I played with "Coulon" (Worldbeat), "Jaeme Brennan" (Funk/Rock), "Area 44" (Singer/sonwriter), The Cal Payne Project" (Jazz/Fusion), "John McCarthy" w/ Doug Wimbish (Instrumental Rock), and many other bands who hire me!
Influences
Led Zepplin, Living Colour, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Stevie Wonder, John McLauglin, Billy Cobham, Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Jimmy Smith, Dennis Chambers, George Clinton, Trilok Gurtu, Tony Williams, Steve Gadd, Will Calhoun, Thelonious Monk, Jimmy Hendrix, Zakir Hussain, Alla Rakka, Ravi Shankar, Anindo Chatterjee, Ali Akbar Khan, Chakka Khan, Angelique Kidjo, Fela Kuti, Paul Simon, Rush, John P. Kee, Kim Burrell, Tonex, De La Soul, Little Axe, Vinnie Colaiuta, Pistol Allen, Benny Bengiman, Stuart Copeland, Peter Gabriel, Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea, Megadeth, Sevendust, Tool, Pantera, Dreamtheater, Pink Floyd, Brian Blade, Joshua Redman, Billy Higgins, Steve Smith, Bernard Purdie, Jeff Pocaro, Donald Fagen, George Duke, Marcus Miller, Poogie Bell, Meshell N'Degeocello, Hassan Hakmoun, Youssou N'Dour, Villiat Khan, Rais Khan, Frank Zappa, Mary J. Blidge, Notorius BIG, Outkast, Roots, Zap Mama, Family Stand, Erikah Badu, Hez Walker, Mint Condition, Prince, Sheila E, Weather Report, Jaco Pastorius...and many more...
Sounds Like
It’s all about finding the pocket-depends on the genre of music I am hired to play!
Mark’s exposure to music began early in his life. He listened to his father playing the drums at his father’s band rehearsals. Playing along with records and kids much older than him, were the beginnings. He began private study under Rob Gottfried as a teenager. As his skills developed, he began playing professionally at the age of 15. Studying marching, wind ensemble, and jazz, Mark received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award for excellence in his high school’s jazz program. Mark’s talent helped his high school’s jazz band’s rhythm section first place at the Boston Music Festival with a ranking of outstanding. In his senior year he was awarded the drum chair in Connecticut’s Northern Regional Jazz Ensemble.
After high school, Mark attended Northeastern University, earning a bachelor’s degree in music business. In addition to his studies, he co-founded the Boston based trio, Canine Guru (original groove based rock). The group released two self produced LPs, the self titled “Canine Guru,” and the follow up, “Agodoga.” After departing Canine Guru, Mark then expanded his musical knowledge as a free lance musician, performing with the likes of Chris Loftlin (Brian McKnight), Jeff Lockhart (Brian McKnight, Walter Beasley), Yasko Kubota (New Kids on the Block) and many others. In 1999 Mark began studying tabla with Misha Masud in New York City. To further himself, he relocated to the city. He continued to work as a free lance musician. Most of his experiences came via The Village (east & west), Harlem, and Brooklyn.
Having returned to the Hartford, CT area in 2002, Mark has established a large private student base. In 2004 he joined the Vic Firth education team as a nationally recognized private percussion teacher. In addition to teaching private lessons, he has continued to perform as a free lance musician. Mark has successfully maintained working in twelve projects , (two steady) over the last 4 years. He held down the drum chair with an internationally touring 9 piece motown band, (Soul Sound Review). Mark also immersed himself in the world of Gospel, playing on Sundays at Mount Moriah Baptist Church! The projects covered a variety of musical styles ranging from: Jazz, Fusion, Funk, Rock, Motown, Worldbeat, Brazilian, Gospel, Folk, to playing in orchestra pits for musicals. In this time he has worked with John McCarthy (Independent, Rock House), Doug Wimbish (Living Colour, Mick Jagger), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Skip McDonald (Tackhead, Sugar Hill Gang House Band, Sinead O’Connor), and many others!
Mark has returned to New York in 2007 and continues to take students at his studio in CT. Look out for Mark Manczuk's beginner drum program "Learn Rock Drums" from www.rockhousemethod.com! Mark continues to study North Indian Classical music via tabla in New York with Misha Masud, and Anindo Chatterjee from Calcutta. He also currently studies percussion in Long Island with Dom Famularo as well as Ralph Peterson from time to time. Mark is also working on his Masters in Education at Pace University. He has also teamed up with Rozz and Neil Nash-Coulon to form a pop/folk/world musical group known as “Coulon,” www.myspace.com/coulonmusic! There are also four additional projects that Mark is currently working with!Mark plays Zildjian Cymbals, Evans Heads, Brady, Yamaha, as well as custom built drums of his own manufacture, and uses Vic Firth products.
Hi Mark, Thank you for the friendship ! This is the videoclip of my song released by Universal this week. Would you be so kind and please give your (honoust) opinion on the youtube channel for me ? Would be great !!
"WHAT'S GOOD, ...THANKS FOR THE ADD. ....GOD BLESS AND CONTINUE TO BE WARRIORS FOR CHRIST...MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT MY SPOKEN WORD VIDEO, "IN THE FURNANCE" (UNDER VIDEOS) AND COMMENT ON IT. HOPEFULLY IT WILL BLESS YOU...YOUR BRO...DC "THE ANONYMOUS ONE...BE BLESSED".
Hey There!
I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to be playing in NYC at 'Pianos' 158 Ludlow St. this Tuesday night at 7pm. Come down and get the new record FREE! Its free to get in and is going to be an awesome night!
Thanks for being a friend and fan!
See you there!
Jon
Hi Mark, how are you? Hope you had a nice weekend. Thanks for the friend request and for taking the time to visit my page. I hope you like my music and it's a pleasure to have you as a friend.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and listen to our tunes. We’ve got lots of new music and exciting plans coming up so keep checking back for updates.
Don't forget our CD is now only $8 (including shipping) Details are on our page.
Online Now!
