“FOR ME, DRUMMING INVOLVES THE SPIRIT, THEN THE HEAD, THEN THE PHYSICALITY, IN THAT SEQUENCE OF IMPORTANCE. SPIRITUALITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT – YOU HAVE TO ENJOY YOUR PLAYING, YOU HAVE TO BE SINCERE ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE PLAYING – THE AUDIENCE, THE LISTENER PICKS UP ON WHETHER AN ARTIST IS SINCERE ABOUT WHAT THEY’RE PLAYING.”
MARK MONDESIR BIOGRAPHY
Immersed in music before birth but discovered the drums at 12 years old by fluke. Took it seriously at 16. Largely self taught by listening to records and tapes and watching drummers. After years of playing more groove orientated music (Prog Rock, Funk & Fusion) I focused on learning about Jazz after attending the Weekend Arts Centre Workshops run by Ian Carr. This is where I met Julian Joseph, who in turn, introduced me to Courtney Pine, Steve Williamson etc.
We would meet after the workshop to conduct our own jam sessions honing our “jazz chops.” This led to playing jams at the Atlantic pub in Brixton with Courtney at a time when the media started to pay attention to him. Before long the jams turn into gigs… and that’s how my career started.
I received the best education by playing at many of the major jazz festivals around the world, meeting with all the true jazz legends at the time and absorbing all I could. YOU CAN’T LEARN JAZZ IN A CLASSROOM! There’s no greater teacher than experience! The Drum Set as an instrument was born in the Jazz era. A desire to master the drums led me to play Jazz. BUT DON’T GET ME WRONG… I play and love ALL MUSIC!
Artists I have been blessed to have played/recorded with include: Courtney Pine, Jazz Warriors, Julian Joseph, John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck with Jan Hammer, Ronnie Wood, Imogen Heap etc, McCoy Tyner, (Tonight Show’s) Kevin Eubanks with Dave Holland, Bryan Ferry, David Sylvian, Toni Childs, Ravi Coltrane, Gary Thomas, Matthew Garrison, The Jazz Crusaders with Wayne Henderson & Wilton Felder, Wynton & Branford Marsalis, Mike Del Ferro, Thijs Van Leer(Focus), Andy Sheppard, Annette Peacock, Joanne Brackeen, Ray Bryant, Ronnie Matthews, Art Farmer, Hamish Stuart, Chante Moore, Joe Zawinul & London Symphony Orchestra, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Leni Stern, Keith More, Ron E Carter, Scott Henderson & Gary Willis, Barbara Dennerlein, Loose Tubes, Art Blakey, Yes No People (Creators of “Stomp”), Gary Husband, (Director/Musician) Mike Figgis with Tom Jones, Van Morrison, Lulu, Jon Cleary etc, Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley with Bobby Byrd, Vicki Anderson etc, Hermeto Pascoal…..and the rest I can’t remember at the moment. Numerous drummers at numerous drum clinics, too many to mention but all wicked!!
Live performances featuring Mark Mondesir can be found here.
