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Mark Zaleski

Internationally touring musician, Mark Zaleski, has distinguished himself as a uniquely dynamic soloist, mulit-instrumentalist, and band leader. He has performed with a diverse group of notable artists including Dave Brubeck, Christian McBride, Ian Anderson, Connie Francis, Mahmoud Ahmed, Rakalam Bob Moses, the Either/Orchestra, Jason Palmer, and Matt Savage.

Growing up in the small town of Boylston, MA, Zaleski was influenced by the musical tastes of his friends, family, and teachers. His parents were fans of rock and pop music from the 1960’s and 1970’s like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Temptations and Stevie Wonder. His friends were fans of punk and metal bands of the 1990’s like Nirvana, Metallica, and Pearl Jam. His brother, Glenn Zaleski, and his music teachers listened to jazz artists such as Dave Brubeck, Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson, Cannonball Adderley, and John Coltrane.

His unique approach to jazz led him to become the first alto saxophonist selected to the prestigious Dave Brubeck Institute Fellowship Program in Stockton, CA in 2003. Zaleski spent those two year performing with his virtuostic peers and learning from established pros such as Bobby Watson, Ndugu Chancler, Conrad Herwig, Eric Harland, Greg Tardy, Rufus Reid, Robin Eubanks, and Mic Gillette. Upon completion of the Brubeck Institute, Mark continued his studies at The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. It was at the New England Conservatory that he was able to study with some of the most influential teachers of his life, Charlie Banacos and Jerry Bergonzi. While at The New England Conservatory, Zaleski began to delve deeply into composition. His compositional style derives itself from the music he grew up listening to while still drawing from his training as a jazz musician.

While the band has no vocalist, Zaleski takes on the lead voice channeling a combination of his saxophone heroes and inspirational vocalists like Stevie Wonder, Robert Plant, Michael Jackson, and Donny Hathaway. This sound proved to be a unique voice in music, and started touring at clubs, colleges, and festivals around the country. Notable appearances have been at Small’s in New York City, Ryles in Boston, Egan’s in Seattle, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and Vitello in Los Angeles.

The personal relationships within the ensemble is one of the most important and unique aspects of the Mark Zaleski Band. Beginning at the ages of 10 and 8 years old, Mark and his brother, Glenn Zaleski, have been playing music and creatively callaborating together for the past twenty years! Since meeting at The New England Conservatory, Zaleski and tenor saxophonist Jon Bean have played together as a saxophone duo for 10 years and work together as if one mind is manipulating both of their musical voices. These are only two examples of how the interpersonal relationships within the band play a major role in creating its sound.

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41
Album Review

Mehmet Ali Sanlikol: Turkish Hipster: Tales From Swing To Psychedelic

Read "Turkish Hipster: Tales From Swing To Psychedelic" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Those who believe the term Turkish Hipster has to be an oxymoron should get to know composer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist Mehmet Ali Sanlikol, a Turk whose seventh album, subtitled “Tales from Swing to Psychedelic," is about as hip as can be. Sanlikol knows where is going but chooses to get there in his own special way, using every weapon in his musical arsenal to create vivid sound pictures whose jazz components rest solidly within a Middle Eastern framework that set them apart from ...

6
Album Review

Giuseppe Paradiso: Parallel Dimensions

Read "Parallel Dimensions" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki


Parallel Dimensions steers the listener's imagination through a luxurious multicultural tapestry woven in music by drummer, vocalist, composer, arranger and producer Giuseppe Paradiso and his sextet. It explores broad musical horizons that can sound radiantly bright or dark, often features several instrumental or melodic voices at the same time, and is strongly colored and shaped by African rhythms. Parallel Dimensions sort of sounds the way that the cover of Miles Davis' landmark Bitches Brew looks. Two drum pieces ...

1
Multiple Reviews

New Spins On Old Masters

Read "New Spins On Old Masters" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Dave Brubeck and Charlie Parker were two of the most influential jazz figures of their eras. Many musicians have interpreted their work over the years but these two albums take more liberties than usual with their compositions to good effect. Mark Zaleski Band Our Time: Reimagining Dave Brubeck Origin Records 2021 Saxophonist Mark Zaleski actually studied at the Dave Brubeck Institute and got to know Brubeck and his wife Iola. This ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

Speed Dating

Read "Speed Dating" reviewed by Patrick Burnette


Trying out CDs by unfamiliar artists is a little like speed dating. You've got minutes to decide if you're compatible, if you're likely to be in a relationship for the long term, or if you're just ships passing in the night. Or something like that. Mike and Pat listen to four 2021 releases by unfamiliar artists and ask themselves who they'd like to take home. Stay tuned for a pop matters that sneaks in discussion of Indy Jazz Fest's final ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Turkish Hipster:...

Dunya Records
2023

buy

Parallel Dimensions

Ubuntu Music (UK)
2022

buy

Our Time: Reimagining...

Origin Records
2021

buy

Metropolitan Sketches

Self Produced
2020

buy

Days Months Years

Self Produced
2017

buy

A Capoeira Turca (Baia Havası) featuring Anat Cohen

From: Turkish Hipster: Tales From...
By Mark Zaleski

Blue Rondo à la Turk

From: Our Time: Reimagining Dave...
By Mark Zaleski

Mark in the Park

From: Days Months Years
By Mark Zaleski

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