Mark Gonder

Percussion Faculty, University of Akron

 

Mark is an Adjunct Professor for the Jazz Studies program and Percussion department at the University of Akron. His teaching includes reading, jazz, rock, funk, Brazilian, pop, Afro-Cuban, odd-meter, poly-rhythm, big band, lead sheet interpretation, and improvisation. Mark studied with jazz icons Billy Hart, Kenwood Dennard, and Horace Arnold while living in New York City from 1980 – 1988. Mark’s most famous students are Steve Eckert, Chris Baker, Jason little, Patrick Wagner, Dan Kyshwonis, Holbrook Riles, John Suntken and Andrew Burnham. A member of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, 1989 – 2012, his most memorable shows are tributes to Frank Zappa and Jimi Hendrix with Vernon Reid and Ernie Watts.

 

Mark did a world tour with the Glenn Miller Orchestra from 1979 – 1980 and has played with the Akron Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra. His recording credits include Pacific with Pat Pace, Traditions with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, One Dream with Helen Welch, I Love To Tell The Story with Jack Schantz, Choices with The Jazz Unit, Boot Camp and Fields Of My Youth with Chip Stephens, and Gondor Live At The Spot.

 

To check out some of Mark's music with his group, Gondor, please click the Gonder, Live At The Spot CD cover!