Mark Zubek

Mark Zubek
Zubek performs in Toronto, 2008
Background information
Born	(1974-06-19) June 19, 1974 Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Origin	New York City
Occupation(s)	record producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and jazz musician
Website	www.zeddrecords.com

Mark Zubek (born June 19, 1974) is a Toronto-based record producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and jazz musician. His songwriting and production styles are influenced by pop, rock, r&b, hip-hop, and jazz.

Biographical Information

Born in Mississauga, Ontario, Zubek attended Cawthra Park Performing Arts High School and received private instruction on drums, percussion and music theory with David Monis; guitar with Peter Macdonald; acoustic bass and jazz composition with Patrick Collins. From 1990 to 1992 he attended jazz workshops on Acoustic Bass and Improvisation with jazz legend Barry Harris.

A Jazz Performance Summer Workshop in Banff, Alberta with John Coltrane's bassist Reggie Workman was particularly influential. From 1995 to 2003 Zubek received private instruction on Acoustic Bass and Jazz Composition from master bassist Dave Holland.

Zubek acted as the regular drummer for Ron Cahute's Ukrainian folk group Burya from ages 12 to 18. He moved to Boston in 1992 to study at Berklee College of Music courtesy of grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council.

In 1995, he moved to New York City to produce records and play jazz music. Though The Penguin Guide to Jazz lists Zubek as an upright bass player,^[1] he is also proficient on drums, electric bass, guitars and keyboards.

After ten years in New York, Zubek moved back to Toronto, where he is currently based in East York.

Musical Associations

Zubek has produced, written, recorded and performed with Grammy-winning jazz singer Betty Carter, Jen Chapin, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, Seamus Blake, Mark Turner, Chris Cheek, Avishai Cohen, Bill Dillon, Jerry Marotta, Tony Levin, Bill Stewart, as well as MapleMusic artist Hilary Weaver.^[2] He has also performed with Wynton Marsalis and Brian Blade.

In 1999, Zubek Toured Europe and North America as bassist for Turkish drummer Burhan Ocal, playing a world-beat fusion of traditional Turkish music and jazz. He is also the bassist for Swiss composer Jurg Wickihalder, with whom he has toured Europe and recorded 2 CDs for Intakt Records (2007–2009), and has played bass for Canadian jazz icon Micah Barnes, who is known for his work with The Nylons and The Parachute Club and Daniel Barnes, drummer for Holly Cole.

Zubek is a member of the Toronto Songwriters' Association and has written jingles for companies like Coca-Cola, Dunkin' Donuts and the Discovery Channel.^[3]

Zubek writes and produces CDs for singers and bands, arranges, plays any or all of the instruments, and does sound engineering from his studio, Studio Z.^[4] He has produced out of several other studios including New York's Power Station (Avatar), Sear Sound, Cutting Room, Magic Box, L.A.'s Oceanway and Larrabee, and Toronto's Metalworks and Phase One.

Discography

As Leader

Zubek has 2 solo jazz records out on Fresh Sound Records: "Horse With a Broken Leg" (2000) and "twentytwodollarfishlunch" (2009)

As Composer

Composition "Love Notes" (1995) on the Betty Carter album "Feed the Fire" (Verve/Polygram)

Additional information

Reviews

All About Jazz Magazine: Toronto-based bass player, songwriter, and producer Mark Zubek epitomizes his many cross-genres skills in the fields of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and pop. Zubek's compositions revolve around his propulsive playing and the fat sound of his upright bass. Zubek's impressive vision and original compositions succeeds in blurring the artificial boundaries between jazz and other popular genres.^[5]

ALL MUSIC GUIDE: bassist Mark Zubek gets a remarkably fat, woody sound from his instrument^[6]

Whole Note Magazine: Zubek is a Toronto native who has recently moved back home after studies at Boston's Berklee College, 10 years in New York performing and producing recordings, a number of world travels and collaborations with the likes of Betty Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Jack DeJohnette and Dave Holland (July/August 9)^[7]

Jazz Times Magazine 2009: Well crafted with a definite edge...like the 21st century Jazz Messengers...this is punk-jazz for now people.^[8]

References