Mark Sherman (musician)

Mark Sherman (born April 17, 1957 in Manhattan) is a jazz vibraphonist, pianist and drummer. He has appeared on more than two dozen film and Broadway soundtracks and dozens of albums as both a leader and a sideman. He is currently on the faculty of The Juilliard School,[1] New Jersey City University[2] and the New York Jazz Workshop.

Early life

Sherman was born in New York City. His mother, Edith Gordon,[3] was a Juilliard-trained soprano who performed with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Sherman grew up around opera and studied classical piano as a child.

Education

Sherman graduated from The High School of Music and Art in 1975, then went on to study classical percussion at Juilliard under Saul Goodman, who played in the New York Philharmonic for 50 years. Sherman performed in ensembles under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, Sir George Solti, Zubin Mehta and Herbert Von Karajan. Sherman attended Juilliard at the same time as Wynton Marsalis, with whom he jammed regularly. During the course of his career, Sherman also studied with Elvin Jones, Justin Diciocco, Roland Hanna, Jaki Byard, Buster Bailey, and Rohland Kohloff, among others.

Professional career

1970s

While still in his teens, Sherman played drums in a trio with pianist Kenny Kirkland. Later, Sherman introduced Kirkland to Wynton Marsalis, who would go on to hire Kirkland for his own band.

In 1978, at age 21, Sherman began working on Broadway and in New York's active studio scene, playing percussion, piano, drums and vibraphone.

1980s

Sherman released his first album, Fulcrum Point featuring Marc Gould, Delmar Brown, Rael Wesley Grant and Kenwood Denard, on Unisphere records in 1980. This recording turned out to be an unknown fusion classic.

He spent a lot of his time in the studio in the 1980s, working on commercial jingles. Pianist Mike Renzi took him under his wing, connecting him with Peggy Lee and other singers. Sherman performed with Lee, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Lena Horne and Ruth Brown.

In 1986, after being recommended by Wynton Marsalis, Sherman signed to Columbia Records and released his major label debut, A New Balance. Sherman also played on albums by Joe Beck, Maureen McGovern and Peggy Lee.

1990s

Sherman continued to perform with Peggy Lee in the early 1990s, appearing on albums by Lee in 1990 and 1993. He also began a seven-year playing relationship with Larry Coryell, performing on Coryell's albums I'll Be Over You (1994) and Sketches of Coryell (1996).

During most of the decade, Sherman was an active studio musician, contributing to albums by Rodney Jones, Gloria Lynne, Michael Bolton, Julian Coryell, LaVerne Butler, Ruth Brown and Maureen McGovern, as well as playing on many film and Broadway soundtracks, including Armageddon, The Lion King, Hercules, and the Broadway versions of Footloose and Kiss Of The Spiderwoman.

In 1997, Sherman reemerged as a leader playing vibraphone. He also formed Miles High Records, releasing High Rolling[4] in 1998 and Spiral Staircase[4] in 1999.

2000s

Sherman ended his run with Larry Coryell at the start of the decade, having appearing on three of Coryell's recordings, as well as producing two of them. "It's All Over You" CTI, and "Sketches Of Coryell" (Shanachie records), and 2000 recording New High(High Note). In addition Coryell recorded 10 of Mark's tunes on these CD's. Mark also continued his active career as a sideman, recording with Capathia Jenkins, Jennifer Holiday, Lena Horne, Ann Hampton Callaway, Tony Bennett, Liza Minnelli and many others. He appeared on more than a dozen film and Broadway soundtracks, including The Last Mimzy, Failure To Launch, Miss Congeniality, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, The Alamo and Two Weeks Notice.

Sherman continued to release his own albums on Miles High Records: The Motive Series (2004, featuring Michael Brecker),[5] One Step Closer (2005, featuring Joe Lovano),[6] Family First (2007), and Live At The Bird’s Eye (2008).[7] Sherman was selected as the winner in the Rising Star (Vibes) category in the Down Beat magazine critics poll in 2007-2015

2010s

Sherman has released several albums so far this decade, including Good Rhythm Good Vibes (2010), Explorations In Space And Time (2011, Chesky Records), Live At Chorus (2012), The LA Sessions (2012)[8] and THEM (2013). Additionally in 2014 he recorded a duo recording entitled "Interplay" with the legendary Kenny Barron. He also recorded as a sideman with Dan Block and, Rodney Jones, Tim Horner, Tim Hegarty, and Laura Perlman's 2015 release that Sherman produced entitled "Precious Moments".

In 2010, he was selected as a Jazz Ambassador for the United States Department of State and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Sherman is currently on the faculty of The Juilliard School,[1] his alma mater, as well as New Jersey City University[2] and the New York Jazz Workshop. Sherman is an instructor in the Juilliard jazz program.

In 2013-2014 a band with the great Bob Franceschini "Project THEM" toured Europe 3 times with the CD release in 2013.

Recently Sherman recorded a CD in duo format with jazz master Kenny Barron to be released by Chesky Records, and HD Tracks in spring 2015

Summer 2015 Sherman produced and played on singer Laura Perlman's CD "Precious Moments" featuring Bill Cunliffe, Chris Colangelo, and Joe Labarbra released in January 2016.

Discography

As a leader

As a sideman

Singles

References

  1. 1 2 "Juilliard Faculty: Mark Sherman". The Juilliard School. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 "NJCU Faculty Directory". New Jersey City University. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  3. ↑ Sherman, Mark. "Edith Gordon soprano". Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  4. 1 2 Roberts, Joel. "Spiral Staircase/High Rollin'". All About Jazz. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  5. ↑ Kelman, John. "The Motive Series". All About Jazz. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  6. 1 2 Yanow, Scott. "One Step Closer". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  7. 1 2 Edelstein, Paula. "Live At The Bird's Eye". AllMusic.com. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  8. ↑ Taylor, Larry. "LA Sessions". All About Jazz. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "DVD Review". Liquid Culture. Retrieved 22 October 2013.


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