Bassist Mark Godfrey is quickly becoming one of the new faces in Canadian jazz. Hailing from Southwestern Ontario and currently living in Toronto, he has established himself a mainstay in this national community and in 2019 was named Emerging Jazz Artist of the Year by the Toronto Arts Foundation. Mark’s accolades as a bassist and composer include the 2014 Grand Prix de Jazz from the Montreal Jazz Festival (Pram Trio) and the 2021 JUNO Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year (Sammy Jackson/With You).
To date, Mark has released two albums under own name: Prologue (2018) and Square Peg (2020). Featuring a quartet and quintet respectively, the albums feature Mark on bass and compositions, saxophonists Allison Au and Matt Woroshyl, pianist Chris Pruden, and drummer Nick Fraser.
His versatility on both electric and double bass has led him to regularly work with a variety of Canadian jazz artists beyond his own groups including: Kellylee Evans, Barbra Lica, Sammy Jackson, Joanna Majoko, and the Toronto Jazz Orchestra. Also working as a jazz educator, Mark is the private double bass instructor at Mayfield Secondary School for the Arts in Brampton and De La Salle College in Toronto. Over the summer months, he teaches at the National Music Camp in Ontario and at the International Music Camp in Manitoba and North Dakota.
Performances
Twilight Jazz and Blooz Series Part 2: “With You” in Concert featuring the Sammy Jackson Quartet
Spirit In Niagara, 458 Lakeshore Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON