Mark Kelso

Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Mark Kelso has made Toronto his home for many years. A former student of Humber College, Mark has built his reputation around his ability to be a musical chameleon and has become one of the first call players across Canada. His ability to play many different styles has enabled him to work with diverse artists such as John Scofield, Herbie Hancock, Bob Mintzer, Chaka Khan, Gino Vannelli, Dave Grusin, Mike Stern, James Taylor, Holly Cole, Paquito D’Riveria, Michael Bublé, Marc Jordan, Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, the Hilario Duran trio & big band, Carol Welsman, NOJO, Brigham Philips Big Band,Ranee Lee, Olivia Newton John, Amy Sky, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Jovino Santos Neto, Molly Johnson, The Montuno Police, Maria Schneider, Soul Stew, Peter Murphy (Bauhaus) Michel Cusson, Susan Tedeschi, Measha Bruggergosman, Joe Sealy, Brian Hughes, Matt Dusk, John Pizzarelli, David Clayton-Thomas, Dave Douglas, Vince Mendoza, Alain Caron, Jeri Brown, David Foster, Deborah Cox, Gary Morgan’s Pan Americana Big band, Ron Sexsmith, Jesse Cook, Ian Tyson, Eliana Cuevas, Gordie Sampson, Susan Aglucark, Bonnie Raitt and Shania Twain. Mark’s touring schedule has taken him to such places as Russia, Japan, Iceland, Australia, England, Scotland, South Korea, Italy, France, Germany, Indonesia, the United States and even the North Pole. He has over 220 CD recordings to his credit along with many movie soundtracks and recording sessions. Mark also runs his own recording studio aptly called “Groovy Drums Studio” where he records drum tracks for many recording artists. A clinician for Yamaha Drums and Paiste Cymbals, Mark has performed at major drum festivals such as the Montreal Drumfest, Cape Breton Drumfest and KOSA and he has been featured in Canadian Musician, Drums ETC and Modern Drummer. More info can be found at Mark’s website – www.groovydrums.com

Check out Mark’s new Headhunters’ custom stick…..Mark loved our 2B maple but was looking for more warmth and cymbal focus, that sort of elusive sound that you can’t really describe until you hear it. And hear it he did after many tries….we re-worked the tip on our 2B maple platform to a unique tapered down bead, not round, not square, not acorn, not oval……..magically delicious.

The Mark Kelso Groover!