Mark Moultrup is a multi-disciplined artist equally versed as a pianist, vocalist, composer, arranger, and educator. Originally from Detroit, Michigan Moultrup now resides in Chicago, Illinois. As and educator, Moultrup actively teaches and conducts music clinics. He founded the Petoskey Jazz Festival in Petoskey, Michigan. As a performer, Mark has enjoyed a career that spans over 30 years; he has performed in countless venues, concerts and festivals settings throughout the United States, as well as Europe, South and Central America, and the Carribean. Mark has shared the stage and or recorded with a diverse array of artists including: Smokie Robinson, Bobby Vinton, Mike Stern, Marcus Belgrave, Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin, (Temptations induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concert), Paul Keller, Leslie Gore, Lou Christie, Johnny Trudell, Regina Carter, and beyond. Many of Moultrup’s compositions have been featured on commercials and national television. Moultrup continues to keep a busy performance, touring and teaching schedule and is currently in the recording studio planning his next release in 2010. An artist always challenging himself to the next level and continuing to break barriers of the norm, Moultrup is a musician’s musician and an artisan at crafting well conceived compositions to delight every type of listener. George Fludas; An in demand Chicago based jazz drummer was also a member of Ray Brown's trio in 2000-2001 and has performed with many jazz greats, such as Johnny Griffin, Cedar Walton, Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Frank Wess, Bobby Hutcherson, Eric Alexander and Diana Krall. Rodney Whitaker a Detroit native best known for his seven-year tenure as the bassist with Wynton Marsalis Sextet and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. He has toured the world over the last twenty years, collaborating with legendary performers such as Dianne Reeves, Mulgrew Miller, Diana Krall, Terence Blanchard, Cyrus Chestnut, Gerald Wilson, Hank Jones, Marian McPartland and Roy Hargrove in addition to leading symphony orchestras. Saxophonist John Wojciechowski, also originally from Detroit has spent most of the last decade performing and teaching in Chicago. In addition to leading his own groups, some of the groups he has performed or recorded with include The Chicago Jazz Orchestra, The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, The Woody Herman Orchestra, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Clark Terry, Jeff Campbell, John Hollenbeck, Charlie Haden, and Kurt Elling. LATEST RELEASE: Dar Cho Mark Moultrup’s latest offering is a 13 song collection of 10 original compositions and three classic standards. Stylistically unique, even though the ensemble is not unusual in instrumentation, it is uniquely versatile, harmonically and texturally so original that truly, they cannot be compared to any other ensemble. Mark is the special ingredient to this unique ensemble sound. His ability to meld elements of jazz with a classical flavoring creates a harmonically adventurous exploration of many improvisational landscapes. The meaning behind the title of his latest release is a Tibetan word for "Prayer Flag" "Dar" means to increase life, fortune, health and wealth. "Cho" means all sentient beings. Prayer flags have been a part of Himalayan culture for thousands of years. The flags do not carry prayers to 'Gods', a common misconception. Rather, the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread good will and compassion into all pervading space, thereby brining benefit to all. It is Moultrup’s intention that this music will do the same. Dar Cho is sprinkled with odd time signatures, rich modern harmonic structures, extended compositions and countless examples of Moultrup’s command on the piano. His ability to switch gears from piano cuts to vocal cuts is again a testament to his versatility in multi-disciplines. These examples are continuously exhibited by the varying genres contained within Dar Cho and Moultrup’s uncanny ability to deliver each with a balance between authenticity and innovation; this is the key element that catapults this release to its higher purpose. Mark’s Discography includes: Dar Cho - 2009 Touch ‘n’ Go - 2004 Man of the 00’s – 2000 (featuring Mike Stern) Just Suppose - 1995 Christmas Jazz Live for You - 2004 Released in January 2004, “Touch ‘n’ Go” was heard on National Public Radio Stations across the country and was one of WDET Detroit jazz DJ Ed Love's “Highly Recommended Jazz CDs” of 2004. Mark Moultrup and “Man of the 00’s” received several nominations for the Detroit Music Awards, 2001, including: Outstanding Instrumentalist, Jazz Recording, Jazz Vocalist, & Jazz Composer. Radio ADD Date: