Mark London Sims profile picture

Mark London Sims

Could you sprinkle a little funk in my poetry?

About Me

Mark London Sims is an electric bassist/composer/poet based in Los Angeles. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from the College of Creative Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Jazz and World Music from California Institute of the Arts.
Here are some of the artists Mark has worked with:
Don Cherry (Ornette Coleman), Joe Higgs (Bob Marley), Stevie Wonder, Albert ‘Tootie’ Heath (Heath Brothers, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock), The Watts Prophets, Badialy Cissoko,The Mighty Sparrow, Francis Awe, Calypso Rose, Aziz Faye, Sonja Marie, The Eels, Nels Cline, Leonice, Dave Wakeling (English Beat), Ben Harper, Bobby Bryant, Mark Nauseef (Thin Lizzy), Joe Caploe, L. Shankar, David Torn, and The Untouchables.
Mark has two solo records, Strange Groove Picnic and Limited Expression, and a book, ‘Love Music: Music Theory as Poetry.’
Current projects include:
The Transphat Trio, The Key Frances Band, The Beyond Video Group, Kaliband, Red Hill Quartet, Boujoubumbastick, Neck-N-Neck, and The Untouchables.
Mark London Sims plays Lakland Basses and uses Seymour Duncan Pickups.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 5/4/2006
Band Website: cdbaby.com/cd/mlsims2
Band Members: Musicians on ‘Limited Expression’ -Carla Drew, Derrick Conyers, Jimmy Roberts, Leonice Shinneman, Gerald Couchman, Alan Mark Lightner, Dorrel Salmon, Russ Henry, Blair Sherrill - | -Musicians on 'Strange Groove Picnic' - Andre Desilets, Sam Sotelo, Daniel Seeff. Honorary Guitar Chair: Chris Clermont
Influences: Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Jaco Pastorious, Joni Mitchell, Sting, Elton John, John McLaughlin, Bob Marley, James Brown, Watts Prophets, Burning Spear, The Wailers, Joe Higgs, Weather Report, Essie Lee Sims, Parliament, Average White Band, Ohio Players, Too Short, Steel Pulse, Black Uhuru, Sly and Robbie, Israel Vibration, McCoy Tyner, Pat Metheny, Motown, Steely Dan, Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd, The Police, Led Zepplin, Thelonius Monk, Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, Jeff Beck, Narada Michael Walden, John Abercrombie, Billy Cobham, Marcus Miller, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, John Scofield, Stanley Clarke, George Duke, Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Ronald Shannon Jackson, James Blood Ulmer, Gil Scot-Heron, Gilberto Gil, Richard Pryor
Sounds Like:

..

Click on the website address above to purchase Mark London Sims' compact discs or mp3's at CDBaby.com. The music is also available at your favorite online outlet. Individual tracks maybe purchased here using snocap to the right.

The tracks on 'Limited Expression' are:

-------He Just Said Yes------- Kickin Back and Hustlin------ Neck and Neck----- Down Racism----- Money First------ Concrete Hard--------- Turn It Around------- Music Should Change Instantaneously--

and the tracks on 'Strange Groove Picnic' are:

-----Teeth------- Pop Music------- Cristen Alaina Cassel------- War------- Non-Descript-------- Half Blues------- I'll Have Mine Scrambled------- Pump City -

You can purchase the paperback book 'Love Music: Music Theory as Poetry' here using paypal for $7.95 + shipping. The book has over 70 original poems.

You can also download the same book 'Love Music' at http://stores.lulu.com/lbmusic for $6.25.

Here is a sample from 'Love Music':

Resonance

What is seriousness if it’s not
Ultimately fun?
The more serious you are
The more fun it is.

I guess I love creating.
I end up kicking back and
Hustling at the same time.
Sometimes it makes my heart hurt,
Trying to enjoy it
At the same time it’s happening.

They call it Buzzard Luck.
That’s why it’s funny,
Therefore fun,
Therefore serious.

Reggae with Redemption 7fold:

Joe Higgs comes on 'Dem Belly Full'

Record Label: London Bum Music
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Belgium

Hey folks,I'm about to head over to Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. If you are close stop by.Sims
Posted by Mark London Sims on Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:18:00 PST

The Beyond Video Group

We just put our record on cdbaby. Check it out! 'African American Grooves for the Common Man.' http://cdbaby.com/cd/beyondelectric
Posted by Mark London Sims on Mon, 26 May 2008 10:30:00 PST

Spring in Italy 2008

Hey People,I'm blogging a little late. I got back from Italy on April 7. I have been busy with other stuff so I have had a chance to blog. I went to Italy with my group Transphat that includes Chris C...
Posted by Mark London Sims on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:08:00 PST

Pictures from Baia Domizia Blues Fest 2007 in Italy

These Pictures are posted on the Baia Domizia Blues Festival myspace page. They are from 2007 when I was there with the Key Frances Band.http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vi ewImage&...
Posted by Mark London Sims on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 04:53:00 PST

Transphat in Italy 2008

Transphat will do a little run through Italy from March 26 through April 6. We are putting material together for our upcoming release 'Zero'. Put your tennis shoes on and come hang with us.
Posted by Mark London Sims on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:50:00 PST

Mark London Sims with Key Frances Band and the Red Hill Quartet

The Baia Domizia festival in Italy put a video of our performance last summer on YouTube. Drummer Mike Turner and percussionist Curtis Byrd round out The Key Frances Band.The Red Hill Quartet has two...
Posted by Mark London Sims on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 05:14:00 PST

2007 Summer European Tour

I have returned to Los Angeles from a European tour. I spent two weeks playing with the Key Frances Band in Blues Festivals all over Italy. We shared stages with Billy Cobham, Robben Ford, Larry Carlt...
Posted by Mark London Sims on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 06:26:00 PST

For Theresa Marie Clegg (1948-2007)

In the Redwoods With You As the New Year draws nearer,I find myself wishing I could beIn the redwoods with you.In the redwoods with youI could be at peace,Breathing the fresh clean air of you Nourish...
Posted by Mark London Sims on Sun, 20 May 2007 05:55:00 PST

Where are the records?

Limited Expression and Strange Groove Picnic are also available at Cdbaby.com, iTunes, etc. Limited Expression is also at Amoeba Music in Hollywood, California, USA.
Posted by Mark London Sims on Thu, 04 May 2006 12:07:00 PST