Contemporary jazz bass great Mark Egan joins the Markbass family

Born on January 14, 1951 in Brockton, Massachusetts, Egan began his musical studies on the trumpet at age 10, mainly influenced by his father, an avid player. He continued on the trumpet through high school in jazz bands, R&B groups, high school orchestras, and switched to bass at age 16. In 1969, Egan enrolled in the University of Miami School of Music under the direction of Jerry Coker—and also studied privately with the late, great Jaco Pastorius, whose influence remains with him to this day.

While in Florida, Mark formed a band with fellow University of Miami students Clifford Carter, Hiram Bullock, Billy Bowker and Phyllis Hyman. They came to New York in 1976—and soon afterward Mark toured with the Pointer Sisters, Deodato and David Sanborn. In 1977, he hooked up with another U of M schoolmate, guitarist Pat Metheny, and for the next four years toured and recorded with the Grammy award-winning Pat Metheny Group, which also featured Lyle Mays and Danny Gottlieb. Egan subsequently worked with Flora and Airto, Carly Simon, Stan Getz and Jim Hall before forming the group Elements with Gottlieb, Bill Evans and Clifford Carter in 1982. Nearly 28 years later, Elements remains one of the most potent and highly acclaimed contemporary jazz groups in the world with eight recordings and tours in over 27 countries.

While Egan continues to work with Elements, his solo projects represent a more personal side of his musical makeup. Mark’s 1985 solo debut, Mosaic (Windham Hill Records) delved into adventurous territory on his exotic custom-made eight and ten string basses. His followup, 1988’s Touch of Light (GRP Records), included his Elements mates Gottlieb, Carter and Evans. In 1993, Mark released Beyond Words, which featured famed Brazilian guitarist Toninho Horta.

Egan’s passion and visionary approach to contemporary instrumental music led to the creation of Wavetone Records, which he formed in 1992. Dedicated to providing an outlet for creative music projects, Wavetone has released several recordings to critical acclaim, including records by Elements, Joe Beck, Jeff Ciampa, Jeff Laibson/Mark Egan/Danny Gottlieb. The label has also released Egan’s Freedom  Town (2001), As We Speak (2006) and reissues of his 1985 landmark, Mosaic, and Beyond Words. In addition, Mark has realized his dream with the completion of is own state-of-the-art recording studio, Electric Fields.

On Egan’s latest release, Truth Be Told (2010), Egan reunites with longtime colleagues Mitch Forman, Bill Evans, Roger Squitero and drummer extraordinaire Vinnie Colaiuta.

LINKS:

Mark Egan official site: www.markegan.com

Mark Egan at the Markbass official site: http://www.markbass.it/artist_detail.php?id=1147