Mark Sowlakis

Mark G. Sowlakis was introduced to music at the age of 4 through piano lessons; by age 11 he was playing the alto saxophone. A student of William Trimble throughout high school, he was a founding member of The Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orchestra and recorded with steel guitar wizard Bob Brozman. Shortly after his high school graduation he began journeying to the Los Angeles area to study clarinet, flute and saxophone with reknowned teacher Victor Morosco. At this same time he was introduced to master tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh, who became not only a musical influence but an inspirational friend and mentor who influenced his ideas about jazz improvisation and much later his approach to teaching.

His musical studies then took him to San Francisco State University where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance, studying there with Don Carroll of the San Francisco Symphony. While in San Francisco he sought out and studied saxophone privately with tenor greats Larry Scheneider and Joe Henderson, and recorded with the now forgotten San Francisco band Erik Walker and the Horn Moans.Upon graduation he left San Franciso for New York City and earned a Masters Degree in Clarinet Performance at the Mannes College of Music, studying there with New York Philharmonic clarinetist Peter Simenauer and privately with Ken Peplowski.

Mr. Sowlakis has released four solo recordings, 2000’s Simple Beauty, Marking Time in 2002,Sinfonetta featuring Perry Robinson in 2005,and the recently released Universal Truths (2013) on his own label, Pacific Winds Musical Productions. He currently teaches clarinet and saxophone, privately, out of his San Francisco home, and at West Valley Music in Mountain View, Calfornia.

Gear

Buffet clarinets, bass clarinet. Various Selmer Mark VI's and Yamaha saxophones. Yanigasawa curved soprano, 992 Bronze Bell.....

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