Track 1 Driva' Man Track 2 Freedom Day Track 3 Triptych: Prayer, Protest, Peace Track 4 All Africa Track 5 Tears for Johannesburg

Books on Jazz   Talking Jazz: An Oral History Jazz Styles: History and Analysis (10th Edition) Keeping Time: Readings in Jazz History New History of Jazz The History of Jazz Before Motown: A History of Jazz in Detroit, 1920-60 Jazz On A Saturday Night (Caldecott Honor Book)  (children's book) Jazz: A History of America's Music

*   *   *   *   *

If you are in Baltimore Check out the Menu of

 Be-Mo Jazz

*   *   *   *   *

About  Be-Mo Jazz Artists

“While doing all of that I still find time to record and perform with as many artist as I can. I've recorded with some notable performers such as: David Murray, Oliver Lake, John Hicks, Julie Dexter, Basement Boys, DJ Spen and Lafayette Gilchrest. I also can be heard on Deborah Bonds CD entitled Day After playing a sax solo on the song A Message(track2).”

“I'm on the last three Fertile Ground recordings and countless remixes worldwide. I currently working on and completing the finishing touches on my first album which is going to be a live jazz record.”

 *   *   *   *   *

A graduate of the elite Berklee College of Music, Boston Massachusetts, where she majored in Music Education. In addition to exceptional vocals, Sheila plays the piano, organ, and has studied several woodwind brass, string and percussion instruments. In 2004, she was added to the staff of The Maryland Conservatory Of Music as a vocal instructor. Sheila has also served as a juror for The Billy Holiday Vocal Competition in Maryland.

*   *   *   *   *

He has earned that moniker by performing equally well as a jazz/gospel/funk B-3 organist, jazz/blues pianist, rock keyboardist, and reggae/blues guitarist while holding his own as a solo artist.  Porecki enjoys the distinction of being among the top picks of many artists representing diverse genres.

In addition to four solo releases, Porecki’s work as a sideman has graced countless recordings, festival stages, concert venues and clubs throughout the world.  An abridged list of artists that Benjie has performed and/or recorded with include Pieces Of A Dream, Maysa, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Angie Stone, Isaac Hayes, Regina Belle, Mary Wilson, Vesta, Kim Waters, Ledesi, Chuck Brown, Angela Bofill, The Blackbyrds, and Hubert Sumlin.

Porecki’s versatility is evident in the wide array of artists he works with in a variety of genres.  He is as comfortable playing traditional jazz, contemporary jazz, pop, funk, R & B and urban, as he is performing country and rock.  He carries on the musical traditions of the masters while putting his own personal and indelible stamp on any piece he plays.

*   *   *   *   *

A 1995 graduate of Howard University, Mark began his professional career, on a six-year stint, with cutting-edge keyboardist Andy Milne. His time with this band served as a rewarding platform of development, being thrust into the complex, but intensely groove-driven arena of M-BASE music. This idiom, a fusion of funk, jazz, astrology, mysticism, and any other pertinent influence, was a perfect match for Marks unique style of drumming, which draws from influences equally as vast. In this context, Mark developed a relentless sense of groove, making the most complex of rhythmic patterns danceable, a skill that he deftly applies in many different styles. During this period, Mark also toured and recorded with Carlos Wards Radius, Opus Akoben, Debbie Kirkland, Davey Yarborough, Alex Bugnon, and Charles Fambrough, gaining a strong reputation as an extremely versatile drummer, playing styles ranging from hip-hop and R&B to contemporary and straight-ahead jazz.

In the fall of 2001, Mark was recruited by master flautist and composer, James Newton to take the drum chair in an original ballet entitled, Crossroads, which has been performed nationwide by the Jose Limon Dance Company. After completing a month-long stint, he received a call from the Broadway and R&B Legend, Jennifer Holliday to be the drummer for her twentieth anniversary run of Dream Girls, the world renowned musical that catapulted her career. Since then, Mr. Prince has been performing with a steady stream of Brazilian, Cuban, and Puerto Rican musicians, garnering a strong reputation in the Latin Jazz scene in his hometown of Washington, DC. His current association with the Philadelphia-based Gospel-Jazz singer Ruth Naomi Floyd has provided an opportunity to bridge the gap between New York and DC. Marks combination of hard-driving swing and sensitive musicality serve as full testament of the fact that he is fully deserving of the label of All Around Drummer.

Mark has also begun to gain a reputation as an excellent clinician and teacher. He has lead and co-lead clinics (along with keyboardist Andy Milne) and master classes in the U.S., Canada, and South America. In addition to his teaching endeavors abroad, Mark frequently gives back to the community that supported his development, by giving lectures and demonstrations to students in the DC and Maryland Public School Systems, further punctuating his versatility, as well as his commitment to sharing the gift of music.

Mark has performed / recorded with: Ronnie Laws, Steve Coleman, Andy Milne, Charles Fambrough, Alex Bugnon, Terence Blanchard, Meshell Ndegeocello, Ralph Peterson, Gary Grainger, Scott Ambush, Clarence Seay, Debbie Kirkland, Reggie Washington, Sunny Sumter, David Gilmore, Steve Wilson, David Yarborough, Federico Pena, Opus Akoben, Carlos Ward, David Fiuczynski, Tyrone Brown, Geri Allen, Wallace Roney, Talib Kibwe, Matthew Garrison, Ron Holloway, James Williams, James Weidman, Essiet Okun Essiet, Ravi Coltrane, Vinia Mojica, Gary Thomas, Ruth Naomi Floyd, Bruce Cockburn, Julian Joseph, David Dyson, Bryan Carrot, The Jazzyfatnastees, Greg Phillanganes, Billy Childs, Gregoire Maret, Donald Harrison, Michael Cain, Jay Hoggard, Marty Ehrlich, Jennifer Holliday, Nestor Torres, John Blake, Fertile Ground, James Newton, Lonnie Plaxico, Don Braden, Michael Bowie, Rodney Jones, Sherry Winston, Peabo Bryson, Ruben Studdard, Chuck Redd, Tom Schuman, Bobby Lyle, Sergio Brandao Television Appearances: DC Jazz Legends, DC Public Access Channel feature 2004 House Drummer, Star Jamz, TVOne Network 2004 Cully Jazz Festival, European simulcast, w/ Andy Milne March 2001 Live at the Knitting Factory, BET Jazz Network, w/ Carlos Ward April 2001 Good Day Dallas, Fox (Dallas), w/ Andy Milne May 1998.

*   *   *   *   *