Mark Little (2)

Jazz pianist, composer and bandleader. Mark was born August 28, 1951 in Amarillo, Texas. He began piano lessons at four, and played his first professional gig at six. He joined an R&B group “The Undertakers” at 14, touring with them for four years. Mark moved to Austin in 1970, and played with numerous groups including Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Willis Allen Ramsey & Jerry Jeff Walker. In 1980, Mark moved to California and got the job playing piano for Cleo Lane and John Dankworth, performing with them at many venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles and Royal Albert Hall in London. Mark moved to San Antonio in 2004 and has played with numerous groups including his brother Ken Little’s band, Richie Cole’s Alto Madness Orchestra, and Kyle Keener’s Small World with Polly Harrison and Richard Oppenheim. In 1993 he recorded his first album as a leader, “Dream Walkin’” and in 1995 his second CD, The Tribe, both released on the Monarch Records (2) label. Mark’s third CD, “Birthright” was a solo live performance at the famous Maybeck Recital Hall released in 1999. Little released “Isn’t Art It!” on his own label CaraLittle Music. Since living in San Antonio Mark has released a string of records including Kindred Spirits in 2014, “Suite Mother” in 2015, “The Shed” in 2016, and “Up Close” in 2020. Mark has worked with many great jazz artists, including Joe Henderson, Pharaoh Sanders, Grady Tate, Eddie Henderson, Morgana King, Joe Lovano, Ted Curson, Shorty Rogers, Chico Freeman Bobby Hutcherson, Steve Allen, Ryo Kawasaki, Don Moye, Morganna King, Bud Shank, and Melba Moore. He has also worked with Bobby McFerrin, Maria Muldaur, Art Farmer and Clifford Jordan.