| Mark McLean | |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Birth Date: | 1975 2, mf=yes |
| Birth Place: | North York, Ontario, Canada |
| Origin: | New York City |
| Instrument: | Drums, piano |
| Genre: | Jazz, contemporary, blues |
| Occupation: | Musician, songwriter, lyricist, producer |
| Years Active: | 1997–present |
| Label: | none |
| Associated Acts: | George Michael, Catherine Russell, Playground, Leslie Odom Jr., Michael Feinstein, Morgan James |
Mark McLean (born February 5, 1975) is a Canadian musician, drummer, composer, lyricist and studio musician. McLean lives and works primarily in New York. He has released three albums under his own name. The first showcases his arrangements of jazz standards while his later albums are original material (except one song). His very early influence was his father's record collection, which included every genre: from Johann Sebastian Bach to James Brown. McLean is becoming known as the "drum whisperer"[1] in part because he can coax organic sounds out of any drum kit. McLean is musically multilingual: jazz, rhythm and blues, funk, pop or any genre required for the song.[2]
McLean's great uncle, Cy McLean was one of the first black band leaders in Canada. His brother Lester McLean[3] is an accomplished saxophonist and vocalist in the Toronto jazz and RnB scene.
McLean began his career at age nine as a gifted classical pianist, but by age 14 had started a second career playing the drums. By the time he was 18, the drums eclipsed the piano as McLean's voice for musical expression and the age of 22 he was playing with fellow Canadian and jazz icon, Oscar Peterson.[4]
McLean graduated with honors from The University of Toronto[5] with a bachelor's in performance in jazz. In his third year faculty member Don Thompson invited him to play on the first of the more than 70 recordings on which McLean appears. He was also named "Post-secondary Musician of the Year" by the Jazz Report Magazine in 1998.[6] That summer McLean taught at Canada's Interprovincial Music Camp (jazz). He was also the jazz director at Sir John A. Macdonald Collegiate Institute while taking his undergraduate degree.
McLean's recording and touring highlights include George Michael,[7] Gladys Knight, Joe Sample, Jamie Cullum, Andy Bey, Molly Johnson, Peter Cincotti, Andrea Bocelli, Serena Ryder, Catherine Russell, Jane Bunnett, Billy Joel, Dionne Warwick and Michael Kaeshammer.
McLean has two movie appearances: Drummer in Peter Cincotti band in Spider-Man 2 (uncredited) and Peter Cincotti: Live in New York[8] (credited).
McLean is endorsed by Regal Tip[9] Mallets and Brushes, Zildjian Sticks and Cymbals,[10] Remo drum heads[11] and Yamaha Drums.[12]
McLean moved to New York City in 1999 following receipt of a grant awarded him by the Canada Council for the Arts. Initially, McLean wanted to study with his idol, world-renowned drummer, Brian Blade. Although he did not teach, Blade mentored McLean by allowing him to observe his performances. He even helped him shop for a drum kit and as luck would have it, they walked into Drummer's World on 46th street in Manhattan and met jazz drummer, archivist and radio personality, Kenny Washington. Blade said to McLean "this is who you should study with." McLean studied with Kenny Washington for a year followed by an additional year with drummer Billy Kilson. After that McLean decided to stay for future opportunities in New York. Singer and pianist Andy Bey was the first to call, then Dewey Redman.
McLean has worked with many of jazz masters and pop icons, including Wynton Marsalis, Michael Feinstein, Billy Joel, Quincy Jones, Gladys Knight, Diana Krall, Glen Campbell, Carla Cook, Linda Eder, Jimmy Webb, Vanessa Williams, Patti Austin, the Backstreet Boys and producer Phil Ramone. He also served as arranger[13] on Molly Johnson's 2009 Juno-award-winning album Lucky, and was co-arranger[14] on Sophie Milman's 2009 release Take Love Easy, while continuing to tour and record as a member of George Michael's band.
Producer Phil Ramone following a recording session with Billy Joel remarked: "Mark McLean is a tasty, sure handed drummer, a song man’s musician." Andy Bey described McLean as "an intelligent, immensely talented young musician with a curious mind and a listening ear."
| Year | Album | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | It Feels Alright | Selections from Feel Alright re-imagined by artists and DJ's | |
| 2013 | Feel Alright | All tunes written by Mark McLean, eclectic album featuring 7 vocalists | |
| 2010 | Playground | All compositions written by Mark Mclean (except one) | |
| 2008 | Dinner Party – Piano Jazz | Jazz Standards |
| Year | Type | Event | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Feature | Feature: Mark McLean & Lea Mullen | Rhythm magazine, written by Rich Chamberlain | |
| 2012 | Review | Toronto Jazz Festival | Globe & Mail | |
| 2010 | Feature | Drums Etc magazine | T. Bruce Wittet | |
| 2009 | Award | Juno Award for Jazz Album of the Year | Luck – Molly Johnson | |
| 2008 | Review | National Arts Centre, Ottawa | All About Jazz | |
| 2006 | Review | Toronto International Dance Festival | Live Music Report | |
| 2005 | Nomination | Grammy, Best Jazz Vocal Album | American Song, Andy Bey | |
| 2005 | Review | The Sound of a Really Different Drummer | Mark Miller[15] | |
| 2003 | Award | Socan[16] Awards | Another Day, Molly Johnson, Mark McLean | |
| 2003 | Nomination | Traditional Jazz Album | Juno Awards of 2003 |
| Year | Artist | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Catherine Russell | Harlem on My Mind | |
| 2016 | Leslie Odom Jr. | Simply Christmas | |
| 2015 | Morgan James | Holiday Singles | |
| 2015 | Jann Arden | A Jann Arden Christmas | |
| 2015 | Melissa Errico | What About Today? – Live at 54 Below | |
| 2015 | Tia Brazda | Bandshell | |
| 2014 | Morgan James | Hunter | |
| 2014 | Rotem Sivan Trio | For Emotional Use Only | |
| 2014 | Laura Cole | Dirty Cheat | |
| 2014 | George Michael | Symphonica | |
| 2014 | Catherine Russell | Bring It Back | |
| 2013 | Carline Ray | Vocal Sides | |
| 2013 | Michael Kaeshammer | With You in Mind | |
| 2013 | Carline Ray | Vocal Sides | |
| 2012 | Dionne Warwick | Now: A Celebratory 50th Anniversary Album | |
| 2012 | Catherine Russell | Strictly Romancin' | |
| 2011 | Molly Johnson | The Molly Johnson Songbook | |
| 2011 | Michael Kaeshammer | Kaeshammer | |
| 2011 | Lester McLean | 4-3-2-1 | |
| 2010 | Kelly Jefferson | Next Exit | |
| 2010 | David Goldman | Light in the Tunnel | |
| 2010 | Shannon Butcher | Little Hearts | |
| 2010 | Marian Petrescu | Thrivin' – Live at The Jazz Standard | |
| 2010 | Lester McLean | Just a Taste | |
| 2010 | Andy Creegan | Andiwork III | |
| 2009 | The Count Basie Orchestra | Swinging, Swinging, Playing | |
| 2009 | Michael Kaeshammer | Lovelight | |
| 2009 | Hilary Kole | Haunted Heart | |
| 2009 | Sophie Millman | Take Love Easy | |
| 2009 | Jamie Cullum | The Pursuit | |
| 2008 | Chantal Chamberland | The Other Woman | |
| 2008 | Lamont Jeffreys | Christmas Dinner | |
| 2008 | Funky People | Feel the Funk | |
| 2008 | Shannon Butcher | The Words We Both Could Say | |
| 2008 | Molly Johnson | Lucky | |
| 2008 | Pete Coulman Band | TV Tunes | |
| 2008 | Billy Stritch | Billy Stritch Sings Mel Torme | |
| 2008 | DK Ibomeka | I'm Your Man | |
| 2007 | Andrew Craig | The Gospel Christmas Project | |
| 2007 | Billy Joel | All My Life | |
| 2007 | Autorickshaw | So the Journey Goes | |
| 2007 | Howard Fishman | Bob Dylan & The Band's "Basement Tapes", Live at Joe's Pub | |
| 2006 | Molly Johnson | Messin' Around | |
| 2006 | Serena Ryder | If Your Memory Serves You Well | |
| 2006 | Gladys Knight | Before Me | |
| 2006 | Susan Cagle | The Subway Recordings | |
| 2005 | Lester McLean Trio | Best Foot Forward | |
| 2005 | Kelly Jefferson Quartet | Spark | |
| 2005 | Linda Eder | By Myself | |
| 2005 | Mike Evan | I'll Bring the Stereo | |
| 2004 | Andy Creegan | Andiwork II | |
| 2004 | Andy Bey | American Song | |
| 2004 | Anne Mette Iversen | Pá den anden side/On the Other Side | |
| 2004 | Jane Bunnett | Red Dragonfly | |
| 2004 | Peter Cincotti | On the Moon | |
| 2004 | Various Artists | Voices of Concord Jazz | |
| 2003 | Peter Cincotti | My Favorite Time of Year | |
| 2003 | Syreeta Neal | Stand Tall | |
| 2002 | Howard Fishman Quartet | Do What I Want | |
| 2002 | Jane Bunnett | Spirituals and Dedications | |
| 2002 | Molly Johnson | Another Day | |
| 2002 | The Colour of Soul | 100% Concentrate | |
| 2002 | Wade O. Brown | Complete | |
| 2001 | Kalabash | Kalabash | |
| 2001 | Molly Johnson | Molly Johnson | |
| 2000 | Shannon Brooks | A Taste of Life | |
| 2000 | Tracey Wilkins | I Wish I Knew | |
| 2000 | Wade O. Brown | Solid Soul | |
| 1999 | Benjamin Davill | Benjamin Davill's Wild West Show | |
| 1999 | Janice Freedman | Triptych | |
| 1999 | The Colour of Soul | Texatronic | |
| 1998 | Divine Earth Essence | Groove Essentials V.2 | |
| 1998 | Mantini Sisters | Moments to Remember | |
| 1998 | Paul Tobey | Wayward | |
| 1998 | The Colour of Soul | Live@525 | |
| 1997 | Andy Creegan | Andiwork | |
| 1997 | Dawn Sierra | A Little Rain Must Fall | |
| 1997 | Don Thompson | Banff Jazz All Stars | |
| 1997 | Tara MacLean | If You See Me |