Mark Whitlam
Senior Lecturer, Drums *
Mark teaches Drums at BIMM Music Institute Bristol. His versatility, sight-reading chops, and love of improvisation have opened up opportunities to perform in many genres, from Mercury Prize nominee and BBC Folk Award winner Eliza Carthy to experimental jazz ECM-label artists Andy Sheppard and Iain Ballamy.
Best known for his work in the jazz world, Mark has performed live and recorded with some of the UK’s finest jazz musicians, including Jason Rebello (Sting, Jeff Beck), Clare Teal, Claire Martin, Jim Mullen (Average White Band) and Pee Wee Ellis (James Brown) through to unique collaborations with BBC Proms conductor Charles Hazlewood, Will Gregory (Goldfrapp) and Adrian Utley (Portishead).
During his career, he has performed at numerous prestigious venues, including the Royal Albert Hall, The Barbican, Glastonbury Festival, Kings Place London, and as a regular at London, Manchester and Cheltenham Jazz Festivals. Mark has also gained extensive experience in musical theatre, and was invited to deputise on the drum chair for the world tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical ‘Evita’.
He also co-leads, produces and writes for the Bristol-based neo-soul band, We Are Leif, who recorded their second album at Ocean Sound Recordings in Norway in 2019. He is proud to endorse Paiste cymbals and Protection Racket cases.
* Freelance lecturer