Mark Isham’s extraordinary trumpet sound has been called cool, avant-garde, sexy, lush, sumptuous, vibrant, haunting – even achingly beautiful. No matter which adjectives one chooses, there is no denying that Mark possesses a unique tone that is never exactly the same, yet always decidedly his own. He has performed around the globe, and collaborated with celebrated artists in multiple genres. His albums have been critically lauded, and have been given the highest honors in the business, including a Grammy award, and many Grammy nominations.
Born in New York City, Isham was exposed to all types of music. His parents, musicians themselves, introduced him to it at a young age. Mark trained in piano and violin, but it was the trumpet that captured his imagination and became his signature instrument. While at one of his mother’s concert rehearsals, Mark was struck by the members of the trumpet section. They sat in the back and played loud, and it seemed to Mark that they were the coolest guys in the whole place!
Isham moved to the Bay Area as a child, and by age 15 was already playing his horn in jazz clubs in San Francisco, while performing with The Oakland and San Francisco Symphonies. Word of Mark’s incredible talent as a trumpet player continued to spread as he played in different bands, ultimately forming his own band Group 87. Always intrigued by new sounds, he began to experiment with electronic music and incorporated it into several of his albums, earning himself a reputation as a pioneer of electronic music.
In 1983 Isham received critical recognition as a solo artist with the release of his debut album Vapor Drawings on Windham Hill Records. He went on to release Castalia for Virgin Records and Tibet for Windham Hill. Most notable of his accomplishments as a solo artist is his 1990 Grammy Award for his album, Mark Isham on Virgin Records.
Though renowned for his work in the electronic and New Age genres, Mark Isham is perhaps most famous for his contributions to the world of Jazz. High regard for his abilities as a jazz musician led Mark to collaborate and perform with such icons as Horace Silver, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and Bobby McFerrin. Isham’s album, Miles Remembered: The Silent Way Project (COLUMBIA), has received great critical acclaim including being named “Best Jazz Album of 1999” by the London Times. Recorded live in Los Angeles, this album is Isham’s reinterpretation of material from Miles Davis’ late ’60s – early ’70s phase which had a lasting effect on him as a developing musician.
Isham’s 1995 release, Blue Sun (COLUMBIA), was met with equally high praise from the critics and was chosen by Downbeat as one of the Top 100 Jazz Albums of the Decade. “One of the most emotive new albums of the year… Isham displays a rare combination of a contemporary jazz vocabulary and an almost old-fashioned cool” (TIME OUT).
Mark Isham’s distinctive trumpet voice is in constant demand by high profile artists. He has appeared as a guest soloist with Joni Mitchell on two albums and in several concert tours. He is featured on five records with Van Morrison and has performed live with him on numerous occasions. Over the years Isham has also appeared with artists as diverse as the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, Kenny Loggins, Toots Thielemans, Marianne Faithful, Ziggy Marley and Suzanne Vega.
Isham resides in southern California with his wife and four children. He is currently scoring multiple films, while writing his new solo album.
To view and hear his legacy as a recording artist, click on the discography link above. Below is a selected Discography from Mark’s vast array of work.
SOLO ALBUMS
“Pure: Mark Isham” Windham Hill (2006)
“Miles Remembered: The Silent Way Project” Columbia Records (1999)
“Mark Isham: A Windham Hill Retrospective” Windham Hill (1998)
“Blue Sun” Columbia Records (1995)
“Mark Isham” Virgin Records (1990)GRAMMY WINNING
“Songs My Children Taught Me” Windham Hill (1991)
“Tibet ” Windham Hill (1989)GRAMMY NOMINATION
“Castalia” Virgin Records (1988)GRAMMY NOMINATION
“Vapor Drawings” Windham Hill (1983)
GROUP ALBUMS
“We Begin” duo album with Art Lande – ECM (1987)
“A Career In Dada Processing” Group 87 – Capitol (1984)
“Group 87” Group 87 – Columbia (1980)
“Desert Marauders” – ECM (1978)
“Rubisa Patrol” – ECM (1976)
SELECTED GUEST APPEARANCES
THE ROLLING STONES – “Voodoo Lounge” Virgin Records (1994)
WILLIE NELSON – “Across The Borderline” Columbia Records (1993)
TOOTS THIELEMANS – “Toots” Private Music (1992)
ROBBIE ROBERTSON – “Storyville” Geffen Records (1991)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – “Human Touch” Columbia Records (1992)
JONI MITCHELL – “Both Sides Now” Reprise (2000), “Taming The Tiger” Reprise (1998)
JULIA FORDHAM – “Falling Forward” Virgin Records (1994)
VAN MORRISON – “Live At The Belfast Opera House” Mercury (1983), “Inarticulate Speech Of The Heart”
Warner Brothers (1983), “Beautiful Vision” Warner Brothers (1980), “Common One” Warner Brothers (1980),
“Into the Music” Warner Brothers (1979)
HECTOR ZAZOU – “Lights in the Dark” Detour/Erato Disques (1998), “Songs From The Cold Seas” Sony Music(1994)
KYLE EASTWOOD – “From There to Here” Columbia Records (1998)
ADAM COHEN – “Adam Cohen” Columbia Records (1998)
TANITA TIKARAM – “Eleven Kinds of Loneliness” WEA (1992), “Everybody’s Angel” WEA (1991), “The Sweet
Keeper” WEA (1990), “Ancient Heart” WEA (1988)
HAROLD BUDD/HECTOR ZAZOU – “Glyph” MTM/Crammed Discs (1995)
DAVID TORN – “Clouds About Mercury” ECM (1987)
WAS (NOT WAS) – “What Up Dog?” Chrysalis (1988)
XTC – “Oranges And Lemons” Geffen/Virgin (1989)
KENNY LOGGINS – “Conviction Of The Heart” (1992)
MARK EITZEL – “60 Watt Silver Lining” Warner Brothers (1996)
DAVID SYLVIAN – “Secrets Of The Beehive” Virgin (1987), “Brilliant Trees” Virgin (1984)
PATRICK O’HEARN – “Indigo” Private Music (1991), Eldorado” Private Music (1989), “River Gonna Rise” Private
Music (1988), “Ancient Dream” Private Music (1988)
MUSIC FOR CHILDREN – (ALBUM/VIDEO)
The following scores were composed for the Rabbit Ears Storybook Classics Series, featuring children’s classic stories narrated by award-winning actors:
“Firebird” – Narrated by Susan Sarandon
“The Emperor’s New Clothes” – Narrated by Sir John GielgudGRAMMY NOMINATION
CD Distributed by BMG Kidz (1990) – Video Dist. by Columbia/Tristar
“Thumbelina” – Narrated by Kelly McGillis GRAMMY NOMINATION
CD Distributed by BMG Kidz (1989) – Video Dist. by Columbia/Tristar
“The Boy Who Drew Cats” – Narrated by William Hurt
CD & Video Distributed by BMG Kidz(1992)
“The Emperor and The Nightingale” – Narrated by Glenn Close GRAMMY NOMINATION
CD Distributed by BMG Kidz (1988) – Video Dist. by Columbia/Tristar
“The Steadfast Tin Soldier” – Narrated by Jeremy Irons
CD Distributed by BMG Kidz (1987) – Video Dist. by Random House
SELECTED FILM SCORES – SOUNDTRACKS
“Once Upon A Time” ABC/Disney (2012) ABC Music/Disney
“Dolphin Tale” Alcon Entertainment (2011) Varese Sarabande
“Warrior” LionsGate Films (2011) Lakeshore Records
“The Mechanic” Millenium/CBS Films (2011) Mark Isham Music
“The Conspirator” American Film Company (2011) Mark Isham Music
“The Crazies” Overture Films (2010) Varese Sarabande
“Fame” MGM/United Artists (2009) Lakeshore Records
“Crossing Over” The Weinstein Company (2009) Varese Sarabande
“The Express” Universal Pictures (2008) Lakeshore Records
“Pride & Glory” LionsGate Films (2008) Varese Sarabande
“The Secret Life Of Bees” Fox Searchlight Pictures (2008) Fox Music
“The Mist” Dimension Films (2007) Varese Sarabande
“The Women” New Line Cinema (2007) Mark Isham Music
“Lions For Lambs” United Artists/MGM (2007) Soundtrack on Varese Sarabande
“Reservation Road” Focus Features (2007) Soundtrack on Lakeshore Records
“In The Valley Of Elah” Warner Independent Pictures (2007) Soundtrack on Varese Sarabande
“Gracie” Picturehouse Entertainment (2007) Soundtrack on Lakeshore Records
“Next” Paramount Pictures (2007) Soundtrack on Lakeshore Records
“Freedom Writers” Paramount (2007) soundtrack on Hollywood Records
“Bobby” MGM (2006) soundtrack on Island Def Jam Records
“The Black Dahlia” Universal Pictures (2006) soundtrack on silva screen records Named Best Original Score for a Drama Film – International Film Music Critics Association
“Eight Below” Walt Disney Pictures (2006) soundtrack on disney records
“Running Scared” Newline (2006) soundtrack on varese sarabande
“Crash” Lions Gate Films (2005) soundtrack on superb records
“Racing Stripes” Warner Bros. (2005) soundtrack on varese sarabande
“Twisted” Paramount Pictures (2004) soundtrack on varese sarabande
“Miracle” Walt Disney Pictures (2004) soundtrack on Hollywood records
“The Cooler” Furst Films (2003) soundtrack on commotion records
“The Majestic” Castle Rock entertainment (2001) soundtrack on Hollywood records
“Don’t Say a Word” New Regency (2001) soundtrack on varesesarabande
“Life as a House” New Line Cinema (2001) soundtrack on varese sarabande
“Men Of Honor” 20th Century Fox (2000) soundtrack on motown records Grammy Nominated Album
“Rules of Engagement” Paramount Pictures (2000) soundtrack on milan records
“Galapagos” IMAX (1999) soundtrack on milan records
“Body Shots” New Line Cinema (1999) soundtrack on milan records
“October Sky” Universal Pictures(1999) soundtrack on sony classical
“At First Sight” MGM Pictures (1999) soundtrack on milan records
“Blade” New Line Cinema (1998) sountrack on varese sarabande
“The Education of Little Tree” Paramount Pictures (1997) soundtrack on
sony classical
“Afterglow” Sony Pictures Classics (1997) soundtrack on columbia records
“Kiss the Girls” Paramount Pictures (1997) soundtrack on milan records
“Last Dance” Hollywood Pictures (1996) soundtrack on hollywood records
“Home For The Holidays” Paramount PICTURES (1995) soundtrack on
mercury records
“The Net” COLUMBIA Pictures (1995) soundtrack on varese sarabande
“Losing Isaiah” Paramount Pictures (1995) soundtrack on columbia records
“Nell” 20th Century Fox (1994) Soundtrack on fox records Golden Globe Award
Nominee for Best Score
“Miami Rhapsody” Hollywood Pictures (1995) soundtrack on hollywood records
“Timecop” Largo Entertainment (1994) soundtrack on varese sarabande
“The Browning Version” Paramount Pictures (1994) soundtrack on milan records
“Quiz Show” Hollywood Pictures(1994) soundtrack on hollywood records
“Mrs. Parker & The Vicious Circle” Parkbench Films (1994) soundtrack on varese sarabande
“Romeo Is Bleeding” Working Title Films (1994) soundtrack on verve
“Made in America” New Regency/Warner Brothers (1993) soundtrack on elektra
“Fire in the Sky” Paramount Pictures (1993) soundtrack on varese sarabande
“A River Runs Through It” Sony Pictures (1992) soundtrack on milan america Academy Award Nominee for Best Score
“Public Eye” Universal Pictures (1992) soundtrack on varese sarabande
“Of Mice And Men” MGM (1992) soundtrack on varese sarabande
“Cool World” Paramount Pictures (1992) soundtrack on varese sarabande
“Sketch Artist” Motion Picture Corporation (1992) soundtrack on varese sarabande
“Billy Bathgate” Walt Disney Films (1991) soundtrack on milan america
“Little Man Tate” Orion (1991) soundtrack on varese sarabande
“Reversal Of Fortune” Warner Brothers (1990) soundtrack on milan America
“Everybody Wins” Orion Pictures (1990) soundtrack on virgin u.k.
“Love At Large” Orion Pictures (1990) soundtrack on virgin
“The Beast” Columbia Pictures (1988) soundtrack on a&m records
“The Moderns” Alive Films (1988) soundtrack on virgin Los Angeles Critics’ Award for Best Score
“Made In Heaven” Lorimar (1987) soundtrack on elektra/asylum records
“The Hitcher” American Film Comp/ HBO Theatrical Division (1986) soundtrack on silva america
“Trouble In Mind” Island Alive Films (1986) soundtrack on island
“Mrs Soffel” MGM/UA (1984) featured on album “film music” on windham hill
“The Times Of Harvey Milk” Cinecom International Films (1984) Academy Award for Best Documentary
featured on album “film music” on windham hill
“Never Cry Wolf” Disney Pictures (1983) featured on album “film music” on windham hill
MUSIC FOR TELEVISION
“Once Upon A Time” ABC (2011-2012)
“The Black Donnellys” NBC Universal (2007)
“Family Law” CBS (1999/2000)
“Nothing Sacred” 20th Century Fox (1997) Emmy Nominee for Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme Music
“EZ Streets” Universal Television (1996) Emmy Winner for Individual Achievement in Main Title Theme Music
“Chicago Hope” 20th Century Fox (1994) Soundtrack on Sonic Images Two-Time Emmy Nominee for Individual Achievement In Main Title Theme Music