Player
Dave has been a professional musician since 1997.
His performance and recording credits span an incredible range of music, including work with The Ulster Youth Jazz Orchestra (UYJO), various West-End musicals (Currently depping on Thriller Live) and with pop artists such as Gareth Gates, Saintsaviour (Groove Armada), Paul Carrack, Rick Parfitt Jr, Jack Mc Manus, Steve Balsamo (The Storys / Jesus Christ Superstar), Gary Brooker (Procul Harum), Foy Vance, Sarah deCourcy (Kylie Minogue), X-Factor stars Andy Abraham & Brenda Edwards, Leo Green (Jools Holland Big Band), Loick Essien, Rosalie Deighton and Laura and the Tears.
He has also worked with a variety of alternative artists, included guitar legends Larry Carlton, Albert Lee, Mattias ‘IA’ Eklundh, Richard Smith (Prof. of Guitar, USC), Dr. Richard Niles (Pet Shop Boys, James Brown, Michael Mc Donald), Justin Sandecoe (of justinguitar.com) Shaun Baxter and Dave Kilminster, drum stars Carl Palmer (ELP), Mark Schulman (Pink), Pete Zeldman (Steve Vai), Neal Wilkinson (James Morrison), Geoff Dunn, (Van Morrisson) and Stanton Moore and with groups like The Radial Trio; London Contemporary Choir ‘The Heard’, Mercury-nominated Hip-Hop artist Ty, UK Country music star Billy Curtis and Canadian Country star Jayalyne Tradler, Progresive death band Linear Sphere and has worked for the last two years as the MD for the global ‘Guitar Idol’ competition finals at the London International music show.
Studio Work
Dave has also done studio work with a wide range of producers, including:
Jon Kelly (Kate Bush, Paul Mc Cartney), Ash Alexander (Queen, Henry Mancini), Yak Bondi (Emma B, Billie, Lisa Stansfield), John Gallen (Queen, George Benson), Peter Cunnah (D:Ream), Joshua Blair (Duran Duran, Beyonce) and Jo Webb (Killerfix, Annie Lennox).
He currently occupies a room in Stanley House, the studio complex owned by Hugh Padgham (The Police, Sting, Phil Collins) and Chris Potter (The Rolling Stones, The Verve), working as a session musician, arranger and producer for a number of emerging London-based artists.
More recently Dave has been touring with the D:REAM of ‘Things can only get better’ fame, the Rick Parfitt Jr Band, and Ola Onabule.
He also tours, plays bass and writes with his own band, the Dirty Hands.
Teacher
Dave’s previous teachers were some of the UK’s best, including Laurence Cottle, Rob Burns and Terry Gregory.
He has a Dip He & BMus in Popular Music Performance and an Mmus (distinction) in Performance. He is also CRB checked, has had training in Child Protection and has a City and Guilds PTTLS teaching qualification.
Dave teaches at all levels; from beginners to the more advanced covering topics such as:
* Basic Hand Techniques, posture and positioning.
* Advanced Hand Techniques (Slap, tap etc)
* Chart & sight reading.
* Harmony & Theory.
* Internal Time.
* Improvisation skills (phrasing, development, playing over changes etc.)
* Listening skills.
* Styles and grooves: Afro/Cuban, Brazilian, Jazz, Funk, R&B, Rock…
Dave is Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP)also an active member of The Bass Institute Faculty at The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in Kilburn, London. He has written various courses for them on their Diploma, higher Diploma and Degree courses, including
* Bass Technique
* Fretboard Skills
* Harmony and Theory
* Advanced Rock Techniques,
* Styles (Rock)
* Contemporary Studies
* Individual Instrument Studies.
In the past, he has also taught for Tech Music Schools, Thames Valley University, The University of Chichester, The IGF and performed masterclasses up and down the UK for the Academy of Music and Sound, as well as international appreances in Israel, Italy and Sweden. His teaching experience ranges from one on one instrument lessons to Masterclasses in packed halls, Dissertation supervision to running drum circles at corporate team-building days.
Check out Dave's website at www.davemarks.com
Also catch Dave’s column in Bass Guitar Magazine entitled 'Style Files'.
