Mark Robertson-Tessi - Mandolin, Guitar, Bouzouki, Tenor banjo, Bass, Piano
Influences
In no particular order: Michael Holmes, David Peters, John Doyle, Bireli Lagrene, James Nash, Elizabeth Fraser, Martin Taylor, Emily Haines, Osvaldo Pugliese, Miles Davis, Andy Irvine, Rhys Fulber, John Frusciante, Whit Smith, Mícháel Ó Domhnaill, Andre Arpino, Adrian Utley, Donogh Hennessy, Neko Case, Geoff Keezer, Mark Francombe, Frederic Chopin, Joe Liddy, Herbie Hancock, Ciaran Tourish, Dave Navarro, Martin Hayes, David Grisman, Martin Barre, John Pizzarelli, Seamus Egan, John Cowan, Tom Morello, Terry Woods, Harvey Mason, Randal Bays, Henryk Gorecki, Emiliana Torrini, Joao Gilberto, Katie O'Brien, Django Reinhardt, Nathan Milstein, Oscar Moore, Neil Young, Robin Guthrie, Ed Reavy, Grant Marshall, Anibal Troilo, Beth Gibbons, Stan Getz, Johann Sebastian Bach, Cathy Jordan, Jimmy Page, Charles Mingus, Darol Anger, Steve Reich, Karen Matheson, Mark O'Connor, Chris Thile, Craig Irving, Russell Malone, Clodagh Warnock, Alison Shaw, Karl Heinz Stockhausen, Brian McDonagh, Mark Knopfler, Tommy Peoples, Astor Piazzolla, Mike Ratledge, Tommy Peoples, Bill Leeb, Horace Silver, Winifred Horan, Samuel Beam, Maurice Ravel, Dennis Cahill, Neil Young, Jaques Loussier, Barthelemy Attisso, Grainne Hambly, Jim Hall, Dave Grohl, Sam Bush, Perry Farrell, Karen Tweed, Noel Hogan, Tony Rice, Thelonius Monk
I started playing piano at the age of seven, and also studied violin and french horn as a youth. In high school, I was a member of a Jazz ensemble, and played for many Jazz groups during my college years while I earned a degree in audio recording and music theory. I've played many musical styles and instruments along the way, including mandolin, guitar, banjo, bouzouki, violin, bass and piano.
Currently I play with several groups out of Tucson, AZ. I play guitar, bouzouki and mandolin with Round the House, a traditional Irish group. And I play mandolin and guitar with The String Figures, a newgrass trio. I play mandolin and sing harmony with the Tim Wiedenkeller Band.
Some contests and awards: Top 5 in the National Mandolin Championships in Winfield, Kansas. Two-time winner of the Four Corner States Mandolin Championship in Wickenburg, AZ. High-points champion at the Tucson Irish Music Competition on mandolin and tenor banjo. Four times TAMMIE award winner for Best Multi-Instrumentalist/String Player in Tucson from the Tucson Weekly.
I write progressive acoustic music, drawing on many different influences. My writing is somewhat influenced by baroque and Spanish harmony, modal melody, and energetic rhythmic elements.
Mostly I like to have a good time while jamming with other musicians. If you are ever in Tucson, drop me a line.
Record a Demo Project in the months of October through
December and receive 25% off!!!
That's a full day (8 hours) of tracking, plus a day of mixing and mastering
(client not present) for up to 3 songs for ONLY $300!!! (see our "How much
is this going to cost?" Blog for more details)
Also, receive 20% off of all large projects booked between October and
December, when paid in full at the time of booking!!!
Quality and a deal that no other studio in Tucson can beat!
Hey friends, my carbon fiber bow for fiddlers, The Fiddler's Bow, is on sale this month $40 off! Every bow comes with a FREE cake of Fiddler's Rosin! http://fiddlersbow.ning.com to order
Hey Mark, thanks for the add, love your site, very musically talented man I see and busy with all the groups you sing and pick with.. Thanks again and I'll keep in touch..
Hope you can make the French Quarter Gypsy Jazz Jam w/ Hot Club of Tucson on August 20th... Looking forward to you sittin' in! Bring you Gitane and Mandolin...
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