Mark Taylor is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most versatile
and accomplished saxophone and woodwind players.
Originally form Bathurst in country NSW, Mark moved to Sydney in
1988 to study at The NSW Conservatorium of Music under Australian
Jazz maestro Don Burrows.
Since graduating from the Jazz Studies program Mark has carved out
a distinguished and versatile career, recording, touring and performing
nationally and internationally alongside the elite of the music
industry. He is in constant demand as a featured soloist and freelance
performer in contemporary jazz; big bands; rhythm and blues; pop
and rock; as well as commercial orchestral, TV and studio work.
As an emerging jazz instrumentalist he was a finalist in the 1993 and 1994
Australian National Jazz Awards at the Wangarratta Festival of Jazz
in Victoria.
In 1994 Mark relocated to New York City for an extended period of
study and performing. He spent time studying with many leading US
jazz artists including Bob Mintzer, Ralph Moore, Barry Harris, Gary
Dial and Gary Foster.
In 1998 Mark recorded and released his debut CD
"Shakedown" (Rufus/Universal) . This album features his original compositions
performed by some of Australia’s leading contemporary jazz musicians.
Mark is also a member of the award winning Sydney All Star Big Band
and has featured on their two CD releases,
"Doin’ Our Thing" (La Brava/Universal) and
"Pyldriver"
(Newmarket) as well as in live performances with
such notable international jazz artists as Bob Mintzer, Bobby Shew,
and Rob McConnell.
He appears frequently alongside jazz virtuoso James Morrison and
has featured on four of Morrison’s CD’s: "Live
at The Sydney Opera House" (East-West), "The
Gospel Collection",
"The Gospel Collection 2" , (Morrison Records) and " The Other Woman " with Deni Hines
His playing and compositions also feature on the 1998 ARIA nominated
CD release "Jazzt
Latino-Americano" by world music group Tigramuna.
Since 1990 he has been regularly called upon as a saxophone and
woodwind specialist for numerous Australian and overseas touring
artists and shows
.
Mark regularly appears in a wide variety of international concert
settings and has performed with such notable artists as Michael
Bublé, Sir Cliff Richard, Olivia Newton-John, Barry White,
Lou Rawls, Dame Cleo Laine, Jerry Lewis, Neil Sedaka, Wayne Newton,
Franki Valli, Petula Clarke and Shirley Bassey.
He has featured on recordings and in concerts and tours with such
leading Australian performers as John Farnham, James Morrison, Marcia
Hines, Tom Burlinson, Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll, Anthony Callea,
Tommy Tycho, Caroline O’Connor, Anthony Warlow and the Sydney, Melbourne
and Queensland Symphony Orchestras.
During 1998/99 Mark relocated to the UK to perform as a featured
saxophone soloist with Sir Cliff Richard at London’s Royal Albert
Hall. Here he performed in 32 sell out concerts over two seasons
and appears on the 1998 concert DVD/Video release
"Cliff
Richard: The 40th Anniversary Concert" .
Also in 1998, Mark began a long association with leading Australian
actor/singer Tom Burlinson in his highly successful and popular
biographical show
"Frank-A Life in Song" . Mark continues to feature
as lead saxophonst and flautist in the many performances and tours
of this production that celebrates the music and the life of the
great Frank Sinatra. He also features on the 2006 DVD Release
"Live from The Star City Showroom, Sydney".
Since 2003, Mark has regularly appeared performing in the live studio
band for the Network 10 TV series " Australian Idol " with
musical director John Foreman.
In 2006 Mark featured on the Sony DVD release, "John
Farnham - Live at The Sydney Opera House with The Sydney Symphony
Orchestra" and performed nationally as principal saxophone/woodwind in the touring orchestra for the sell out Arena Spectacular ’The Boy From Oz’ with Australian star Hugh Jackman.
In 2007, Mark has continued performing nationally, featuring in arena tours with "Human Nature"
and "The Countdown 2 Spectacular", whilst also working as Musical Director for song and dance man Wayne Scott Kermond in his highly successful theatrical tribute to Sammy Davis Jr, "Candy Man".
Mark was also the featured artist in the June 2007 edition of Australian Clarinet and Saxophone Magazine. Click here to read the full interview.
He currently maintains a busy performing and recording schedule
in a wide variety of musical settings in Australia and abroad.
For a full list of Mark’s performing and recording credits, visit
Discography or
Artists
or Shows
.
