The Blue Nile X-Press

"..unique musical stew of Reggae, World Music, and Jazz..." Says Billboard Magazine. // Forever driven by a passion for music, Mark Tyson was in essence born into it. His older brothers, father, grandfather, and great grandfather all played music. In his home many different instruments and styles of music were played developing in him an early ear for World Music sounds. Mark began formal musical training at age 9 on the flute and alto saxophone, which he continued until 13 years old when he picked up the guitar.Born and raised in California, Mark grew up in a multi-ethnic neighborhood in Los Angeles. Being mixed with African American, Lebanese, and Danish, Mark explored the cross-cultural aspects of his rich heritage.Mark spent many years practicing guitar, flute, and saxophone, learning off the varied record collection in his home. His favorite’s were Jimi Hendrix on guitar, John Coltrane on sax, and Ian Anderson(Jethro Tull) on flute. By the time Mark was 17 he was playing mainly guitar and he sold his alto sax, since then he has only played flute occasionally. By the late 70’s Mark started listening to Reggae music “..the first Reggae song that I heard that really grabbed me was Natural Mystic by Bob Marley. From the opening few bars I was completely hooked, I started buying all the Reggae albums I could find and reading and learning about my roots and culture...” says Tyson. With Reggae as a foundation and after years of playing Hendrix licks, R&B/funk, 70's Jazz/Rock fusion, delta blues, oud, saz, and flamenco riffs, Mark combined these influences into his own original musical style.Mark's first Reggae group, One Foundation, became popular in the LA music scene throughout the 80's and in 1985 they began touring with Reggae legend, Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus. During this time, Mark doubled as Ras Michael's lead guitarist and musical director and traveled all over the nation. After the break up of One Foundation Mark continued to play and record with Ras Michael (until 2002), and on the side started working on his first solo recording "Freedom Cry".After the completion of "Freedom Cry" Mark formed a cutting-edge, 8-piece band called, “The Blue Nile X-Press (The BNX).” The BNX became known for taking the listener on a musical train-ride, with heavy doses of Reggae bass & drums, African rhythms, Ethiopian & exotic melodies, mixed with some funk & jazz. Mark took the BNX to Europe and Turkey, performing live in local venues and on television. His second release "The Blue Nile X-Press" was a 4 song EP, featuring a unique collaboration with Ethiopian keyboard wizard, Elias Negash. This recording received rave reviews from the nation’s leading Reggae/World Music publications as well as a feature article in Billboard magazine, and propelled LA Weekly to coin the group as- “LA’s best new sound.” Marks latest release “Universal Citizen” has the new BNX back on the scene with his unique rootsy, funky, dubstrumental, world music sounds. Mark’s songs range from singing praises like on “Thank You Jah”, or a voice against oppression and corruption as in “Power Struggle”, right down to pure sexy belly dancing Reggae in “Turkish Delight” and “Fidayda”, and the BNX signature Dubstrumental style with "Freedom Cry".Through the years Mark has played or recorded with: Ras Michael & the Sons of Negus, Wailing Souls, Joe Higgs, Garth Dennis, Watts Prophets, Stranjah Cole, The Rastafarians, Haile Maskel, One Soul, Santa Davis, Masamba (Senegal), Totem (latin), Shakaman, Cedric Im Brooks, Nyofu, Jawge & the UKB, Too Rude, Kottonmouth Kings, Leon Mobley & Da Lion, Nate Morgan, Bobby Bryant Jr., WoodDwellas, Caribbean Pulse, Dred Flimstone, Elias Negash, Chachi(Ethiopia), Dub Squad, Rhythm Doctors, Lesterfari, Junior Toots, Yoli, Ital Joe, Wadada Khufu, Kebade, Human Rights (HR), Junior P, Remi Kabaka(Nigeria), Eddy Mallo(Cuba), Swelele, KK(2nd to None), Chu & the Project Blowed All Stars, Boom Tony, Jah Eye, Bredren, Steve Smith, Tracey Amos, Bukkiah, Hadji Tekbilek (Turkey), Hasan Bah (Guinea), AL.s Peace, Jah Mark & the SoulShakers, Napalm Clique, Freedom Jazz Movement, Sita, Ras Bunny, Ladee Dread, Ras Indio.....

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