Born: July 12, 1953 Primary Instrument: Piano
Mark Soskin was born July 12, 1953 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Soskin has recorded and performed with such diverse musicians as Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Randy Brecker, Billy Cobham, Buster Williams, Eddie Henderson, Stanley Turrentine, Cornell Dupree, Herbie Mann, John Abercrombie, Claudio Roditi, Sheila Jordan, Gato Barbieri, Joe Locke, David\”Fathead\”Newman, Mark Murphy, Slide Hampton, Pete and Sheila Escovedo, Bobby Watson, Miroslav Vitous, The NY Voices, Phil Woods and others.
Soskin attended Colorado State University where he pursued classical studies, but at this time his interests in jazz music were growing. In 1973 he enrolled in The Berklee College of Music, studying composition as well as arranging. In Boston he began to work professionally until moving to San Francisco, eventually going on to work with some of the west coast\'s finest players.
Shortly after arriving in San Francisco, Soskin was introduced to the Latin music legend, Pete Escovedo. Along with Pete\'s daughter, percussionist Sheila. E, they toured and recorded as Azteca, a group in which Soskin\'s keyboard, writing, and arranging talents were showcased. Eventually, the group, which now included Tom Harrell on trumpet, went on to record two discs for Fantasy Records, produced by drum ace Billy Cobham. Soskin was enlisted in Cobham\'s band, a stint that lasted for two years and which produced two recordings for Columbia. Between tours for Cobham, Soskin did a tour and live recording for the CBS All Stars with Tom Scott, Alphonso Johnson, Steve Khan, and Billy Cobham. At this time Soskin was very active as a session player at Fantasy studios in Berkeley, California and veteran jazz music producer Orrin Keepnews took notice.
Soskin signed his first recording contract with Prestige (a subsidiary of Fantasy) produced by Keepnews, entitled \”Rhythm Vision.\” This featured the likes of Benny Maupin and Harvey Mason with the album eventually making it into Billboard\'s top ten Jazz Chart.
Keepnews introduced Soskin to Sonny Rollins, which started a long, fruitful collaboration (14 years). Besides the extensive touring throughout the world, Soskin can be heard on a number of critically acclaimed recordings with the tenor sax master, including a video,\”Saxophone Collosusî.
Since 1981 Soskin has resided in New York City, remaining active as sideman and as a leader. He has seven of his own recordings to date and three as co-leader, one which features Harvie Swartz and Joe LaBarbera with Sheila Jordan called \”Spirits\”, one under the name \”Contempo Trio\” with Danny Gottlieb and Chip Jackson featuring Ravi Coltrane and another Contempo Trio recording named \”The Secret of Life\” featuring Carolyn Leonhart. His recording, \”17\” on TCB, highlights Soskin in a quintet setting featuring mainly original compositions. His CD \”One Hopeful Day\”(Kind of Blue,2007) features John Abercrombie,John Patitucci,Chris Potter, and Bill Stewart. His latest recording is “Man Behind The Curtain”(Kindofblue, 2009) which features Ravi Coltrane, Bill Stewart and Jay Anderson. Soskin's most recent CD is “Mark Soskin Solo Piano/Nino Rota(Kindofblue, 2012) which was voted in the top ten recordings of 2012 by All About Jazz. He continues to maintain a busy tour schedule as well as giving master classes and workshops. Television performance credits include the HBO hit series, \”Sex And The City.\” Examples of arranging projects have been writing for Slide Hampton\'s \”World Of Trombones\” and his writing and playing on Steve Smith\'s DVD,\”Drumset Technique/History of the U.S. Beat\”. Soskin has been featured in solo piano concerts throughout the world such as the Ottawa Jazz Festival. He has performed the premier of contemporary classical music composer John Adams\' opera, \”Ceiling/Sky\” at Lincoln Center.
Soskin is currently on the faculty of The Manhattan School Of Music and has been written up in numerous music publications, including Ira Gitler and Leonard Feather\'s Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz and The Jazz Book by Joachim E. Berendt. Mark Soskin is featured in the film documenting latin jazz artists entitled \”Calle 54.\”
Mark Soskin teaches privately and is available for master classes/workshops. http://www.marksoskin.com
”Soskin establishes a compelling style at once sophisticated and spontaneous” —Chuck Berg, Jazz Times
”Soskin renders flailing arpeggios in conjunction with harmonically based block chords with stinging rhythm accompaniment. Buoyantly executed medium tempo swing vamps and tuneful choruses, abetted by the pianist\'s intricate maneuvers and lyrically charged solos” —Glenn Astarista All About Jazz
”Soskin added crisp, leaning-into-the-beat solos with a distinct flair for rousing climaxes” —George Kanzler Newark Star-Ledger
”A Strong outing for Soskin, highlighting his sensitive touch, bold statements and keen interplay” —Bill Milkowski Downbeat
”Soskin was turning out some of the best all-around piano work I've heard in some time” —Philip Elwood S.F. Examiner
”Soskin has commanding rhythmic strength and a punching left hand-an effective, fluent soloist” —Gary Giddins The Village Voice
”When sensitivity is needed,as on Monk's “Reflections” or ”Nightingale”,for example,Soskin always improvises something heartfelt and out of the ordinary” —Fred Grand Jazz Review Magazine
RHYTHM VISION-Prestige
OVERJOYED-Jazz City
VIEWS FROM HERE-King
AROUND THE CORNER-King
MARK SOSKIN SOLO-Vartan Jazz
FIVE LANDS(CINQUETERRA) DIFFERENT DUOS- TCB
17 (Seventeen)-TCB
MARK SOSKIN SOLO(homage to Sonny Rollins)-White Foundation
ONE HOPEFUL DAY-Kind of Blue MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN
As Co-Leader
SPIRITS: w/ Harvie Swartz, Joe Labarbera, Sheila Jordan-
Vartan Jazz
CONTEMPO TRIO: w/ Danny Gottlieb, Chip Jackson feat.
Ravi Coltrane-
Jazzline
CONTEMPO TRIO: w/ Danny Gottlieb, Chip Jackson feat.
Carolyn Leonhart-
THE SECRET OF LIFE-First
Media
As Sideman
As Sideman
Roger Glenn: REACHIN\'-Fantasy
Pete Escovedo and Sheila E: SOLO TWO-Fantasy
Pete Escovedo and Sheila E: HAPPY TOGETHER-
Fantasy
Bill Summers: FEEL THE HEAT-Fantasy
Bill Summers: ON SUNSHINE-Fantasy
Bobbi Humphrey: TAILOR MADE-Columbia
Billy Cobham: MAGIC-Columbia
Billy Cobham: SIMPLICITY OF EXPRESSION, DEPTH OF
THOUGHT-
Columbia
CBS Allstars: ALIVEMUTHAFORYA-Columbia
George Russell: LIVE IN AN AMERICAN TIME SPIRAL-
Soul Note
Herbie Mann: JASIL BRAZZ-Rbi
Herbie Mann: OPALESCENSE-Kokopelli
Herbie Mann: CAMINHO DE CASA-Chesky
Herbie Mann: AMERICA/BRASIL-Lightyear
Herbie Mann: 65TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, LIVE AT
THE BLUE NOTE-
Lightyear
Jeanie Stahl: I\'M JUST FOOLIN\' MYSELF-Daring
Records
Billy Novick: PENNYWHISTLES FROM HEAVEN-Green
Linnet
Kayoko Miyama Feat.Tanareid w/Mark Soskin: Best
Regards-Sound Hills
Claudio Roditi: JAZZ TURNS SAMBA-Groovin\' High
Claudio Roditi: FREEWHEELIN\'-Reservoir
Bobby Watson: URBAN RENEWAL-Kokopelli
Steve Bargonetti: STEVE BARGONETTI-Qwest
Various Artists: A JAZZ CITY CHRISTMAS-Jazz City
Jimmy Ponder: SOMETHING TO PONDER-Muse
Jimmy Ponder: STEEL CITY SOUL-32 Jazz Records
Hendrik Muerkens: A VIEW FROM MANHATTAN-
Concord
Hendrik Muerkens: POEMA BRASILERO-Concord
Hendrik Muerkens: SLIDIN\'-Concord
Steve Slagle Feat. Joe Lovano: SMOKE SIGNALS-
Panorama
Joe Locke: INNERSPACE-Steeplechase
Sonny Rollins: DON\'T STOP THE CARNIVAL-
Milestone
Sonny Rollins: DON\'T ASK-Milestone
Sonny Rollins: SUNNY DAYS STARRY NIGHTS-
Milestone
Sonny Rollins: DANCING IN THE DARK-Milestone
Sonny Rollins: FALLING IN LOVE WITH JAZZ-
Milestone
Sonny Rollins: G-MAN-Milestone
Sonny Rollins: HERE\'S TO THE PEOPLE-Milestone
Sonny Rollins: SILVER CITY-Milestone
Teddy Edwards: JAMES VAN BUREN MEETS TEDDY
EDWARDS-Vartan Jazz
Carla White: LIVE AT VARTAN\'S-Vartan Jazz
Compilation: THE BEST OF VARTAN JAZZ, VOLS.1&2-
Vartan Jazz
Sherry Winston: LOVE MADNESS-Headfirst
Sherri Roberts: DREAMSVILLE-Brownstone
Sherri Roberts: TWILIGHT WORLD-Brownstone
Eric Wyatt: GODSON-Paddlewheel
Dawn Upshaw: THE WORLD SO WIDE-Nonesuch
Ze Louis: GUARANI BANANA- Malandro
Kenia: INITIAL THRILL-Zebra
Kenia: RIO/NEW YORK-Jazzmania
Deuce: DEUCE-Redwood Records
Nanette Natal: STAIRWAY TO THE STARS-Benyo
Music
Hans Kennel: STELLA FEAT.MARK SOSKIN-TCB
Supernova: SUPERNOVA FEAT.CLAUDIA VILLELA-
Jazzheads
Roseanna Vitro: CONVICTION-A Records
String Of Pearls: S.O.P New York/Brasil-Alfa Music
Bruce Williamson: BIG CITY MAGIC-Timeless
Roland Vazquez: NO SEPARATE LOVE-RCVD
Roland Vazquez: FURTHUR DANCE-RCVD
Greg Abate: HAPPY SAMBA-Blue Chip Jazz
Manhattan Reggae Unit: COME SPRING-Pony
Canyon
Manhattan Reggae Unit: TOGETHER-Pony Canyon
Fritz Renold and The Bostonian Friends: STARLIGHT-
Columbia
The Empire State Group: BENJAMIN SUJESH-Anothen
Records
Kazuko Michishita: YOU CAN DREAM-Kaz Music
Minehaha: MAY HAPPINESS BE YOURS-Nippon
Columbia
Various Musicians: KEYS TO THE CITY-Pony Canyon
Various Musicians: COWBOY BEBOP,NO DISC-
Victor
Shinobu Itoh: SAILING ROLLING-PAS
Calle 54 Soundtrack-Bluenote
Robert Debellis: PARALLAX-VinTone Records
Steve Smith And Buddy\'s Buddies: VERY LIVE AT
RONNIE SCOTT\'S-
ToneCenter
Steve Smith\'s Jazz Legacy
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Primary Instrument:
Piano
Location:
New York, NY
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
Credentials/Background:
Currently serving on the faculty of Manhattan School of
Music.
Contact at 212-724-2453 for hours/rates.
Clinic/Workshop Information:
A wide variety of clinics are offered. For more information
contact at 212-724-
2453
or at msoskin@aol.com
