Marilyn Mazur

Marilyn Mazur was born in New York 1955. She has been living in Denmark since she was six years old.



As a child and teenager she studied classical piano and ballet. (Her career as a dancer started, when she joined The Creative Dance Theater in 1971). She formed her first band Zirenes in 1973, and by 1975 she was working regularly as percussionist, drummer and singer for various groups. Her breakthrough on the Danish scene happened with the popular fusion band Six Winds and as leader of the all women music-theatre group Primi Band.



Marilyn studied at The Royal Danish Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen, but she is primarily self taught on her many instruments, drawing on inspiration from music from all over the world.



In 1983 she received The Ben Webster Award and formed the jazz quartet MM4 with saxophone player Uffe Markussen. Since then she has continued to develop her uniquely personal musical vision with many musicians and ensembles.

The year 1985 was a turning point for Marilyn. She was invited to take part in the recording of Danish composer and trumpet player Palle Mikkelborg's tribute to Miles Davis "Aura". Davis took part in the recording sessions himself and a few months later he asked Marilyn to join his band. She toured with the Miles Davis Band for long stretches of time all over the world. Can be heard on the CD "Live Around The World".



MARILYN WITH MILES: TUTU (MÜNCHEN 1988)



In 1986 she also toured with the Gil Evans Orchestra (Gil Evans/Laurent Cugny Big Band Lumiere "Rhythm-a-ning", "Golden Hair"). In 1987 a world tour with the Wayne Shorter Quintet was on the agenda, and by 1988 she was back with the Miles Davis Band.



In 1989 MM decided to leave the Miles Davis Band to concentrate on developing her own music and the 7 piece international orchestra Future Song. To this day Future Song is still one of Marilyn's groups with which she produces many special projects involving dancers, choirs and much more.



In 1990 MM gave birth to her son, Fabian.



In 1991 MM joined the Jan Garbarek Group with whom she toured extensively til 2005.

Since then Marilyn has been concentrating on actively composing and doing her own original projects.



Recent activities, events and high lights



2008:

January 25 - Release of solo album "Elixir" (ECM)

with Marilyn Mazur, percussion and Jan Garbarek, soprano saxophones and flute. (See separate press release).

January, Marilyn Mazur forms her new Marilyn Mazur Group and tours Scandinavia with Fredrik Lundin sax, Krister Jonsson guitar, Klavs Hovman bass, Marilyn Mazur drums & perc.



MARILYN MAZUR RECORDING "ELIXIR" WITH JAN GARBAREK AT SUN STUDIO, COPENHAGEN



2005:

Marilyn records a solo album for ECM Records featuring Jan Garbarek as guest artist. Titled "Elixir" this album is released in January 2008. Other activities in 2005 included the production of a documentary about Marilyn and her music by renowned Danish director Christian Braad Thomsen. She also toured a lot with her various groups including a new trio with Per Jorgensen (N) and Anders Jormin (S).



Marilyn Mazur's Percussion Paradise. Live at Copenhagen Jazzhouse, 2006



2004:



Marilyn receives the "Edition Wilhelm Hansens Composers Award". A prize usually only awarded to composers in the field of classical music.



2001:

Marilyn receives the prestigious Jazzpar Prize and puts together a hand-picked 14-piece band for the Jazzpar Concerts and the recording of the double CD "All The Birds".

Initiates collaboration with Norwegian bigband "Norske Store".



2000:



Original composition "Jordsange" (Earth Songs) for choir and bigband is released in March.

Marilyn appears at EXPO 2000 in Hannover and performs solo and with her new band Percussion Paradise at festivals in Molde and Oslo. Artist in residence in Bologna 2000.



1999:



Marilyn performs at The First Biennale de Percussions in Conakry, Guinea with members of The Guinea Ballet Joliba.



In 1989, 90, 95, 97 98, 2002 and 2008, the American jazz magazine DOWN BEAT selected Marilyn Mazur as "talent deserving wider recognition" in the category "percussion" in their annual critic's poll



Some of the many musicians with whom MM has been working and recording through the years include:



Bobo Stensson/Rena Rama, John Tchicai, Pierre Dorge/New Jungle Orchestra (with whom she recorded several albums for SteepleChase Records), Thomas Clausen, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen, Jon Balke (CD: Further), Palle Mikkelborg and Dino Saluzzi, Kenneth Knudsen, Irene Schweizer, Lindsay Cooper, Peter Kowald, Arild Andersen, Andreas Vollenweider, Christy Doran, Charlie Mariano and Jasper van't Hof (CD: Innuendo), Rita Marcotulli, Lena Willemark, Maria Joao, Don Alias, Marilyn Crispell, Eliane Elias and Marc Johnson.



Marilyn Mazur receives a lifetime grant from The Danish National Art Foundation as well as anual turing support from The Danish Arts Agency.



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MARILYN MAZUR RECORDING "ELIXIR" WITH JAN GARBAREK AT SUN STUDIO, COPENHAGEN



MARILYN MAZUR - PER JØRGENSEN - ANDERS JORMIN AT ZEROZEROJAZZ, 2007



BORN NEW YORK