Mark began playing drums at the age of five, and turned professional at 16. The list of artists he has worked alongside in an impressive career reads like a 'who's who' of jazz, and covers a wide range of styles from Mainstream to Be-bop and beyond, and includes saxophonists Pepper Adams, Benny Carter, Arnett Cobb, George Coleman, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Allen Eager, Teddy Edwards, Jimmy Forrest, Herb Geller, Johnny Griffin, Joe Henderson, Clifford Jordan, Lee Konitz, Frank Morgan, Charles McPherson, David Fathead Newman, Marshall Royal, Pharoah Sanders, Bud Shank, Sonny Stitt, Lew Tabackin, Buddy Tate, Frank Wess, clarinetist Eddie Daniels, trumpeters Franco Ambrosetti, Chet Baker, Ruby Braff, Randy Brecker, Doc Cheatham, Harry Sweets Edison, Art Farmer, Joe Newman, Dizzy Reece, Shorty Rogers, Woody Shaw, Clark Terry, trombonists Al Grey, Jimmy Knepper, Kai Winding, pianists Toshiko Akiyoshi, Monty Alexander, Kenny Barron, George Cables, Kenny Drew Sr, Victor Feldman, Don Friedman, Benny Green, George Gruntz, Al Haig, Eddie Higgins, Andrew Hill, Hank Jones, Duke Jordan, Geoff Keezer, Dado Moroni, Gerald Wiggins, Richard Wyands, guitarists Charlie Byrd, Herb Ellis, Tal Farlow, Barney Kessel, Mundell Lowe, Joe Puma, bassists Ray Brown, Red Mitchell, George Mraz, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen and vocalists Mose Allison, Freddie Cole, Johnny Hartman, Anita O'Day, Jackie Paris, Irene Reid and Jimmy Witherspoon. To date, Mark has performed on more than seventy albums, including the 2001 Grammy nominated Blue Note album by legendary pianist and singer songwriter Mose Allison The Mose Chronicles volume 1. Mark has toured extensively in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia with many of the previously mentioned artists. Recent credits include work with the Monty Alexander trio & quartet from 1999~2004. Mark has been an integral part of tenor saxophonist and flautist Lew Tabackins trio since 1982, and is currently a member of the Toshiko Akiyoshi trio of which he joined in 2003. In addition to being one of the most in demand sidemen in the music industry, Mark also functions as a leader of his own groups. He counts drummers Ed Blackwell, Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke, Jack DeJohnette, Roy Haynes, Billy Higgins, Elvin Jones, Papa Jo Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Pete (LaRoca) Sims, Max Roach and Tony Williams as important influences. United States