Mark Walker

Mark Walker (b. 1961) is a Grammy/Latin Grammy Award-winning drummer, a Grammy Award-nominated composer, and a renowned author and educator originally from Chicago. Currently a member of Cuban trumpeter Arturo Sandoval’s group, he is one of the only American drummers equally at home with authentic South American and Caribbean rhythms, straight-ahead jazz, rock, funk and studio drumming. Since 1989, he has performed around the world, touring extensively and/or recording with the group Oregon (with Ralph Towner), Paquito D’Rivera, Lyle Mays, Michel Camilo, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Randy Brecker, Steve Khan, Mike Mainieri, Andy Narell, Eliane Elias, the NDR bigband, the WDR bigband, the HR bigband and the Caribbean Jazz Project. He released his critically acclaimed debut album in 2019 entitled “You Get What You Give,” featuring Paquito D’Rivera, Alain Mallet, Oscar Stagnaro and many others. During the pandemic, he studied for a Master’s degree in Jazz Composition/Arranging at UMass Amherst, and wrote a big band project to be recorded in 2023. Walker is a Yamaha, Paiste, Vic Firth, Remo, Meinl and Prologix artist.