Mark Mondesir was born in London, U.K.



Mark started playing in late 1976 at the age of 12. But took it seriously at 16. He is mostly self taught playing with school bands & shows. Then rehearsal bands after school. He attended the Weekend Arts Centre workshops in late 1984 led by Ian Carr on the recommendation of Trevor Tomkins who was giving him lessons at the time. It was at WAC that he met Julian Joseph. They would jam after the workshops where Julian invited Courtney Pine, Steve Williamson etc. They all had similar influences but no current outlet to express, so they formed their own. A new young black Jazz scene was born.



They started to play at The Atlantic pub in Brixton in early 1985 with Courtney. Then the media took interest in him. Soon he was a household name with his own quartet & The Jazz Warriors big band. Mark was in both bands at the time and that's when his career started. He never auditioned...



From 1986 was when Mark's apprenticeship really started. Playing alongside the greats at all the international Jazz festivals. He watched & listened to everybody like a sponge for learning when he would play before & after the likes of Art Blakey, Jack De Johnette, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones etc. It was, and continues to be, a great education. not just playing Jazz but all music.



Since then Mark has played with a wide range of Artists such as Pee Wee Ellis, John McLaughlin, Jeff Beck, Mike Figgis with Tom Jones, Van Morrison & LuLu, Joe Zawinul, (Tonight Show's) Kevin Eubanks, Scott Henderson etc.



Rhythm (the UK Drum Magazine) featured Mark on the front cover of their magazine like this "Mark Mondesir the Greatest Drummer in the World". Mark certainly is one of the most astonishing drummers on this planet with a mind boggling concept of time, creativity and speed that is bordering the super human.



The late Tony Williams who was notoriously hard to impress was said to have stood behind the stage curtain when Mark was playing at one of the jazz festivals, riveted by Mark's playing Tony watched the rest of the performance, after this Tony and Mark became friends. Dennis Chambers, another good friend of Mark's, has been singing Mark's praises for years on his own video and in print. It is well documented in drum circles that most top players hold Mark in similar esteem.



Mark Mondesir has worked with Courtney Pine Quartet, Kevin Eubanks, Dave Holland, Art Farmer, Jeff Beck, Joanne Brakeen, Julian Joseph, John Scofield and John McLaughlin.



Legendary vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath) enlisted Mark Mondesir for his tour in 2006.