Born in Denmark, Markus Schwartz grew up in an American household surrounded by Jazz....

3 Sep 2010 23:30
Iridium Jazz Club New York, New York

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.

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. 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

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"

More on  >>  http://www.myspace.com/markusschwartz#ixzz0yU25iaHy