Mark Helias

Mark Helias
Helias at Cornelia street cafe, July 2, 2010 Pnoto: Claire Stefani
Background information
Born	1 October 1950 (1950-10-01) (age 61) New Brunswick, New Jersey United States
Genres	Jazz
Occupations	Musician, Composer, Educator
Instruments	Double bass
Labels	Koch Records, Enja Records, Radio Legs, GM Recordings
Associated acts	Anthony Braxton, Don Byron
Website	Mark Helias.com/

Mark Helias (born October 1, 1950) is an American jazz double bass player and composer born in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

He did not begin playing the double bass until the age of 20, graduating from Yale University's School of Music with a Masters degree in 1976. He has also studied at Rutgers University.^[1] He teaches at Sarah Lawrence College, The New School, and SIM (School for Improvised Music).^[1]

Helias has performed with a wide variety of musicians, including Ray Anderson, Gerry Hemingway, Anthony Braxton, Dewey Redman, Barry Altschul, Anthony Davis, Don Cherry, Ed Blackwell, Carlos Ward, Nana Vasconcelos, Cecil Taylor, Muhal Richard Abrams, Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill, Marilyn Crispell, Arthur Blythe, Abbey Lincoln, Marcel Khalife, Simon Nabatov, Don Byron, Marty Ehrlich, Mark Dresser, Ellery Eskelin, Slickaphonics, Mose Allison, and J.B. Horns. Mr. Helias has been leading the archetypal improvising trio Open Loose since 1996. The group, comprising Helias on bass, Tony Malaby on tenor saxophone and Tom Rainey on drums, has recorded six cds.

Discography

As leader

• Strange Unison (Radio Legs 2008)
• Atomic Clock (Radio Legs 2006)
• Verbs of Will (Radio Legs 2004)
• New School (Enja Records 2002)
• Come Ahead Back (Koch Records Jazz 1998)
• Fictionary (GM Recordings 1998)
• Loopin’ The Cool (Enja Records 1995)
• Attack The Future (Enja Records 1992)
• Desert Blue (Enja Records 1989)
• The Current Set (Enja Records 1987)
• Split Image (Enja Records 1984)

As Sideman

With Marilyn Crispell

• Storyteller (ECM, 2003)

With Joe Lovano

• Rush Hour (Blue Note, 1994)

With Dewey Redman

• Musics (Galaxy, 1978)
• Soundsigns (Galaxy, 1978)
• The Struggle Continues (ECM, 1982)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Sunderland, Celeste (2007-02-22). "Mark Helias". All About Jazz. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=24560. Retrieved 2010-07-19. 

Recognition/Awards

2010 American Composers Orchestra Reading Commission, 2007 Chamber Music America Grant for New Works, 2006 Distinguished Alumnus Award ­Livingston College, 2000 Arts International Travel Grant,  1996 Arts International Travel Grant,  1995 Arts International Travel Grant, 1995 NEA Grant in Jazz Composition, 1994 NYFA Grant In Music Composition, 1993 Arts International Travel Grant,  1991 Meet The Composer/Readers Digest Commission,  1991 NEA Grant in Jazz Performance,  1990 NEA Grant in Jazz Composition,  1990 Arts International Travel Grant, 1989 NEA Grant in Jazz Composition,  1988 NYFA Grant in Music Composition, 1985 NEA Grant in Jazz Composition, 1984 NEA Grant in Jazz Performance, 1981 CAPS Grant in Music Composition,

External links

• Mark Helias official site

Persondata
Name	Helias, Mark
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 1, 1950
Place of birth	New Brunswick, New Jersey
Date of death
Place of death