Mark Sherman

After nearly 25 years of recording, writing, and performing with Larry Coryell’s group and many others, vibraphonist Mark Sherman a Yamaha performing artist, and a Vic Firth artist has a beautiful quintet featuring Joe Magnarelli on trumpet, Allen Farnham on piano, Dean Johnson on bass, and Tim Horner on drums. Sherman’s previous recording “One Step Closer” featuring Joe Lovano was recently in the top ten on the radio charts for 12 weeks in the United States. The most recent recording “Family First” was the most spun CD in the United States in it’s opening week on the charts. Tied in with most of Sherman's live performances (clubs, and festivals) is a 2 hour master-class on language skills for improvisation, usually done at the local music school or university music department, and sponsored by Yamaha and Vic Firth Co." These master-classes have been extremely successful at the high school and college level. I've received countless emails from students telling me how my system for learning the harmonic language needed for playing jazz was the simplest and most user friendly system they've come across, and that it answered many of the confusing questions, and got them improvising on chord changes very quickly."
Mark Sherman's background, Juilliard education, and working, performance and recording experience have all contributed to a unique vision, which incorporates elements of jazz and classical music. Accomplished as a soloist (vibes/piano), ensemble player, composer and educator, Sherman is in love with music and re-harmonization of chords to explore and give expression to his musical vision.
The Bronx-born and raised son of a star soprano who performed with the Cleveland and Boston Symphony Orchestras had 5 years of classical piano lessons before he fell in love with jazz through Lester Young, Charlie Parker and Coltrane LP's. He had been playing drums for a while and practicing with records, emulating Elvin Jones, when he heard that Elvin was teaching at Frank Ippolito's Professional Percussion Center. Mark sought him out as a teacher. What he learned most from Elvin was a feeling of "loose but intense swing" and how to "channel spiritual energy into music."
Sherman graduated from the High school of Music and Art and then went on to Juilliard where he had 5 solid years of percussion training with tympani master Saul Goodman. He played in symphonic situations led by Zubin Mehta, Sir George Solti, and Leonard Bernstein. At Juilliard he met another soul at home in both classical and jazz worlds Wynton Marsalis. They jammed together regularly and years later when Columbia Records' George Butler inquired about Mark, Wynton's endorsement helped pave the way for Sherman's record date A New Balance ( 1986).
The first few years after Juilliard he made a living in the "pits" of long running Broadway shows. But more challenging work soon came his way, He found himself in playing situations with, Kenny Kirkland, Rodney Jones, the NY Philharmonic, the Joffrey ballet Orchestra, the American Symphony, the NY New Music Ensemble and many other groups. David Chesky wrote a concerto for vibes and orchestra especially for Sherman, which has been performed twice. Mark performed as featured soloist in Darius Milhaud's Concerto For Marimba and Orchestra at Merkin Hall. Sherman went on the road with singers Jackie and Roy, which led to his recording and working with Peggy Lee (6years). From her he had lessons in how to "turn a musical phrase" and "subtle time." Working with the special musicians Lee surrounded herself with (Grady Tate, Mike Renzi, and Jay Leonhart, and Jon Chiodini) led to gigs with Mel Torme and recordings with other singers including Maureen McGovern, Liza Minelli, and Jon Hendricks; and he got more studio and work experience. He played on records by guitarists Joe Beck and Rodney Jones and also produced Jones' CD "The Unspoken Heart" for Minor Music in Germany.
Sherman began touring with R&B pioneer Ruth Brown just at the time when she was being re-appreciated as a jazz singer. But her singing of standards always calls for a heavy dose of blues feeling and blues changes. Mark was exposed to a lot of different blues forms and tempos. In accompanying her he gained a renewed awareness of the blues as the roots of all American popular music. He played vibes and piano on Brown's "Songs Of My Life" (Fantasy records)
After recording for small labels, A New Balance (CBS) showcased his skills as a composer, vibraphonist, and pianist. In the last few years Mark has been performing with his group and doing master classes worldwide. Some of his music has been used regularly on TV shows. Mark has toured with guitarist Larry Coryell. He produced two of Coryell's CD’s, I'll Be Over You (CTI records) . Coryell also recorded several of Mark's tunes and utilized his skills as a producer on Sketches Of Coryell (Shanachie records) as well as “New High”(High Note records). Mark played vibes on Gloria Lynne's "This One's On Me" (High Note records) as well as Lena Horne’s release on (Blue Note records).