Mark Summer
Encyclopedia
Mark Summer is the Turtle Island Quartet
's cellist
; he is a founding member and has performed with Turtle Island (aka Turtle Island String Quartet) since its founding in 1985.
, California
playing piano
, guitar
, and, starting at the age of nine, cello
. From the beginning he was very interested in alternative genres, playing in a rock band called The Purple Testament, later known as The Plague as a teenager. Summer studied cello with Edwin Geber of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
, then his wife Gretchen Geber as a child and graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music
continuing his studies with the Geber family with Stephen Geber with a cello performance major. After conservatory
, Summer went on to secure a spot in the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
for three years. Looking for alternative genres, he left the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra playing in an assortment of alternative ensembles until, while in Winnipeg, Summer met violinists Darol Anger
and shortly after he was invited by David Balakrishnan and Darol to join Turtle Island
, and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area
in 1985 to perform permanently with the band. He has played with that ensemble ever since. In 2011, Mark made his solo concerto debut with the Alexandria Symphony, performing David Balakrishnan's Force of Nature, written especially for Mark. He currently resides outside San Francisco in the town of Novato, CA.
Alon Yavnai
and Grammy-winning clarinet
ist Paquito D'Rivera
which played primarily Latin jazz
. He has also composed many pieces for solo cello, including Kalimba, and Julie-O, (both the solo and duo versions), the last of which has become very widespread and popular among many cellists. He has also arranged pieces for solo cello including 'Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming, and Jimi Hendrix' "Little Wing".
Turtle Island Quartet
The Turtle Island Quartet is a San Francisco Bay Area based jazz string quartet formed in 1985 and still actively touring worldwide and recording...
's cellist
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
; he is a founding member and has performed with Turtle Island (aka Turtle Island String Quartet) since its founding in 1985.
Biography
Mark Summer grew up in Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
playing piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, and, starting at the age of nine, cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
. From the beginning he was very interested in alternative genres, playing in a rock band called The Purple Testament, later known as The Plague as a teenager. Summer studied cello with Edwin Geber of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
, then his wife Gretchen Geber as a child and graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music
Cleveland Institute of Music
The Cleveland Institute of Music is an independent music conservatory located in the University Circle district of Cleveland, Ohio, United States and is overseen by president Joel Smirnoff and Adrian Daly, dean....
continuing his studies with the Geber family with Stephen Geber with a cello performance major. After conservatory
Music school
The term music school refers to an educational institution specialized in the study, training and research of music.Different terms refer to this concept such as school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department or conservatory.Music instruction can be provided...
, Summer went on to secure a spot in the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its primary concert venue is the Centennial Concert Hall, and the orchestra also performs throughout the province of Manitoba.-History:...
for three years. Looking for alternative genres, he left the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra playing in an assortment of alternative ensembles until, while in Winnipeg, Summer met violinists Darol Anger
Darol Anger
-Career:Darol Anger entered popular music at the age of 21 as a founding member of The David Grisman Quintet. Anger played fiddle to David Grisman's mandolin in The David Grisman Quintet's 1977 debut. He co-founded the Turtle Island String Quartet with David Balakrishnan in 1985 and performed,...
and shortly after he was invited by David Balakrishnan and Darol to join Turtle Island
Turtle Island Quartet
The Turtle Island Quartet is a San Francisco Bay Area based jazz string quartet formed in 1985 and still actively touring worldwide and recording...
, and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
in 1985 to perform permanently with the band. He has played with that ensemble ever since. In 2011, Mark made his solo concerto debut with the Alexandria Symphony, performing David Balakrishnan's Force of Nature, written especially for Mark. He currently resides outside San Francisco in the town of Novato, CA.
Music
Besides the thriving Turtle Island Quartet, which has now has fifteen albums to its credit, Summer has played with many other crossover artists. He was a member of the Jazz Chamber Trio with pianistPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
Alon Yavnai
Alon Yavnai
Alon Yavnai is an Israel-born jazz pianist.-Biography:Born in Israel, Yavnai began playing piano at the age of four. He has professionally accompanied singers since the age of thirteen. He graduated from the Thelma Yalin High School for Arts and subsequently the Givatayim Conservatory, both in...
and Grammy-winning clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
ist Paquito D'Rivera
Paquito D'Rivera
Paquito D'Rivera is a Cuban alto saxophonist, clarinetist and soprano saxophonist. The winner of multiple Grammys and other awards, D'Rivera has lived in the United States since the early 1980s. He has worked in a variety of contexts, but is perhaps best known for playing Latin...
which played primarily Latin jazz
Latin jazz
Latin jazz is the general term given to jazz with Latin American rhythms.The three main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian, Cuban and Puerto Rican:# Brazilian Latin Jazz includes bossa nova...
. He has also composed many pieces for solo cello, including Kalimba, and Julie-O, (both the solo and duo versions), the last of which has become very widespread and popular among many cellists. He has also arranged pieces for solo cello including 'Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming, and Jimi Hendrix' "Little Wing".