Jazz At The Merchants House presents Mark Lockett Quartet

Last year saw the much-anticipated release of NZ drummer Mark Lockett's 9th album "Swings & Roundabouts".

Recorded in New York, the chordless quartet features top NY heavyweights David Binney, Duane Eubanks, and Matt Penman. Masterful improvisations in a cutting-edge setting. Check it out here

Mark Lockett is an experienced performer, composer and educator who has played with some of the finest jazz musicians on the jazz scene today. He has performed, recorded and toured internationally with his own ensembles, The Mark Lockett Trio, Mark Lockett Quartet, Mark Lockett Quintet and Mark Lockett and Friends.

Mark started playing drums at the age of 10 and by the age of 17 was playing the drums professionally. He graduated from Massey University in 2001 with a Bachelor degree in Jazz performance and has studied with world-renowned drummers such as Joe Morello, Ari Hoenig, John Riley, Henry Cole, Jim Black, Graham Morgan, Andrew Gander, Felix Bloxsom, Ben Vanderwal and Roger Sellers. Mark is also the author of the “Drum Recipe”.

Orginally from New Zealand, Mark moved to Melbourne in 2002, regular members of his band included Julien Wilson, Dave Rex, Paul Van Ross, Mark Fitzgibbon, Philip Rex, Alex Boneham, Mark Elton, and Tom Lee. Special guest artists have included Michelle Nicole (Australian Jazz Vocalist of the Year 2001, 2003 and 2004), Alison Wedding, Tim Hopkins (winner of Australian Jazz Award 1993), Roger Manins (Australian Jazz award winner 2002), Joe Chindamo and Jamie Oehlers (winner of the 2003 Montreux Jazz festival saxophone competition).

Since 2001 he has been visiting New York for inspiration and in 2004 Mark released his debut CD “About Time” on Move Records. This CD features special arrangements by Jordan Murray and Eugene Ball. Musicians include Jamie Oehlers (Tenor Saxophone), Jordan Murray (Trombone), Paul Van Ross (Soprano and Tenor Saxophone), Mark Fitzgibbon (Piano), Nick Haywood (Bass), Mark Lockett (Drums) and special guest Alison Wedding (Vocals, NY).

Early 2005 Mark released a joint project with saxophonist and long-term musical collaborator Paul Van Ross. Released under the New Market label the CD “Mark Lockett, Paul Van Ross live at Spleen” included highlights from a series of regular gigs from their five year residency at Spleen Bar in Melbourne. The album featured guest performances from Luke Howard (Piano) and Daniel Gassin (Fender Rhodes).

‘Now and Then’ was released on Move Records in 2009 with musicians Paul Van Ross (Saxophone), Mark Fitzgibbon (Piano), Shannon Barnett (Trombone), Desmond White (Bass), and Mark Lockett (Drums). The CD included special arrangements of tunes by Ornette Coleman and Thelonious Monk and two original tunes by Mark.

‘Sneaking Out After Midnight’ was released on Rattle Records in 2012. The CD includes original compositions by Mark and features NY heavy weights Joel Frahm (Saxophone) and Orlando Le Fleming (Bass). The CD was recorded at Acoustic Recording which, is known for recording famous jazz artist such as Dave Holland, Kenny Werner, Ron Carter, Paul Motion, Jack De Johnette, Sam Yahel and Uri Caine to name a few.

In 2015 Mark released the album ‘Redaction’ on Rattle Records which is a collaboration with photographic artist Veronica Hodgkinson, taonga puoro expert Dr. Richard Nunns and free music improviser Jeff Henderson.

2018 saw the release of ‘Any Last Requests’ recorded in New York with Joey Johnson (saxophone), Jakob Dreyer (double bass), Mark Lockett (drums). This album features a selection of jazz standards often requested at the trio’s long standing residency in Central Park NYC at the café Knish Nosh.

In November 2016 Mark moved back to his home town Wellington in NZ where Veronica Hodgkinson and him established The Wellington Jazz Co-operative (WJC) which is a not for profit initiative which presents fortnightly concerts of mostly new original new music performed

outstanding trio’s, quartets and quintets. For the past four years WJC has also hosted a weekly jazz jam session.

Mark still tours regularly with the finest NZ, Australian and American artists.

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