Mark Patterson

Jazz Trombone Faculty

Trombonist and composer Mark Patterson began music studies with his father, bassist/trombonist Dick Patterson. Early teachers included Dale Bruning (guitar) and Tasso Harris (trombone). He graduated with honors from the University of Denver and, in New York, continued studies in the BMI Jazz Composers’ Workshop with Bob Brookmeyer, Manny Albam, and Jim McNeely.

Mark’s perspective as a teacher is shaped by his work with such artists as Clark Terry, Sir Roland Hanna, Charli Persip, Tom Pierson, Spike Robinson, Jack McDuff, Jaki Byard, John Pizzarelli, Ron Miles, Skitch Henderson, the Sanford-Schumacker Sound Assembly, and Mike Holober’s Gotham Jazz Orchestra; and his work on numerous tours throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia with David Matthews’ Manhattan Jazz Orchestra, the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Mark’s concert work has ranged from several seasons with the Concordia Orchestra at Lincoln Center to twenty-plus years with the New York Pops Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, and he premiered a trombone version of music from Eddie Sauter’s “Focus” with the Ridgefield (CT) Symphony. Recent travels include tours with Barbra Streisand and Audra McDonald.

Mark has been composing and playing with the sextet ‘Convergence’ (with trumpeter Greg Gisbert) for the past seven years, including the albums Modern Man and I Can Be There, for which he contributed compositions. He also leads his own quartet (with an album upcoming, four + four = five).

His recorded work includes Donald Fagen’s Morph the Cat, Tony Bennett’s Duets, Dale Bruning’s Tomorrow’s Reflections, the Manhattan Bones’ Tribute, and Anita Brown’s 27 East. His writing is featured on the Westchester Jazz Orchestra’s All In, and the Gotham Wind Symphony Music for Children--and those who listen with them (including a duo-trombone concertino written for Joe Alessi and Jim Pugh).

Mark has also performed in the Broadway pit orchestras including: 42nd Street, Fosse, and Spamalot and movie soundtracks including: Radio Days, Meet Joe Black, Six Degrees of Separation and The Aviator.