- country:Denmark
- style(s):Fusion, Jazz
- label:ECM
- artist posted by:Bremme & Hohensee GbR
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Marilyn Mazur was born in New York in 1955, but she has been living in Denmark since she was six. As a child she played classical piano and danced ballet.
She started professionally as a dancer with Creative Dance Theatre in 1971. In 1973 she formed her first band Zirenes, where she composed and played piano. From 1975 she worked as percussionist, drummer and singer with various groups, and became known on the Danish music scene as the colorful percussionist/composer of the group Six Winds with Alex Riel and as the leader of the all-women-musictheatre-group Primi Band.
Marilyn Mazur took a degree specialising in percussion at the Royal Danish Conservatory, but is largely autodidact on her instruments. Inspired by music from all over the world. She received the Ben Webster Award in 1983, and the same year started a jazz quartet with saxophonist Uffe Markussen.
Among many European musicians she has been working with can be mentioned John Tchaicai, Pierre Dørge/New Jungle Orchestra (several records on Steeplechase), Thomas Clausen, NHØP, Jon Balke (CD: ECM 1517), Bob Stensson/Rena Rama, Palle Mikkelborg, Kenneth Knudsen, Irene Schweizer, Lindsay Cooper, Peter Kowald, Arild Andersen, Andreas Vollenweider, Christy Doran, Charlie Mariano and Jasper Van't Hof (CD: LIP 890082).
As a composer Marilyn Mazur has regularly been subsidised by the National Art Foundation. She also received prizes and grants from various other Danish organisations.
In the beginning of 1985 she participated in the recording of Palle Mikkelborg's Aura (CBS 463 351-2) with Miles Davis, who a few months later hired her for his band with which she toured for long periods in most of the world. She also toured with Gil Evans Orch. in 1986 (album: Gil Evans/Laurent Cugny, Rhythm-a-ning, Emarcy), and did a world-tour with Wayne Shorter in 1987.
In 1989 Marilyn Mazur decided to leave the Miles Davis band in order to concentrate on creating concepts, music and the 7-piece international orchestra Future Song, which is now her main group (new CD, Small Labyrinths, released on ECM, March 97). This group does many special projects, i.e. with dancers and choir, but especially is characterized by very colorful concerts.
In 1989, '90 and '95 the America Down Beat magazine had Marilyn Mazur selected as a percussion-"talent deserving wider recognition", in their critics poll.
In 1990 her most important activity was giving birth to her son, Fabian.
In 1991 she joined Jan Garbarek Group, with whom she tours extensively (CDs: ECM 1500 and 1585).
Besided this group and Future Song, she is very active with composing and doing own projects, some examples being: writing and conducting an hour-jong suite "City-Dance" for a 40-piece mixed orchestra at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival '89; Pulse Unit, a 9-piece ensemble put together for the Jazzpar Prize concets 1994 (CD: Circular Chant, STCD 4200); Sofia's Stemmmer, a church-concert for 3 voices, childrens choir, percussion and organ for Copenhagen-culture-city 1996; conducting her newest music with Brande International Music Workshop 96; childrens concerts and various smaller settings.
Marilyn Mazur likes when music is telepathic, surprising, emotional, warm and alive, to reach from the softest lyrical touch and mysterious grooves to powerful wild energy.