Mark McLean | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born | North York, Ontario, Canada | February 5, 1975
Origin | New York City |
Genres | Jazz, contemporary, blues |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, lyricist, producer |
Instrument(s) | Drums, piano |
Years active | 1997–present |
Labels | none |
Website | markmclean |
Mark McLean (born February 5, 1975) is a Canadian musician, drummer, composer, lyricist and studio musician. McLean lives and works primarily in New York. He has released three albums under his own name. The first showcases his arrangements of jazz standards while his later albums are original material (except one song). His very early influence was his father's record collection, which included every genre: from Johann Sebastian Bach to James Brown. McLean is becoming known as the "drum whisperer" [1] in part because he can coax organic sounds out of any drum kit. McLean is musically multilingual: jazz, rhythm and blues, funk, pop or any genre required for the song. [2]
McLean's great uncle, Cy McLean was one of the first black band leaders in Canada. His brother Lester McLean [3] is an accomplished saxophonist and vocalist in the Toronto jazz and RnB scene.
McLean began his career at age nine as a gifted classical pianist, but by age 14 had started a second career playing the drums. By the time he was 18, the drums eclipsed the piano as McLean's voice for musical expression and the age of 22 he was playing with fellow Canadian and jazz icon, Oscar Peterson. [4]
McLean graduated with honors from The University of Toronto [5] with a bachelor's in performance in jazz. In his third year faculty member Don Thompson invited him to play on the first of the more than 70 recordings on which McLean appears. He was also named "Post-secondary Musician of the Year" by the Jazz Report Magazine in 1998. [6] That summer McLean taught at Canada's Interprovincial Music Camp (jazz). He was also the jazz director at Sir John A. Macdonald Collegiate Institute while taking his undergraduate degree.
McLean's recording and touring highlights include George Michael, [7] Gladys Knight, Joe Sample, [2] Jamie Cullum, Andy Bey, Molly Johnson, Peter Cincotti, Andrea Bocelli, Serena Ryder, Catherine Russell, Jane Bunnett, Billy Joel, Dionne Warwick and Michael Kaeshammer.
McLean has two movie appearances: Drummer in Peter Cincotti band in Spider-Man 2 (uncredited) and Peter Cincotti: Live in New York [8] (credited).
McLean is endorsed by Regal Tip [9] Mallets and Brushes, Zildjian Sticks and Cymbals, [10] Remo drum heads [11] and Yamaha Drums. [12]
McLean moved to New York City in 1999 following receipt of a grant awarded him by the Canada Council for the Arts. Initially, McLean wanted to study with his idol, world-renowned drummer, Brian Blade. Although he did not teach, Blade [2] mentored McLean by allowing him to observe his performances. He even helped him shop for a drum kit and as luck would have it, they walked into Drummer's World on 46th street in Manhattan and met jazz drummer, archivist and radio personality, Kenny Washington. Blade said to McLean "this is who you should study with." McLean studied with Kenny Washington for a year followed by an additional year with drummer Billy Kilson. After that McLean decided to stay for future opportunities in New York. Singer and pianist Andy Bey was the first to call, then Dewey Redman.
McLean has worked with many of jazz masters and pop icons, including Wynton Marsalis, Michael Feinstein, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Gladys Knight, Diana Krall, Glen Campbell, Carla Cook, Linda Eder, Jimmy Webb, Vanessa Williams, Patti Austin, the Backstreet Boys and producer Phil Ramone. He also served as arranger [13] on Molly Johnson's 2009 Juno-award-winning album Lucky, and was co-arranger [14] on Sophie Milman's 2009 release Take Love Easy, while continuing to tour and record as a member of George Michael's band.
Producer Phil Ramone following a recording session with Billy Joel remarked: "Mark McLean is a tasty, sure handed drummer, a song man’s musician." [10] Andy Bey described McLean as "an intelligent, immensely talented young musician with a curious mind and a listening ear." [10]
Year | Album | Description |
---|---|---|
2017 | It Feels Alright | Selections from Feel Alright re-imagined by artists and DJ's |
2013 | Feel Alright | All tunes written by Mark McLean, eclectic album featuring 7 vocalists |
2010 | Playground | All compositions written by Mark Mclean (except one) |
2008 | Dinner Party – Piano Jazz | Jazz Standards |
Year | Type | Event | |
---|---|---|---|
2012 | Feature | Feature: Mark McLean & Lea Mullen | Rhythm magazine, written by Rich Chamberlain |
2012 | Review | Toronto Jazz Festival | Globe & Mail |
2010 | Feature | Drums Etc magazine | T. Bruce Wittet |
2009 | Award | Juno Award for Jazz Album of the Year | Luck – Molly Johnson |
2008 | Review | National Arts Centre, Ottawa | All About Jazz |
2006 | Review | Toronto International Dance Festival | Live Music Report |
2005 | Nomination | Grammy, Best Jazz Vocal Album | American Song, Andy Bey |
2005 | Review | The Sound of a Really Different Drummer | Mark Miller [15] |
2003 | Award | Socan [16] Awards | Another Day, Molly Johnson, Mark McLean |
2003 | Nomination | Traditional Jazz Album | Juno Awards of 2003 |
Year | Artist | Album |
---|---|---|
2016 | Catherine Russell | Harlem on My Mind |
2016 | Leslie Odom Jr. | Simply Christmas |
2015 | Morgan James | Holiday Singles |
2015 | Jann Arden | A Jann Arden Christmas |
2015 | Melissa Errico | What About Today? – Live at 54 Below |
2015 | Tia Brazda | Bandshell |
2014 | Morgan James | Hunter |
2014 | Rotem Sivan Trio | For Emotional Use Only |
2014 | Laura Cole | Dirty Cheat |
2014 | George Michael | Symphonica |
2014 | Catherine Russell | Bring It Back |
2013 | Carline Ray | Vocal Sides |
2013 | Michael Kaeshammer | With You in Mind |
2013 | Carline Ray | Vocal Sides |
2012 | Dionne Warwick | Now: A Celebratory 50th Anniversary Album |
2012 | Catherine Russell | Strictly Romancin' |
2011 | Molly Johnson | The Molly Johnson Songbook |
2011 | Michael Kaeshammer | Kaeshammer |
2011 | Lester McLean | 4-3-2-1 |
2010 | Kelly Jefferson | Next Exit |
2010 | David Goldman | Light in the Tunnel |
2010 | Shannon Butcher | Little Hearts |
2010 | Marian Petrescu | Thrivin' – Live at The Jazz Standard |
2010 | Lester McLean | Just a Taste |
2010 | Andy Creegan | Andiwork III |
2009 | The Count Basie Orchestra | Swinging, Swinging, Playing |
2009 | Michael Kaeshammer | Lovelight |
2009 | Hilary Kole | Haunted Heart |
2009 | Sophie Millman | Take Love Easy |
2009 | Jamie Cullum | The Pursuit |
2008 | Chantal Chamberland | The Other Woman |
2008 | Lamont Jeffreys | Christmas Dinner |
2008 | Funky People | Feel the Funk |
2008 | Shannon Butcher | The Words We Both Could Say |
2008 | Molly Johnson | Lucky |
2008 | Pete Coulman Band | TV Tunes |
2008 | Billy Stritch | Billy Stritch Sings Mel Torme |
2008 | DK Ibomeka | I'm Your Man |
2007 | Andrew Craig | The Gospel Christmas Project |
2007 | Billy Joel | All My Life |
2007 | Autorickshaw | So the Journey Goes |
2007 | Howard Fishman | Bob Dylan & The Band's "Basement Tapes", Live at Joe's Pub |
2006 | Molly Johnson | Messin' Around |
2006 | Serena Ryder | If Your Memory Serves You Well |
2006 | Gladys Knight | Before Me |
2006 | Susan Cagle | The Subway Recordings |
2005 | Lester McLean Trio | Best Foot Forward |
2005 | Kelly Jefferson Quartet | Spark |
2005 | Linda Eder | By Myself |
2005 | Mike Evan | I'll Bring the Stereo |
2004 | Andy Creegan | Andiwork II |
2004 | Andy Bey | American Song |
2004 | Anne Mette Iversen | Pá den anden side/On the Other Side |
2004 | Jane Bunnett | Red Dragonfly |
2004 | Peter Cincotti | On the Moon |
2004 | Various Artists | Voices of Concord Jazz |
2003 | Peter Cincotti | My Favorite Time of Year |
2003 | Syreeta Neal | Stand Tall |
2002 | Howard Fishman Quartet | Do What I Want |
2002 | Jane Bunnett | Spirituals and Dedications |
2002 | Molly Johnson | Another Day |
2002 | The Colour of Soul | 100% Concentrate |
2002 | Wade O. Brown | Complete |
2001 | Kalabash | Kalabash |
2001 | Molly Johnson | Molly Johnson |
2000 | Shannon Brooks | A Taste of Life |
2000 | Tracey Wilkins | I Wish I Knew |
2000 | Wade O. Brown | Solid Soul |
1999 | Benjamin Davill | Benjamin Davill's Wild West Show |
1999 | Janice Freedman | Triptych |
1999 | The Colour of Soul | Texatronic |
1998 | Divine Earth Essence | Groove Essentials V.2 |
1998 | Mantini Sisters | Moments to Remember |
1998 | Paul Tobey | Wayward |
1998 | The Colour of Soul | Live@525 |
1997 | Andy Creegan | Andiwork |
1997 | Dawn Sierra | A Little Rain Must Fall |
1997 | Don Thompson | Banff Jazz All Stars |
1997 | Tara MacLean | If You See Me |
James Joseph Chamberlin is an American drummer and record producer. He is best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. Following the 2000 breakup of the band, Chamberlin joined Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan in the supergroup Zwan and also formed his own group, the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex. In 2005, Chamberlin joined Corgan in reforming The Smashing Pumpkins; he eventually left the group in March 2009, though he returned again in 2015 for a summer tour. He performed in the group Skysaw until 2012. He is currently active under the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex name. In addition to his current work as CEO, Chamberlin has joined Chicago jazz saxophonist Frank Catalano for a string of 2013–15 performances in the Chicago area. An EP by Catalano and Chamberlin Love Supreme Collective - EP was released on July 29, 2014.
Brian Blade is an American jazz drummer, composer, session musician, and singer-songwriter.
William Emanuel Cobham Jr. is a Panamanian–American jazz drummer who came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Stephen Kendall Gadd is an American drummer, percussionist, and session musician. Gadd is one of the best-known and highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry, recognized by his induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1984. Gadd's performances on Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" and "Late in the Evening" and Steely Dan's "Aja" are examples of his style. He has worked with other popular musicians from many genres including Simon & Garfunkel, Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Harry Chapin, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Raitt, Grover Washington Jr., Michael Brecker, Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour, Paul Desmond, Kate Bush, Chet Baker, Al Di Meola, Chuck Mangione, Kenny Loggins, Eric Clapton, Pino Daniele, Michel Petrucciani, and Toshiki Kadomatsu.
Jason McGerr is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band Death Cab for Cutie.
Jon Philip Theodore is an American drummer. He is best known as a former member of the Mars Volta and as the current drummer for Queens of the Stone Age. After contributing to Bright Eyes' 2020 album, Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was, Theodore joined the band in 2022 as their touring drummer.
Justin Foley is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the metalcore band, Killswitch Engage. He is also a former member of the band Blood Has Been Shed along with Killswitch Engage's former lead singer, Howard Jones.
Gary Husband is an English jazz and rock drummer, pianist, keyboard player and bandleader. He is also a composer, arranger and producer.
On the Moon is a 2004 album by jazz pianist, singer, and composer Peter Cincotti. It was released on the Concord label and produced by Phil Ramone.
Dana Hall is an American jazz drummer, percussionist, composer, bandleader, and ethnomusicologist. After spending the first few years of his life in Brooklyn, New York, he relocated with his family to his mother's hometown of Philadelphia. There, Hall was exposed to jazz and soul music at an early age through the recordings of his mother Diane, his uncle Earl Harris, and his large extended family. His family's interest in creative music, and their “open door” policy toward Philadelphia jazz musicians of the era sparked Hall's curiosity, passion and ultimately career in music.
Phil Dwyer is a Canadian jazz saxophonist, pianist, composer, producer and educator. In 2017 he graduated from the University of New Brunswick (UNB) Faculty of Law in Fredericton, New Brunswick and was called to the bar of British Columbia in 2018. Dwyer is Member of the Order of Canada, having been invested in 2013 "For his contributions to jazz as a performer, composer and producer, and for increasing access to music education in his community." Dwyer has been nominated for Juno Awards six times and won Best Mainstream Jazz Album in 1994 with Dave Young for Fables and Dreams and Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year in 2012 for the recording Changing Seasons. Dwyer has also appeared on Juno Award winning recordings with Hugh Fraser (1988), Joe Sealy (1997), Natalie MacMaster (2000), Guido Basso (2004), Don Thompson (2006), Molly Johnson (2009), Terry Clarke (2010), and Diana Panton (2015). He is an alumnus and Honorary Fellow of The Royal Conservatory of Music.
Javon Anthony Jackson is an American jazz tenor saxophonist, bandleader, and educator. He first became known as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers from 1987 until Blakey's death in 1990. and went on to release 22 recordings as a bandleader and tour and record on over 150 CDs with jazz greats including Elvin Jones, Freddie Hubbard, Charlie Haden, Betty Carter, Cedar Walton, Ron Carter, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Stanley Turrentine and Ben E. King.
Luke Anthony "Jocko" Johnson is an English rock musician, drummer and songwriter. He is most commonly known as 'Jocko'. Johnson began his music career in the late 1990s drumming for a spree of small local West Midlands- punk and metal bands. In early 2003 Johnson was approached by California punk band Amen to join the ranks. After his departure from Amen in 2005, Johnson formed Beat Union as drummer and songwriter with Dave Warsop, Dean Ashton and Mark Andrews. Johnson joined the Welsh alternative metal band Lostprophets in 2009 until their disbanding in 2013. Johnson has also been involved in other musical projects, including working alongside Producer John Feldmann and has performed session work for a variety of bands, including The Wonder Stuff and Foxy Shazam.
John Frederick Robinson, known professionally as JR, is an American drummer and session musician who has been called "one of the most recorded drummers in history". He is known for his work with producer Quincy Jones, including Michael Jackson's multi-platinum Off the Wall album and the charity single "We Are the World". JR's drum fill kicks off Jackson's chart topper "Rock with You", and his drum solo opens the Steve Winwood album Back in the High Life (1986) to begin the number 1 song "Higher Love".
Michael Braun is an American musician/songwriter specializing in drums, most recognized as Hall & Oates longest touring drummer.
Morgan Doctor is an American–Canadian musician who is a solo artist, session player, and private drum teacher living in Toronto, Ontario.
Peter Charles "Pete" Magadini is an American drummer, percussionist, educator and author. He is known for his body of work concerning the comprehension and execution of musical polyrhythms, especially the books The Musician's Guide to Polyrhythms and Polyrhythms for the Drumset. Magadini has recorded and performed with George Duke, Diana Ross, Bobbie Gentry, Al Jarreau, Buddy DeFranco, John Handy and Mose Allison.
Mike Downes is a Canadian jazz musician, composer, arranger and educator who specializes on the upright bass, composition and arranging. Downes has appeared on JUNO award-winning and nominated recordings, including his own "Ripple Effect," which won a 2014 JUNO Award for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year, and "Root Structure", which won the 2018 JUNO Award for Jazz Album of the Year:Solo.
Larnell Lewis is a Canadian drummer, composer, producer, and educator. He is most well known for playing drums with the Brooklyn-based jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy.
Efajemue "Efa" Etoroma Jr., is a Canadian jazz musician most noted for his 2021 album Aesthetics, which was a Juno Award nominee for Jazz Album of the Year – Solo at the Juno Awards of 2022.