It’s what you’d call all-round impressive. Not just Mark Lockheart as tenor player/composer/teacher/in-demand- member of many bands….

but the material Edition Records have put together to support the release of his first album as leader since 2005. It’s due out at the end of May. Listen to the Podcast interview, on the Edition Records website. Tells you a lot about the (modest) man, the player, the music- there are sound clips in the background.

And then try this assessment of what level Lockheart plays at:

“Were Lockheart living in New York, he’d likely be a part of the circle that includes Binney, saxophonist Chris Potter, guitarist Adam Rogers, and bassist Scott Colley. That’s recommendation enough for jazz fans outside the UK to step beyond their own defined circles and check out a player as contemporary and significant as any of his American counterparts”

Allaboutjazz.com, review of Moving Air (Basho, 2005)

Saxophonist/Composer Mark Lockheart is one of those busy, busy ubiquitous talismans (talismen?) of excellent playing on the London Scene. In his early twenties he was a member of Loose Tubes (1984-90).

Check out the current gig schedule at http://www.marklockheart.co.uk/ – he’s involved with many different bands. eg the Norma Winstone and Nikki Iles Printmakers project (still without a London date…)

I very much like the look of these two:

7th May , 7.30pm.
Trinity College Contemporary Jazz Ensemble , Blackheath Concert Halls.
A special concert featuring the music of Maria Schneider and Vince Mendoza, directed by Mark Lockheart . £8

and with those album clips fresh in the mind:

26th May, 8.30pm
Mark Lockheart Group, ( Liam Noble, Dave Priseman, Jasper Hoiby, Dave Smith)

Pizza Express, Dean Street,
CD launch night