Originally hailing from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Canadian drummer Mark Kelso has made Toronto his home for quite some time. Not only is he a skilled musician who plays drums and percussion, but he is also a singer, educator, producer, composer, and martial artist as well.
As a sideman, Mark has earned four Juno awards, and as a bandleader, he has been nominated three times with his own groups, the Jazz Exiles (2016 & 2023) and his Chronicles of Fezziwig Project (2020). Mark is currently in his ninth year as Artistic Director for the Jazz Room in Waterloo and was previously the head of percussion at Humber College from 2005-2021. His latest recording, The Antrim Coast, was released in May of 2024 and features songs dedicated to his homeland of Northern Ireland and his childhood memories of living there.
Mark’s ability to play a wide variety of musical styles has helped him become one of Canada’s most sought-after drummers. An all-around player, he has worked and recorded with a wide array of artists such as Pat Metheny, Donny McCaslin, Laila Biali, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Michael Bublé, Changuito, David Clayton-Thomas, Holly Cole, Larry Coryell, Eliana Cuevas, Paquito D’Rivera, Hilario Duran, David Foster, Dave Grusin, Herbie Hancock, Olivia Newton-John, Molly Johnson, Chaka Khan, Pat LaBarbera, Donnell Leahy, Natalie MacMaster, Bob Mintzer, Peter Murphy (Bauhaus), Donny Osmond, Danilo Perez, Chris Potter, Jovino Santos Neto, NOJO, Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Bonnie Raitt, Maria Schneider, John Scofield, Ron Sexsmith, Mike Stern, Soul Stew, James Taylor, Susan Tedeschi, Ian Tyson, Gino Vannelli, Carol Welsman, and his own bands, The Jazz Exiles, The Fezziwig Project, and The Mystic Isle Project.
Mark runs “Groovy Drums Studio,” where he records drum tracks for many artists around the world. To date, he has played on over 500 recordings. In 2016, Mark released his very first instructional DVD, Musician First, Drummer Second, to great acclaim.
Aside from playing many sessions and movie soundtracks, Mark has also been featured in articles for DRUMHEAD, Drums, ETC, Canadian Musician, and Modern Drummer magazines. He has been a featured clinician and performer at the Montreal Drumfest, IAJE, Musicfest, KOSA, Percussive Arts Society, Regina Drum Festival, Whack Bam Thudd Festival, Yamaha Canada, The Stickman Drum Experience, Victoria Drum Festival, the Ralph Angelillo Drum Festival, and the Cape Breton Drum Festival.
Mark proudly endorses Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Evans Drum Heads, and Headhunters drumsticks.