Primary Instrument: Bass
Mark Zandveld is the initiator of Zandscape.
Dot Time Records recording group Zandscape is the brainchild of Mark Zandveld (Holland) - he is responsible for all twelve compositions on the eponymous CD and takes credit for the bass parts. Teamed with vibraphonist Gunnar Graafmans (Holland/Sweden), guitarist Daniel “Tato” de Moraes (Uruguay) and drummer Enrique Firpi (Uruguay), he has found a unique sound.
The instrumentation combined with the the fresh variety of tunes – each has its own distinct character result in music that is both melodic and adventurous, reminding of 70's ECM sounds by Corea, Burton, Jarret, Metheny and Swallow, but with a contemporary dressing.
With this original material at hand, these experienced and world-travelled musicians take you on a trek through a musical landscape where one encounters beautiful harmonies, surprising grooves, sensitive ballads, and inventive improvisations.
Checkout the Press page for the first reactions to the CD.
Bassist, producer, and composer Mark Zandveld was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He is the director/ coordinator of the jazz quartet of the American singer/composer, Deborah Carter, to whom he is married. They produced five CD’s together. They tour often abroad for concerts, jazz festivals, jazz club tours, and seminars in many countries like The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, USA, Azerbaijan, Tunisia, Russia, Lithuania, Colombia, Austria, Canada, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Switzerland, UK, Malta, Turkey, France.
Mark started studying the guitar at the age of thirteen. A few years later he switched over to the bass. He began playing in various rhythm & blues bands as well as backing up various well-known artists such as Arthur Conley, Candy Dulfer. In his mid-twenties he went off to Hollywood to study at the renowned Bass Institute of Technology, receiving the award of “Yamaha Bass player of the Year” at the end of his course.
Returning to Europe, he played and recorded with several R & B, funk, and jazz groups and artists. Mark also has been teaching bass guitar and music theory in schools and various seminars throughout Europe, as well as teaching privately.
In recent years Mark has been involved in programming and producing various vocal jazz concert- and session-series in Holland.
“The compositions of Zandveld contain substance and are embedded in a sufficiently strong and sometimes dark sounding foundation” Jan Jasper Tamboer - Jazzenzo.nl
“The tracks reflect the personality of the writer: precise, harmonious, thorough, relaxed and full of respect for the jazz tradition. Mark Zandveld has succeeded in creating his own sound in which the vibraphone and guitar take turns for the solos, the drums are subtle but unmistakably propelling and the bassist delivers pleasant melodic contributions.” Hans Invernizzi - Jazzflits
“This international ensemble provides a pleasantly captivating album, the sound of the band is reminiscent of ECM albums Steve Swallow and Gary Burton. Zandscape is a valuable addition in the Dutch jazz landscape.” Mark Rikxoort - Jazz Contrasts
“I think this is a beautiful form of bebop, not necessarily typical Dutch, which is not a bad thing. To me, the nice thing about this music is its harmonic and technical complexity. It reminds me a CD of Gary Burton with Mike Gibbs: ”Throb”, that I often listened to in my younger years. I was very fond of the light sound of the vibraphone with guitar.....great!” Jan Akkerman - guitarist
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