- UCAS Code: 310F
- Level: Undergraduate
- Starting: September 2021
- Study mode: Full Time (4 years) (three years with direct entry to the second year, subject to ability)
- Location: Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Studying with us in 2021/22
It is possible that the 2021/22 academic year may be affected by the ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any arrangements put in place by the University for the 2021/22 academic year will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, pandemic-related/health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.
The launch of our Eastside Jazz Club has helped consolidate the integral role that Royal Birmingham Conservatoire has to play in a major UK city that enjoys a thriving jazz scene. While Birmingham’s jazz scene has been established over many years, our bespoke venue promises an exciting future for Jazz in the city.
Our Jazz Department is based around the Club, where student musicians share a platform and get invaluable side-by-side performance experience with the best on the scene, whom we welcome to our stage on a regular basis.
This course meets with the needs of the modern jazz performer – it places emphasis on practical work, with the majority of time dedicated to one-to-one lessons, small group coaching and private practice. You'll study modules that have been specifically and skilfully designed for jazz musicians, and as part of your learning we encourage you to explore in depth the relationship between improvisation and composition, which is central to developing your individual voice. You will graduate as a versatile, professional musician who is knowledgeable about the entrepreneurial opportunities available to you, and aware of the commercial realities for musicians joining today’s UK jazz scene as a portfolio musician.
Delivered by performers, band leaders and composers who enhance their teaching with professional experience, insights and connections, the course hones both your performance and professional awareness.
With individual specialist tuition throughout all four years of the course you will get the individual attention you need to prepare for a successful career in the music profession. You can also apply for additional hours with a Conservatoire tutor of your choice to help support your studies and develop your skills in complementary areas.
As well as having our own club that has taken its place on Birmingham’s vibrant jazz scene, our students enjoy professional experience opportunities with external gigs that familiarise them with the industry – for example through our partnership with Cheltenham Jazz Festival – one of many ways we prepare you for the future.
What's covered in the course?
The BMus (Hons) Jazz course is a specialist course for performers in jazz. Its main aim is to prepare students for a career in the music profession in the field of jazz. At the heart of our course's philosophy is the ideal of the informed musician; someone who is able to combine both advanced skills and musical knowledge in the advancement of their musical career. The BMus (Hons) Jazz course therefore aims to develop the specialist skills, the theoretical, historical and practice-based knowledge and to encourage the individual creativity required for you to become an independent learner, a critical thinker and a reflective practitioner.
You will be taught by performers, band leaders and composers, who are ideally placed to share their professional experience, insights and connections. With their guidance, you will hone both your performance skills and your professional awareness.
Why Choose Us?
- Students are satisfied with this course! For the second successive year our music provision has achieved the highest score for overall student satisfaction. The 92% score puts BCU 8% higher than the second placed music college.
- You will work with some of the greatest musicians and study on modules that have been specifically and skilfully designed for jazz musicians.
- Our performance health programme — including performance coaching, physiotherapy, movement workshops and Alexander technique classes — allows students to develop as confident and effective performers.
- You will experience significantly more one-to-one tuition time than on a typical academic university music course – or indeed any other conservatoire courses.
- We are proud to be a festival partner of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival; a partnership that gives our students an insight into how festivals are run, and some invaluable performance opportunities.
- Our Jazz course has a partnership with Jazzlines, a leading jazz promoter and key contact for international masterclasses.
- Our course prepares you for a portfolio career on the contemporary music scene, with performance at its core. It will also give you transferrable skills, including team-working, adaptability, self-promotion, time management and critical thinking.
- You will have full access to our superb £57 million facilities. These include our wonderful performance spaces: the 500-seat Bradshaw Concert Hall, the 150-seat Recital Hall, our black-box performance space known as “The Lab”, the Organ Studio, and our fabulous Eastside Jazz Club. We’ve not even mentioned our seven recording studios and more than 70 practice rooms, ensemble rooms and workshops in addition; all acoustically designed to provide a music-making environment that is absolutely world-class.
- We have countless partnerships and long-established professional relationships with organisations including the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Welsh National Opera, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Swan and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
- In 2018/19 RBC musicians collectively earned over £43,000 by being hired to play at events through our Book a Musician service.
Similar Courses
This course is open to International students
Discover Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
Visit our School site for more student work and extra information.
Where our students go
Our students have gone on to work in jobs such as:
- Freelance Musician
- Director of Events Company
- Film music composer
Entry Requirements
For insurance purposes, you must be at least 18 years of age by 1 September in the year of enrolment. Normally, you should satisfy one of the following:
Essential Requirements
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Applications for this course are made via UCAS Conservatoires |
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Entry to the BMus (Hons) is by audition only. Applicants will be required to demonstrate general musical knowledge and musicianship skills, including harmony and aural. Audition requirements differ per instrument/specialism applied for. |
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Composition - Composers must send a portfolio of at least three compositions and a high-quality recording of at least one of these works at least two weeks before their audition date. |
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| LEVEL 2 QUALIFICATIONS | ||
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| GCSE |
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| Irish Leaving Certificate (Ordinary Level) | See level 3 entry under Irish Leaving Certificate for full details | |
| Scottish National 5 |
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| IELTS | Minimum overall score of 6.0, with 6.0 in writing and no less than 5.5 in the remaining three skills. | |
| Plus one of the following Level 3 (and above) Qualifications | ||
| A Level and Advanced VCE |
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| AS and AS VCE | Considered with a maximum of 2 other Level 3 qualifications (AS Levels must be in different subject to A-Levels) to obtain 32 pts | |
| Access to HE Diploma |
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PPP | |
| Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design & Media) | Pass | |
| IBO Certificate in Higher Level |
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| International Baccalaureate Diploma |
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| Irish Leaving Certificate (Highers) | Pass the Irish Leaving Certificate with a minimum of 32 tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects. achieved in five Higher level subjects. This must include English Language taken at either Ordinary Level (minimum grade O1-O4 (or A-C/A1-C3)) or Higher level minimum grade H1/H7 (or A-D / A1-D3 up to and including 2016 | |
| OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma | PPP | |
| Scottish Advanced Higher |
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| T-Levels | Pass overall (D or E on the core) | |
| UAL Extended Diploma in Art & Design | Pass overall | |
| UAL Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production & Technology | Pass overall | |
| UAL Extended Diploma in Performing and Production Arts | Pass overall | |
Audition Requirements
| Essential | ||
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You will be required to perform two contrasting pieces with a rhythm section (provided), one of which must be chosen from a list of standards, and one of their own choice. |
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You will also be asked to perform a short transcribed solo (drummers and vocalists excepted) and sight-read. |
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Pianists, bassists and drummers audition by taking their place in the rhythm trio. |
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Drummers will be asked to play through the chord changes of any of the listed standards at the piano. |
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Drummers must also take part in an interactive test, joining in with various grooves indicated by the piano and bass. |
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All candidates will be interviewed at audition. |
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Full details of our audition requirements can be found here. |
GCSE passes in 5 subjects (including English Language)
Worried about teacher assessments?
However you're being assessed this Summer, it can be a stressful time. We've got a load of tips on revision skills and time management to help you feel as prepared as possible.
Don’t meet our entry requirements?
You could apply for a foundation course or a course at our International College. These routes have lower entry requirements and act as the bridge to a full degree. To find out more, please select your status:
- UK students
- International students
The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
The deadline for on-time applications is normally on or around 1 October in the year prior to entry, followed by auditions in November (for those attending an audition in Birmingham). If you apply between 1 October and 4 January, you may be eligible for our late auditions in February, if places are still available. For detailed information, see our how to apply section.
Personal statement
UK / EU students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.*
The personal statement gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Course choice
Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?
Career plans
If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.
Work experience
Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.
School or college experience
Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.
Non-accredited skills or achievement
eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.
You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
*Non-EU students are not required to submit a personal statement when applying for this course.
Additional costs
Our courses include activities such as performance, exhibitions, field trips and production of works or artefacts which may require you to purchase specific equipment, instruments, books, materials, hire of venues and accommodation, or other items.
Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £50 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials. All our students are provided with 100 free pages of printing each year to a maximum total value of £15.
Accommodation and living costs
The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.
Financial Support
We offer further information on possible undergraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.
Year one
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Year two
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
Year three
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 80 credits):
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.
Year four
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 120 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.
Course Structure
We tutor you in several different areas of musicianship. With individual specialist tuition throughout all four years of the course you will get the individual attention you
need to prepare for a successful career in the music profession. You can also apply for additional hours with a Conservatoire tutor of your choice to help support your studies and develop your skills in complementary areas.
With the help of your tutor, you will develop a productive practice regime and lay down a foundation for technical skills and improvisation processes.
Using a typical group of two or three frontline instruments, plus a rhythm section, you will receive intensive weekly coaching in your core repertoire. You will then go on to run your own small group, using your choice of repertoire and performers.
We encourage you to explore in depth the relationship between improvisation and composition, which is central to developing an individual voice.
You will also work towards a major project of your own devising, such as a recording, performance or dissertation. This will need to reflect your specialist interests and career aims.
You can look forward to masterclasses and workshops in our own Eastside Jazz Club led by respected artists from the jazz scene.
Conservatoire’s memberships
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire is a member of Conservatoire’s UK (CUK) and Association Européene des Conservatoires (AEC).
CUK is the voice of Conservatoire education in the UK. It represents the collective views of nine UK conservatoires and aims to develop the best training and education in the performing arts.
The AEC is a European cultural and educational network, which looks after the interests of institutions concerned with training students for the music profession.
Student stories
Tom Dunnett
Tom moved to London shortly after he graduated from the BMus Jazz course at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2013. He is now a freelance trombonist in London and holds a chair in the Syd Lawrence Orchestra and a show on the West End. Other work includes big bands, jazz projects and recordings, and some light classical concerts. He also has a sextet and a quartet which he writes for as an ongoing project with views to finding gigs along with recording and performing original music.
Further study
We offer an exciting postgraduate jazz course, which is designed to take you one step nearer to achieving your professional goals and aspirations.
Student stories Harry Lightfoot
Composed the music for the trailers of three recent Star Wars movies, ‘Mary Poppins Returns,’ and a number of Disney movies, among many more.
Harry Lightfoot is an award winning composer for film and TV. Since he graduated from BMus (Hons) Jazz in 2007, his career in composition has gone from strength to strength. As well as writing and producing epic orchestral and hybrid trailer cues, he regularly composes for TV advertising with clients including: McDonald’s, Samsung, Netflix, Pepsi, Mercedes, Adobe, Milka, Axe, Giff Gaff, Harveys, Max Factor and many more. He also created sound design for the BBC's ‘Original British Drama’ logo, the’ BBC Earth’ ident, and composed the theme tune for the critically acclaimed Britain's Big Wildlife Revival.
Employment Opportunities
One of the central aims of the course is to launch jazz performers into the music profession. You will have a chance to document your work as a jazz musician through a studio project in the third year. You will also design a major project in the fourth year around an area of professional practice of your choice.
As further professional development, you will look at contemporary role models in jazz performance, undertaking in-depth case studies of their careers. There are also classes providing advice on how to manage a freelance portfolio career in music, covering topics such as personal finance and tax, publicity and events promotion, applications to funding bodies, and bidding for commissions.
Placements
We have a number of musical partners including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG), Birmingham Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Swan, Birmingham Music Service, Jazzlines, and Town Hall Symphony Hall, with whom opportunities to perform occur.
OpportUNIty
OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
BCU Graduate+
Through our courses we give you the skills and experience needed to get a head start when applying for jobs. But we offer something extra too – Graduate+.
Our unique programme gives you the chance to develop valuable skills outside of the more formal classroom learning. We award points for Graduate+ activities (including firewalking!) and these can be put towards a final Graduate+ award.
More about Graduate+
‘What next?’ music careers conference
We hold an annual careers event involving leading industry professionals who take part in panel discussions about the future of the profession and the opportunities available to Conservatoire graduates.
Trips and visits
Recent trips have included opportunities to perform at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival and to Norway and Italy as part of jazz exchange programmes. Our Ellington Orchestra were invited to Oxford to perform at Kellogg College.
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
- Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
- Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
- Learn where to find financial support for your studies.
The UK remains one of the world's leading study destinations
The UK remains one of the world's leading study destinations for international students.
The first-class experience offered by universities are reflected in the world’s largest survey of international students. International students are more likely to recommend the UK than any other leading English-language study destination.
Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC)
International students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.
BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.
Popular home countries
Our students come from around the world but our jazz honours course is most popular with international students from:
Norway
Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s £57 million music building opened in September 2017, and is located on Birmingham City University’s City Centre Campus in the Eastside ‘learning quarter’ of the city.
This brand new music facility include five public performance venues – a 500 seat Concert Hall, 150 seat Recital Hall, Organ Studio, Eastside Jazz Club and the experimental black box performance venue known as The Lab. As well as these stunning performance venues, we have nearly 100 practice spaces; including 70 small practice rooms and larger ensemble rooms and workshops.
Our new home is the first conservatoire built in the digital age, and as such it has been vital to ensure that the technical infrastructure installed is on par with any advanced commercial facility. We have seven recording studios, a mastering suite, a distance learning hub, and all of our performance venues feature high specification audio-visual equipment that enables interconnectivity and advanced functionality throughout the building.
These impressive modern facilities guarantee that we are excel in our unique dual purpose of providing the highest standard of music education deserved by our students, as well as meeting our role as a concert and performance venue for the people of Birmingham; taking our place in the vibrant cultural landscape of the UK’s second city.
Our staff
We have an outstanding team of tutors, all of whom are highly respected artists in their field. The fact that they come not only from the UK but also from the USA and Europe gives a real breadth and depth to the range of jazz music represented here, as well as greater scope for you to find a suitable mentor to watch over your individual development.
Jeremy Price
Head of Jazz
Jeremy Price (born 1970) studied at Birmingham Conservatoire and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has since followed a career as a freelance trombonist and jazz educator. Jeremy has been Head of Jazz at Birmingham Conservatoire since the Jazz Department was established in 1999 and wrote the Conservatoire's first ever BMus (Hons) Jazz programme in collaboration with Mark Racz, now Vice Principal of the Royal Academy of Music.
John O’Gallagher
Senior Lecturer
John O’Gallagher is a professional saxophonist, educator, and researcher from Brooklyn, New York. During his performing career he has appeared at numerous international jazz venues and festivals, and additionally on radio programs broadcast by BBC-3, RSI-Switzerland, and Radio France. The New York Times has described him as “an alto saxophonist of dry tone and daring temperament”. He has been featured with the Joe Henderson Big Band, Maria Schneider Orchestra, Kenny Wheeler Large Ensemble, and in numerous groups with artists such as Ben Monder, Tyshawn Sorey, Billy Hart, Ralph Alessi, Mike Gibbs, Bill Stewart, Donny McCaslin, Jeff Williams, Tony Malaby, Johannes Weidenmueller, Chris Cheek, Tim Hagans, Drew Gress, Mark Guiliana, Paul Dunmall, and Tom Rainey. His discography is comprised of more than 60 CDs. Recordings on which he has appeared have received one GRAMMY award, two GRAMMY nominations, and three JUNO award nominations. As an educator and clinician, he has mentored students at international conservatories and universities such as The New England Conservatory, The New School, Hochschule Musik und Theater (Zurich, Switzerland), Conservatoire De Paris (France), and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (UK). He is the author of the book Twelve-Tone Improvisation published by Advance Music.
Andrew Bain
Senior Lecturer in Jazz, First Study Drums, Ensemble Coaching, Rhythm Class Tutor
Andrew Bain is one of the leading performers and educators in the UK.
A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London and winner of the BBC Big Band Drummer, he has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Natalie Cole, Kenny Wheeler, Randy Brecker, Dave Liebman, Bob Mintzer, John Taylor, Iain Dixon, Elliott Sharp, Mike Walker, Jason Rebello, Mike Janisch, Paul Booth, Phil Robson, Iain Ballamy, Jim Hart, Mark Lockheart, Chris Batchelor, Mark Hodgson, Jean Toussaint, Houston Pearson, John Parricelli, Steve Watts, Stan Sulzmann, and was a member of vocalist Jacqui Dankworth’s band between 2007-8, recording with the late Sir John Dankworth in 2008. He has performed at many prestigious venues in the UK, Europe and the US, including the BBC Proms and the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Receiving his MMus from the Manhattan School of Music, he was resident in New York from 2001-07. During this time he performed extensively with Thelonious Monk Competition winner Jon Irabagon, as well as with Mostly Other People Do The Killing, Dave Lalama and Matt Brewer. He has performed at many of New York’s famous clubs including Sin-E, CBGBs, Tonic and the Mercury Lounge, and recorded at Sony Studios. Andrew co-leads the NY-based group Confluence whose eponymous debut showcased original and highly inventive compositions. Their second record will be released on the record label Fresh Sound, New Talent later this year. He also looks forward to launching a new project Player Piano with Mike Walker, Gwilym Simcock, Iain Dixon and Steve Watts in late 2015, and launching another new project with pianist George Colligan, saxophonist Jon Irabagon and bassist Mike Janisch in late 2016.
Andrew is Senior Lecturer in Jazz at the Birmingham Conservatoire and Artistic Director of Jazz for the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland. He is also a member of the National Youth Jazz Collective with Artistic Director Dave Holland. Andrew starts his PhD study at Birmingham City University in September 2015.
John Turville
Jazz Piano Tutor
John Turville is one of the leading pianists and educators on the UK scene. A graduate of Cambridge and the Guildhall, he has since received numerous awards, including the MOJO #3 Jazz Album of the Year (2012), ‘Best Album’ in the Parliamentary Awards 2011, ‘Best Instrumentalist' in the 2010 London Jazz Awards, the 2009 Promoter’s Choice Award (PRS), and was a semi-finalist in the Martial Solal competition in 2010. He has worked and recorded with many of Europe’s leading jazz and tango groups, including Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Trio and Acoustic Triangle, the Tony Kofi/Alan Barnes Quintet, Karios 4tet, Gilad Atzmon, El Ultimo Tango, Transtango, the London Tango Orchestra, London Jazz Orchestra, Guillermo Rozenthuler, Nate James, Matt Ridley Quartet (feat. Jason Yarde), Natacha Atlas, US3 and Sola Akingbola (Jamiroquai) .
His own trio have released two acclaimed albums on the F-IRE label and toured widely throughout the UK and Europe. Recent engagements include sets at the Barbican, South Bank, Kings Place, Ronnie Scotts, Pizza Express, The Vortex, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester and the Scarborough Jazz Festival.
John is also an experienced composer and arranger. He founded, writes for and directs the E17 large ensemble, and has had works commissioned by Manu Delago and ‘Living Room in London’, the Threads Orchestra, the Solstice Quartet and Transtango.
Mark Hodgson
Jazz Double Bass Tutor
Born in Kendal, Cumbria and coming from a musical family Mark originally played electric bass in funk and fusion bands, but was inspired to take up the Double Bass after seeing The Oscar Peterson Trio featuring Ray Brown. In 1995 he moved to London to study Double Bass and Electric Bass at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 1999 Mark left London and moved to Barcelona, Spain, where he was based for four years. He returned to the UK in 2003. Mark has played and recorded with a wide range of musicians, from members of The Police and The Rolling Stones to Paul McCartney, Jamie Cullum, Lizz Wright, The London Symphony Orchestra and Electronica wizard Matthew Herbert. Jazz artists Mark has worked with include....Cedar Walton, Phil Woods, Steve Grossman, John Taylor, Randy Brecker, Larry Coryell, Kenny Wheeler, Greg Osby and Jeff Ballard. Since returning to London Mark has been involved in a diverse range of projects, from film music to Hip Hop and R&B records, he has also been a regular member of Bill Bruford’s ‘Earthworks’, Billy Cobham’s ‘Art Of 5’, The Steve Grossman/Damon Brown Quintet, The Bill Charlap Trio, Tim Garland’s 'Underground Orchestra', The Julian Joseph Trio feat. Mark Mondesir.