Mark Gross swings and sings with soul and rhythm along today’s jazz vanguard. He constantly pushes the music forward, while staying true to the elements of the classic sound. Mark Gross has recorded on over 80 notable jazz recording, including 2 GRAMMY AWARD winning projects by the Dave Holland Big Band – ‘What Goes Around’ on ECM Records, and ‘Overtime’ on Dare 2 Records. Mark’s recordings ‘Preach Daddy’ on King Records and ‘Riddle of the Sphinx’ on J Curve Record have received rave reviews.

Booking/Contact:

kingsupr20@aol.com
201-681-5676
“Gross is a new and powerful alto sax player who is a Cannonball type player. As you may presume … funky is his flavor. He…shows his modern modality which is reflected in his sound.” Takao Ogawa – Swing Journal, Japan (Preach Daddy)

“As record concepts go, ‘Riddle of the Sphinx’ is one of the most clever to come down the pike…Mark Gross is a sax man deserving wider attention who is blessed with a rich, pure tone…Clearly one of the orders of the day for jazz album projects is the conceptual approach….he has successfully plotted and delivered this course, arriving at a package that is fresh, original, and served up by a cohesive band of fine players. Could we ask for anything more?” Willard Jenkins – regular contributor to Jazz Times, Downbeat, and Jazz Report Magazine (Riddle of the Sphinx)

Gross recently signed and recorded his latest recording ‘Blackside’ for his new record label JAZZ LEGACY PRODUCTIONS (JLP).

“This music is movin’ and groovin’ with historic elegance and euphoric relevance. I am proud to say these are the young ‘Giants I Walk With’.” Jimmy Heath-jazz legend (Blackside)

His consistently professional musicianship has led to live and recorded efforts with many of his fellow pacesetters in jazz music. Mark has toured the world with the Mark Gross Quartet, Buster Williams ‘Something More’ Quartet, Delfeayo Marsalis, Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, Philip Harper, Nat Adderley, Dave Holland, Mulgrew Miller, Nicholas Payton, Dizzy Gillespie, Nancy Wilson, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, John Lee, Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Tom Harrell Big Band, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Frank Foster and the Loud Minority, Charles Mingus Big Band, Freddie Hubbard, Donald Harrison, Mark Whitfield, Joe Dukes, Captain Jack McDuff, Joe Chambers, Neal Smith, Cyrus Chestnut, Regina Carter, Lionel Hampton, Stephon Harris, Walter Booker, Jimmy Cobb, Don Braden, Vincent Gardner, Lenora ‘Zenzalai’ Helm, Marlon Saunders, SEPIA, Jann Parker to name a few. His professional relationships with these musicians and others have been long lasting and far-reaching.

Mark credits his prolific sound to the rich appreciation for Gospel music that resounded through his parent’s Baltimore home.

Mark has performed on Broadway several times, as well. He performed in ‘FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE’ (1992-1993) based on the music of Louis Jordan. ‘KAT AND THE KINGS’ (1999-2000). This musical explores the joyous sounds that were born out of oppression during the 1950’s in Cape Town, South Africa; APARTHEID. This is a rollicking rock-‘n’-roll musical. Mark has also added to the exciting musical that showcased music of the same title, ‘SWING’ (2000-2001). Mark has also appeared in ‘Malcolm X’ (1992), Spike Lee’s major motion film.

Mark credits his prolific sound to the rich appreciation for Gospel music that resounded through his parent’s Baltimore home. Mark’s father was the Pastor of his hometown church Mt. Zion C.O.G.I.C. up until his passing February 1, 2007. After developing his interests in classical music at the Baltimore School for the Arts, Mark studied four years at Berklee College of Music and got his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Performance.

Two of Berklee’s best professors, Joe Viola and Bill Pierce, help fine tune Mark’s musicianship. Upon his graduation in 1988, Mark Gross began his professional musical caravan in JAZZ.

Mark Gross plays the Yanagisawa 9933 silversonic alto saxophone,
Yanagisawa 9930 silversonic soprano saxophone, and uses VANDOREN reeds and mouthpieces exclusively.