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Drummer/composer Mark Burdon’s fluid, textural style is an amalgam of diverse influences including over a decade of work as part of the jazz scene on the East Coast and extensive studies of African and Brazilian styles of music.
Mark’s formal education includes a degree from Berklee College of Music, private lessons with respected teachers Bob Gullotti and the great jazz drummer Alan Dawson, and several summers of study with West African drummers, Abu Bakari and Godwin Agbeli. Mark who is half Brazilian has also spent extensive time traveling in Brazil studying and performing both modern and traditional styles of music.
Over the years he has performed and/or recorded with a wide variety of musicians including improvising saxophonists Ken Vandermark, Rich Halley, Jack Wright, Assif Tsahar, trumpeter Rob Blakeslee, violinist Mat Maneri, traditional Ghanaian drummers Godwin Agbeli and Abu Bakari, guitarist Doug Theriault, microtonal guitarist Jon Catler, the Zimbabwe style marimba band Boka Marimba, the Brazilian jazz group Gandaya, Three Leg Torso, Brothers of the Baladi and many others. He has also accompanied the Beth Soll Dance Company and composed and performed music for two works by actor Christine Calfas. In addition to Vagabond Opera, Mark is currently leading two of his own groups: The Ensemble of Strategic Information and The Mark Burdon Trio.
“Playing with Vagabond Opera is really a lot of fun. The music is diverse and because we rarely use a set list or play a song the same way twice, there are always surprises when we perform. That’s one of the luxuries of having strong improvisers in a group who can listen and aren’t afraid to stick their necks out. I love the material, humor and creativity of the band and really enjoy our gigs. I’m excited about VO and look forward to being part of its musical evolution.”
