DENNIS MARKS, (Acoustic and Electric Bass) is considered one of the best bassists in the jazz scene today. Much in demand as an accomplished musician and composer, he has toured the world many times over, most recently as the bassist playing with the legendary trumpeter Arturo Sandoval for over twenty years. Dennis Marks has also performed with other jazz luminaries including Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Liebman, Bob Mintzer, Maynard Ferguson, Pat Metheny, Bunky Greene, Lynne Arriale, Danny Gottlieb, and Ed Calle.
He has appeared on six of Arturo Sandoval’s recordings, including the “Grammy-Award Winning: Hot-House”, and on “My Passion for the Piano”, for which he wrote two of the compositions.
Dennis has performed at almost every major jazz festival in the world, including the JVC Festival in New York, the Playboy Festival in L.A., and the North Sea Festival in Holland. In 2013, he played at the White House with Arturo Sandoval who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Dennis Marks recorded his debut album “Images” in 1996, containing all original compositions, receiving much critical acclaim. In 2010 Dennis released his second album entitled “The Bickel/Marks Group Featuring Dave Liebman on Zoho records, which also features numerous original compositions. He regularly appears with the Kelly/Scott Quintet, featured on the 2013 CD recording, “Renditions: the Summer Sessions.” Most recently Dennis performed on the recording “Mamblue” from internationally renowned saxophonist Ed Calle, which won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Album in 2015.
Dennis Marks taught music for 9 years at Florida International University, 2 years at the University of Miami, and has been Professor of Bass at the University of North Florida for over 11 years. Teaching acoustic and electric bass, jazz improvisation, and jazz fundamentals, he is also the Director of the UNF Jazz Ensemble II big band. Dennis has served frequently as a guest artist/clinician for numerous schools and in clinics that include the FMEA Conference in Tampa, Florida, and the Jazz Educators Convention. Dennis holds a B.M. in Jazz Performance and a M.M. in Studio Jazz Writing from the University of Miami.
