Photo of Markus Schwartz

Markus Schwartz

Markus Schwartz Radio

General Info

  • Genre: Afro-beat / Jazz / Roots Music

    Location BROOKLYN, New York, US

    Profile Views: 34505

    Last Login: 1/5/2012

    Member Since 1/2/2007

    Website lakoubrooklyn.fanbridge.com

    Record Label Zoho Music / Mozayik / Markus Schwartz

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    .. Born in Denmark, Markus Schwartz grew up in an American household surrounded by Jazz, and has devoted the last twenty years to learning the wealth and complexity of traditional Haitian religious music. Moving in and out of Haiti since the early 1990s, Markus followed the lead of Haitian percussionists on pilgrimages into the countryside to learn the intricate and powerful drumming styles of the various lakou—historic religious compounds—such as Badjo, Soukri and Souvenance. Once settled in Brooklyn, Markus became a sought-after drummer at Haitian religious ceremonies, and was instrumental in creating the ground-breaking Haitian Jazz quintet Mozayik, bringing his informed arrangements of Vodou rhythms to Jazz versions of American standards, Haitian traditional songs and Mozayik’s original compositions. Markus has since recorded and/or performed with many of Haiti's finest musicians, including “Queen of Haitian Song” Emeline Michel and Hip-Hop superstar Wyclef Jean. .. ...... .. .. .. ...... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Beginning his studies of African/Caribbean drumming in 1988 at U-Mass/Amherst, Markus then moved to the S.F. Bay area, where he quickly apprenticed himself to an Afro-Haitian dance ensemble, began performing and working as a much in-demand accompanist for dancers. During this period Markus first visited Haiti, thus beginning his ongoing involvement with traditional Haitian Vodou drum music and culture. In 1992, at the invitation of master percussionist and bandleader Jean Raymond Giglio, one of the pioneers of the Haitian Rasin (roots) musical movement and a founding member of the seminal Vodou Jazz group Foula, Markus embarked upon his first trip to Haiti. .. .. .. FOULA - VODOU JAZZ FROM HAITI: .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. In 1994, Markus recorded and self-produced a solo CD of Haitian drum and vocal music entitled "Simido", which has received airplay on many Haitian and world music radio stations from the New York City area, to Florida, Haiti and beyond. Following the path of his deepening connection to the Haitian music community, Markus relocated to Brooklyn, New York in 1996. Since his arrival, he has gone on to perform and/or record with many of Haiti's top musicians and groups such as; Aboudja, Buyu Ambroise & Blues in Red, Azor, Frisner Augustin, Dadi Beaubrun, Jean Caze, Manno Charlemagne, Bonga Jean-Baptiste, Carole Demesmin, Eddy Francois, Franck Ettienne, Foula, James Germaine, Jephté Guillaume, Wyclef Jean, Emeline Michel, Reginal Policard, Beethova Obas, Jowee Omicil, Tchovi Ginen, Joel & Mushi Widmaier and Sanba Zao, as well as performing on the NY scene with a diverse array of other artists spanning many genres; Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Sweetcane, David Pilgrim and Charanga Soleil among many others. Markus has also worked as an accompanist with such renowned Haitian dancers as Jean-Leon Destiné, Nadia Dieudonné, Mona Estimé-Amira, Julio Jean, Peniel Guerrier, Patrick LaCroix and Lionel St. Surin. .. .. ..I am currently accepting students for private or small group Haitian drum classes. Check out my class page on teachstreet.com. .... .. ...... .. Markus has traveled the world with his Haitian drums, performing at festivals and concerts across the U.S., throughout the Caribbean islands (Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, St. Lucia, Martinique and Guadalupe), Canada, Mexico, Europe and Japan. In the NYC area, he has appeared at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, Central Park Summer Stage, The American Museum of Natural History, Irving Plaza, Joe's Pub, Jazz at Lincoln Center (Damrosch Park & Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola), The Blue Note, New York University, SOBs, the Caribbean Cultural Center, Alvin Ailey Dance School, the Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture, BAM Cafe, The Brooklyn Museum of Art, Smoke and Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar. .. As an educator, Markus has taught group and individual drumming classes in the San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Cruz, CA, Santa Fe, NM, Rancho La Puerta, Mexico, Hartford, CT, Vermont and New York City and has participated in lecture-demonstrations on traditional Haitian drum music at San Francisco State University, City College of San Francisco, Laney College, Mills College, St. Mary's College and the Caribbean Cultural Center, among many other locations. He currently teaches private & small group Haitian drumming classes in NYC. .. .. Selected Discography .. .. ..As a leader/co-leader: .. .. Markus Schwartz, “Simido” .. Mozayik, “Mozayik” .. Mozayik, “Rhythmic Reflections/Haitian Creole Jazz” .. Markus Schwartz "Tanbou nan Lakou Brooklyn/Haitian Drums in the Brooklyn Yard .. Markus Schwartz & Lakou Brooklyn "Equinox" (Soundkeeper Recordings .. .. ..As a sideman: .... Jepthe Guillaume (Numerous projects) .. Sting feat. Stevie Wonder (Hex Hector remix), “Brand New Day” .. Wyclef Jean, “Welcome to Haiti-Creole 101” .. Atis Pou Ayiti/Eddy Francois, “Lese Koule” .. Emeline Michel, “Rasin Kreyol” .. Daniel Brevil, “Traditional Haitian Drum Rhythms” .. Lataye, “Tou Manbre” .. Erol Josue, "Regleman" .. Emeline Michel, "La Reine du Coeur" .. Jowee Omicil "Roots and Grooves" .. Pauline Jean "A Musical Offering" .. ..

  • Members

    .. Contact Markus via email: .. LAKOUBROOKLYN@AOL.COM.. .. .."TANBOU NAN LAKOU BROOKLYN / .. HAITIAN DRUMS IN THE BROOKLYN YARD" .. .. .. .. ..BUY THE CD:.. .......... .. .. ...... .. .. .. ...... .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .......... .. .. .. .. With ..Tanbou Nan Lakou Brooklyn.., percussionist Markus Schwartz assembles some of the brightest lights of the Haitian Jazz & Mizik Rasin (roots music) genres— along with several giants from the NYC jazz world. The result is an intoxicating blend of Haitian Vodou drums, Jazz and World music stylings. .. Featuring: .. From Haiti: Dadi Beaubrun (Boukman Eksperyans), Eddy Francois (Boukman/Boukan Ginen), Erol Josue and James Germain, plus Haitian jazz artists Eddy Bourjolly (Mozayik), Buyu Ambroise (Blues in Red), Jean Caze & Jowee Omicil. .. plus Special Guests: drummer Jeff Ballard (Chick Corea, Brad Meldau, Joshua Redman), tenor sax Jacques Schwarz-Bart (Sone Ka La, Roy Hargrove, D’Angelo) & bassist Ugonna Okegwo (Tom Harrell, Jacky Terrason, Bruce Barth) .. .. CD RELEASE PARTY -- LIVE VIDEOS FROM SOBs .. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2008: .. .. .. ..Legba Nan Barye A .. .. Featuring Erol Josue & Jacques Schwarz-Bart .. .. ..Danbala.. .. Featuring Buyu Ambroise & Jean Caze .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ....Markus Schwartz.... .. ......Interview with Markus on HaitianBeatz.com - click here.. .. .. .. .. ..Interview on Karijazz.com - click on karijazz logo below .... .. ...... .. .. ..Markus' drum solos with MOZAYIK - excerts from Stamford Center for the Arts performances & the First Annual Haitian Jazz Festival - SOBs, NYC October 2005. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Markus performing at LP Studios with Mozayik. "Yoyo". .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ...... .. ...... ..

  • Influences

    .. Traditional rhythms & drummers of Haiti (Rada, Petwo, Kongo, Ibo, Nago, Banda, Rara, Maskawon, Dawomen, Tchika, Mizik Rasin, TiRoro, Wawa & Azor, Manbo Lucienne, Lakou Souvenance, Lakou Badjo, Lakou Soukri, Lafrik Ginen, Coyote and so many more...) .. The musics of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Antilles, Jamaica, Brazil, Africa .. ..JAZZ -- in all its colors and forms! .... Blues, Roots/Rock/Reggae, Hip-Hop, Country/Bluegrass, Gospel... .. “There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind.” .. -Duke Ellington .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. ........

  • Sounds Like

    .. Afro-Haitian Jazz Quintet MOZAYIK, live in Haiti, November 2006. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. TRADITION MEETS INNOVATION....... Influences from many of the wonderful drummers I have been fortunate enough to study with, mixed with my own creativity & inspirations... distilled into my own unique voice. .. Some of my teachers thus far on my journey have included: Joe Platz, Raymond Graham, Johnny Scovel, Kendrick Freeman, Mario Jaureguí (Conjunto Folklorico Nacional De Cuba) Jean Raymond Giglio, Bonga & Tiga Jean-Baptiste, Aboudja, master drummers of the Haitian Lakou-s such as Souvenance, Soukri, & Badjo, John Amira, Fanfan Damas Louis, Daniel Brevil & Chembo Corniel. .. My extensive travels and experiences in Haiti have had the most profound influence on my relationship to the drum, and traveling to West Africa (Senegal & Mali) and Cuba are experiences that i will never forget. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .......... .......... .. .. .. .. .. ..

Comments

Post a comment...
10 of 257More

Login

Forgot password?

Need an account? Sign up