Mark Underwood - Bass
Starting on trumpet as a 6th grader, Mark had an early interest in music. As a pre-teen, he was attracted to the sound of the bass and especially the bass guitar in pop and rock music.With basic musical training picked up in public schools, Mark spent hours as a 14 and 15 year old learning the bass lines on albums by rock musicians. Being heavily influenced by the improvisational style of Jack Bruce, of the rock trio Cream, led naturally to an interest in Jazz.
Mark studied music theory and jazz performance in High School and eventually at the University of Wisconsin. Then, transferring back to the University of North Carolina as a junior (it gets too cold in Wisconsin), he joined the UNC Jazz Lab Band.
During the 70’s and 80’s Mark performed in both classical and jazz settings, performing often with the Raleigh Civic Symphony and The Roy Roach Orchestra. He also co-founded and recorded with a jazz and fusion trio, Double Jeopardy. He had an on-going, 15 year engagement at Irregardless Cafe in Raleigh, spent a year and a half at Sullivan's Steakhouse, and has played with the Raleigh Civic Symphony, the Raleigh Symphony, the Raleigh Jazz Orchestra, Swing Street, and a number of smaller combos.
Finally, Mark works as an independent entertainment booking agent (he books Swing Street in the Triangle and other areas) and serves on the Board of Directors of the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra.
SWING STREET...
Central Carolina's Premier
9-Piece Swing Band
Central Carolina's Premier
9-Piece Swing Band