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Mark Gross
Mark Gross swings and sings with soul and rhythm along today's jazz vanguard. He constantly pushes the music forward, while staying true to the elements of the classic sound. Mark Gross has recorded on over 80 notable jazz recording, including 2 GRAMMY AWARD winning projects by the Dave Holland Big Band - 'What Goes Around' on ECM Records, and 'Overtime' on Dare 2 Records. Mark’s recordings 'Preach Daddy' on King Records and 'Riddle of the Sphinx' on J Curve Record and 'Blackside' on Jazz Legacy Productions have all received rave reviews."
“As record concepts go, 'Riddle of the Sphinx' is one of the most clever to come down the pike...Mark Gross is a sax man deserving wider attention who is blessed with a rich, pure tone...Clearly one of the orders of the day for jazz album projects is the conceptual approach....he has successfully plotted and delivered this course, arriving at a package that is fresh, original, and served up by a cohesive band of fine players. Could we ask for anything more?" Willard Jenkins-regular contributor to Jazz Times, Downbeat, and Jazz Report Magazine
"Gross is a new and powerful alto sax player who is a Cannonball type player. As you may presume ... funky is his flavor. He...shows his modern modality which is reflected in his sound." Takao Ogawa-Swing Journal, Japan
Gross recently signed and recorded his latest recording ‘Blackside’ for his new record label JAZZ LEGACY PRODUCTIONS (JLP). This will be released in October 2012.
His consistently professional musicianship has led to live and recorded efforts with many of his fellow pacesetters in jazz music. Mark has toured the world with the Mark Gross Quartet, Philip Harper, Nat Adderley, Dave Holland, Mulgrew Miller, Nicholas Payton, Delfeayo Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie, Nancy Wilson, Jimmy Heath, Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Big Band, Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Tom Harrell Big Band, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Frank Foster and the Loud Minority, Charles Mingus Big Band, Freddie Hubbard, Donald Harrison, Mark Whitfield, Joe Dukes, Captain Jack McDuff, Joe Chambers, Neal Smith, Cyrus Chestnut, Regina Carter, Lionel Hampton, Stephon Harris, Walter Booker, Jimmy Cobb, Don Braden, Vincent Gardner, Lenora 'Zenzalai' Helm, Marlon Saunders, SEPIA, Jann Parker, Buster Williams 'Something More' Quartet to name a few. His professional relationships with these musicians and others have been long lasting and far- reaching.
Mark credits his prolific sound to the rich appreciation for Gospel music that resounded through his parent's Baltimore home.
Mark has performed on Broadway several times, as well. He performed in 'FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE' (1992-1993) based on the music of Louis Jordan. 'KAT AND THE KINGS' (1999-2000). This musical explores the joyous sounds that were born out of oppression during the 1950's in Cape Town, South Africa; APARTHEID. This is a rollicking rock-'n'-roll musical. Mark has also added to the exciting musical that showcased music of the same title, 'SWING' (2000-2001). Mark has also appeared in 'Malcolm X' (1992), Spike Lee's major motion film.
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read moreMark Gross: Riddle of the Sphinx
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Alto/soprano saxophonist Mark Gross and his cohorts carry on in music man's fascination with trying to solve the riddles associated with Egypt's greatest monument the Sphinx. The first track, the mysterious sounding Valley of the Dry Bones" establishes the overall setting for what's to follow over the next 50 or so minutes, viz., Middle Eastern musical themes built on Gross' probing sometimes querulous soprano. But on the next track, Moses In Egypt", there's a discernable feeling of hope created, again ...
read moreMark Gross: Riddle Of The Sphinx
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What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs at night?
Man.
Cue the drummer’s rim shot followed by a bass drum thud. Then give the philosophical riddle a thought or two about how we begin our lives by moving cautiously, move into the fast lane for awhile, and then settle down later on with experience at our side. Along the way we hope to absorb and understand as many special impressions as ...
read moreJazz For Teens Education Program Celebrates 25 Years Of Impacting Thousands Of Young Musicians
Source:
AMT Public Relations
Spring semester January 21-May 13, 2023, every Saturday @ 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Special 25th anniversary performance May 13, 2023. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) ,the state’s anchor cultural institution, celebrates 25 years of offering thousands of high schoolers from Newark and beyond music lessons and performance experiences through its popular TD Jazz for Teensprogram. One of the first of many arts education institutions at NJPAC, it has grown into a nationally recognized and revered program producing stellar alumni ...
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"Gross is a new and powerful alto sax player who is a Cannonball type player