’s Eye” and continues to get rave reviews and big radio response. Tied in with most of Sherman's live performances (clubs, and festivals) is a 2 hour master-class on language skills for improvisation, usually done at the local music school or university music department, and sponsored by Yamaha and Vic Firth Co.” These master-classes have been extremely successful at the high school and college level. “I've received countless emails from students telling me how my system for learning the harmonic language needed for playing jazz was the simplest and most user friendly system they've come across, and that it answered many of the confusing questions, and got them improvising on chord changes very quickly.” Mark Sherman's background, Juilliard education, and working, performance and recording experience have all contributed to a unique vision, which incorporates elements of jazz, blues, and classical music. Accomplished as a soloist (vibraphone/piano/drums), ensemble player, composer, and educator, Sherman is in love with music and re-harmonization of chords to explore and give expression to his musical vision. The Bronx-born and raised son of a star soprano who performed with the Cleveland and Boston Symphony Orchestras had 5 years of classical piano lessons before he fell in love with jazz through Lester Young, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane LP's. He had been playing drums for a while and practicing with records, emulating Elvin Jones, when he heard that Elvin was teaching at Frank Ippolito's Professional Percussion Center. Mark sought him out as a teacher. What he learned most from Elvin was a feeling of “loose but intense swing” and how to “channel spiritual energy into music.” Sherman graduated from the High school of Music and Art and then went on to Juilliard, where he had 5 solid years of percussion training with tympani master Saul Goodman, and percussion master Elden (Buster) Bailey. He played in symphonic situations led by Zubin Mehta, Sir George Solti, and Leonard Bernstein, and many other fine conductors. At Juilliard he met another soul at home in both classical and jazz worlds Wynton Marsalis. They jammed together regularly and years later when Columbia Records' George Butler inquired about Mark, Wynton's endorsement helped pave the way for Sherman's record date A New Balance (1986). The first few years after Juilliard he made a living in freelance studio scene in New York City. But more challenging work soon came his way, He found himself in playing situations with, Kenny Kirkland, Rodney Jones, Joe Beck, Jackie & Roy, the NY Philharmonic, the Joffrey Ballet Orchestra, the American Symphony, the NY New Music Ensemble and many other groups. David Chesky wrote a concerto for vibes and orchestra especially for Sherman, which has been performed at Lincoln Center. Mark performed as featured soloist in Darius Milhaud's Concerto For Marimba and Orchestra at Merkin Hall. Sherman went on the road with singers Jackie and Roy(4 years), which led to his recording and working with Peggy Lee (6 years). From her he had lessons in how to “turn a musical phrase” and “subtle time.” Working with the special musicians Lee surrounded herself with (Mike Renzi, Jay Leonhart, Grady Tate, and Jon Chiodini) led to gigs with Mel Torme, and recordings with other singers including Maureen McGovern, Liza Minelli, Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, Ruth Brown, Gloria Lynn, Laverne Butler and many others. He played on records by guitarists Joe Beck and Rodney Jones, and also co- produced Jones' CD “The Unspoken Heart” for Minor Music in Germany. Sherman began touring with R&B pioneer Ruth Brown just at the time when she was being re-appreciated as a jazz singer. But her singing of standards always calls for a heavy dose of blues feeling and blues changes. Mark was exposed to a lot of different blues forms and tempos. In accompanying her he gained a renewed awareness of the blues as the roots of all American popular music. He played vibes and piano on Brown's “Songs Of My Life” (Fantasy records) After recording for small labels, A New Balance (CBS) showcased his skills as a composer, vibraphonist, and pianist. In the last few years Mark has been performing with his group and doing master classes worldwide. Some of his music has been used regularly on TV shows. Mark has toured with guitarist Larry Coryell. He produced two of Coryell's CD’s, I'll Be Over You (CTI records), and Sketches Of Coryell (Shanachie records) and played on “New High”(High Note records). Mark played vibes on Gloria Lynne's “This One's On Me” (High Note records) as well as Lena Horne’s release on (Blue Note records). In addition Mark has eight CD's of his own music “Fulcrum Point”, “A New Balance “(CBS), “Spiral Staircase”, “High Rolling”, “The Motive Series“, “One Step Closer”, “Family First”, and his latest Quartet recording “Live at The Bird’s Eye” which are available globally, and on the internet at www.markshermanmusic.com or www.mileshighrecords.com.

•Education: Graduate of Juilliard School Of Music, The High- School of Music and Art New York City

•Teachers: Saul Goodman, Elvin Jones, Jaki Byard , Roland Hanna, Roland Kohloff, Buster Bailey, Justin DiCioccio

•Performing Experience: (Small Groups) Peggy Lee Jackie and Roy Liza Minelli Ruth Brown Patti Lupone Jennifer Holiday Aretha Franklin Maureen McGovern Jackie and Roy Mel Torme Charles Aznavour Joe Lovano Michael Brecker Freddie Hubbard Jon Hendricks Chic Corea Rodney Jones Joe Beck Larry Coryell Lena Horne Gloria Lynne Michael McDonald Garth Brooks Tony Bennett Paquito D’Rivera New York Voices Ben E King Rob Mathes

•Teaching and Clinician Experience: The Juilliard School of Music Manhattan School Of Music Peabody Conservatory New Jersey City University Jazz Dept USSBA and Youth Education Association Fiorello LaGuardia School of The Performing Arts (NYC) University of Southern Mississippi EJMA Jazz school in Lausanne Switzerland Jazz and Rock School Freiburg Germany Occidental College Los Angeles, and many more..

•Orchestras and Chamber Music: New York Philharmonic Mostly Mozart Festival New York Chamber Ensemble American Symphony The Joffrey Ballet Orchestra American Composers Orchestra New York New Music Ensemble Long Island Philharmonic The Empire Brass Quintet Brooklyn Philharmonic Philharmonia Virtuosi Bronx Arts Ensemble New Jersey Symphony NY Chamber Symphony

Discography as a leader “Live At The Bird’s Eye” 2008 MHR “Family First” 2007 MHR “One Step Closer” 2005 MHR “The Motive Series 2004 MHR “Spiral Staircase” 1999 MHR “High Rollin” 1998 MHR “A New Balance” CBS1986 “Fulcrum Point” UNIS 1980

Discography as a producer Larry Coryell “Sketches Of Coryell” Shanachie records 1997 Larry Coryell “I'll Be Over You” CTI records 1996 Rodney Jones “The Unspoken Heart” 1992 Soundworks with Thomas Chapin 1995

Discography as a sideman Manure (Original Soundtrack 2008) Jennifer Holiday ( 2008) Mimzy (Original Soundtrack 2006) Lena Horne/Seasons Of Life 2006 See What I Wanna See (Broadway Cast Album) 2006 Miss Congeniality (Original Soundtrack 2006) Failure To Launch (Original Soundtrack 2006) Light In The Piazza (Broadway Cast Album) 2005 Cheryl Wheeler-Defying Gravity 2005 Jazz Improv Companion CD 6 2005 Ann Hampton Callaway/Slow-2004 The Alamo (Original Soundtrack) 2004 Ronnie Jordan-After 8- 2004 Dr Chesky’s Surround Sound Show- 2004 Intolerable Cruelty (Original Soundtrack) 2003 DJ Spinna/Here To There 2003 Mary Fahl/The Other Side Of Time-2003 Blue Voices/The Finest In Jazz Ballads-2003 Blue Voices/The Finest In Jazz Ballads-2003 Liza Minelli/Liza’s Back 2002 Two Weeks Notice (Original Soundtrack) 2002 The Rookie (Original Soundtrack) 2002 Ronnie Jordan/Off The Record-2001 The Score (Original Soundtrack) 2001 Larry Coryell/New High (High Note) 2000 Scott Hesse/Flame Within A Fire 2000 Footloose (Broadway Cast Album) 1999 Rodney Jones/Undiscovered Few 1999 Armagedeon - Aerosmith (Original Soundtrack) 1999 Gloria Lynne/ This One’s On Me 1998 The Lion King /Disney 1998 Hercules Disney 1998 Michael Bolton/All That Matters 1997 Julian Coryell/Duality 1997 Steel Pier (Original Cast Recording) 1997 Larry Coryell/Sketches Of Coryell 1996 Chesky Records Collection 1 1995 Laverne Butler/No Lookin’ Back 1994 Kiss Of The Spiderwoman/Original Cast Recording 1995 Rhymes and Fables/Cab Calloway/Freddie Hubbard 1995 Larry Coryell/I’ll Be Over You-CTI Records 1994 (Producer) Best Of Chesky Classics- Chesky Records 1994 Ruth Brown/Songs Of My Life 1993 Peggy Lee/Love Held Lightly Songs of Harold Arlen 1993 Smooth Jazz Slow Jams-1993 Christmas Songs Milestone 1993 Rodney Jones The Unspoken Heart 1992 Laverne Butler Daydreamin’ 1992 Love Songs Sony 1992 Maureen Mcgovern Gershwin CD 1990 Peggy Lee Songbook There Will Never Be Another Spring 1990 Peggy Lee Musicmasters Jazz Sampler 1989 Peggy Lee Sings The Blues- 1989 Maureen McGovern Naughty Baby 1989 Joe Beck/Back To Beck 1988