Bass Jamboree

Grammy-nominated bassist, composer and educator Mark Sonksen has led a varied career path, always active as a working musician. At the age of 21 he auditioned and was accepted as member of the double bass section of the Cedar Rapids Symphony (now Orchestra Iowa). Since that time, Mark has traveled extensively, having played in festivals, concert halls and clubs in the USA, Canada, Singapore, Germany, Austria, England, Puerto Rico, Argentina and China. As a composer, his compositions are rooted harmonically in the modern jazz idiom while incorporating a wide variety of influences as a result of being involved in the Spanish language and culture for over three decades. These influences range from music of the Caribbean to Argentine/Uruguayan Tango, Nuevo Tango and Argentine folkloric music in addition to early 20th century classical music, and modern jazz in the American and European traditions. Over the years Mark has been blessed with the opportunity to play music with many great artists including Ramsey Lewis, Bobby Shew, Louie Bellson, Jodie Christian, Diane Schuur, Ira Sullivan, Ed Thigpen and Hugh Fraser, among others. He has also been the recipient of various grants and awards recognizing his talents as a composer, including the City of Chicago CAAP Grant, ASCAP/IAJE Honorable Mention of Special Distinction, ASCAP PLUS awards (2006, 2007, 2008), participated in composition workshops at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Banff Alberta, Canada (2006, 2007) and played with his quartet at the 2007 Calgary Jazz Festival. Since 2015 he has been a member of jazz guitarist Henry Johnson’s regular quartet, playing festivals, concerts, and prominent jazz clubs across the USA. As a leader, his discography includes six CD recordings, Blue Visions: Compositions of 1995/1996 (2004), Alba (2006), Climbing Mountains (2009), Convergence (2010), Postales del Sur (2011), and most recently Vicisitudes (2014), all of which highlight his original compositions and arrangements. New recordings Standards Quintet: As Long As There’s Music (2022) and Words and Music (2023) will be released in 2024. Mark currently co-leads the Chicago-based tango group "Ensemble Tangata" with violinist Victoria Moreira. The influence of Tango and the "New Tango" music of Astor Piazzolla is present in his compositional work. His current ouvre includes 110 original compositions for small, medium and large ensembles. He studied classical double-bass with Greg Sarchet (Chicago Lyric Opera). Since 2008 he has been a stalwart member of the New Budapest Orpheum Society, a cabaret-chamber ensemble, and has participated in its concert performances throughout the USA, tours in Europe, and recordings. Most recently, he can be heard on their 2016 Grammy-nominated CD “As Dreams Fall Apart – The Golden Age of Jewish Stage and Film Music 1925-1955”. Since 2010 he has been a musician with the dance production-company “This Is Tango Now”, playing the music of the tango show “Identidad” in concerts throughout the USA and Canada, educational workshops, and tours, including a seven week tour of China, 2014-2015. Mark is a member of the Chicago Federation of Musicians Local 10-208 and the International Society of Bassists.