Vibraphonist/Composer/Producer Mark Sherman's Home Page

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 Vic Firth artist has a great band of four years, and four cd's. The most recent being The Mark Sherman Quartet Live at the Bird's Eye Jazz Club in Basel Switzerland. The previous CD of 2007 "Family First" features the quintet Joe Magnarelli on trumpet, along with Mark's regular rhythm section of Allen Farnham on piano, Dean Johnson on bass. and Tim Horner on drums was the most played CD in the US in it's opening 2 weeks, and Sherman’s previous recording “One Step Closer” from 2006 features Joe Lovano with the same quintet was in the top ten on the radio charts in the United States for 13 weeks in 2006. The CD in 2005 featuring the late Michael Brecker and was the 1rst of the 3 cd's that charted very well on the jazz radio 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. With 8 CD's as a leader and over 75 CD's as a sideman, he is accomplished as a vibraphonist, composer, pianist, and percussionist. Sherman is in love with music and the re-harmonization of chords to explore and give expression to his musical vision.
The Bronx-born and raised son of a star soprano for 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 John 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 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, Leonard Bernstein, Sir George Solti, and many other world renowned conductors.. 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 freelancing in New Yorks thriving studio scene, 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(Chesky Records) wrote a concerto for vibes and orchestra especially for Sherman, which has been performed at Lincoln Center(NYC). 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 for four years, which led to his recording(3cd's) and touring 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 Tony Bennett, Maureen McGovern, Liza Minelli, and he got more studio and work experience. He played on recordings by guitarists Joe Beck and Rodney Jones and also co-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 the recording of "Fulcrum Point" for a small label, "A New Balance"(CBS) showcased his skills as a composer, vibraphonist, and pianist. In the last few years Mark has done clinics and concerts worldwide. Some of his music has been used regularly on TV shows. Mark has toured with guitarist Larry Coryell. He produced 3 of Coryell's cd’s I'll Be Over You (CTI records). Coryell also has 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 CD"This One's On Me" (High Note records) as well as Lena Horne’s release on (Blue Note records). In addition Mark has 8 CD's of his own music “Fulcrum Point”(MHR), “A New Balance"(CBS), "Spiral Staircase"(MHR), "High Rollin"(MHR), “The Motive Series”(MHR), “One Step Closer”(MHR), "Family First"(MHR), and his latest " Live at The Bird's Eye" released in 2008 on Miles High Records.
Currently Mark is performing and doing workshops worldwide touring with his group.

MARK SHERMAN MUSIC