‘Call it nu-jazz, call it nu-house, call it future-jazz, in fact call it what you want, I’m sticking with the words awesome and genius’ – Wax Magazine (UK)
Born in 1974 in New Zealand, half Japanese half New Zealander musician/producer Mark de Clive-Lowe has been on the music journey since starting Piano when he was four. Classical Piano lessons, Jazz for playing pleasure and hip-hop on the stereo gave Mark the diverse foundation that his eclectic style has developed from.
Mark’s musical journeying has taken him to the US, UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Cuba. Performing and recording in different settings including collaborations with DJ/producers and turntablists, acoustic jazz, Japanese Kagura, and the world of latin rhythms, Mark has become a major figure in the nu-jazz movement, blending jazz, ethnic music and urban grooves into a fresh 21st Century flavour.
West London based, Mark is a key collaborator, artist and producer in the broken beat scene spear-headed by Bugz in the Attic, Dego (4Hero), Phil Asher (Restless Soul) and IG Culture. His debut LP Six Degrees (Universal Jazz/emarcy) was released worldwide in 2000 – signatured with an amalgamation of jazz sensibilities and urban influences, the album found a niche with DJs, critics and audiences worldwide:
‘Firmly at the front of the nu-skool jazz and beats movement’ – The Times (UK)
‘Down-tempo heavy weight groove with a bad dose of urban beats n scratches is a treat for urban jazz heads’ – DJ Magazine (UK)
Two world tours later and Mark has taken the Six Degrees Live project global including featured slots at the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, Amsterdam Drum Rhythm Festival, London Jazz Festival and throughout Europe, Asia and Australasia.
2001 saw Mark contributing a stand out remix production of Shirley Horn on the Verve//Remixed LP alongside tracks from MAW, Joe Clausell and Thievery Corporation and in 2002, Mark’s carnival soul-beats anthem Relax…Unwind featuring Abdul Shyllon (2000 Black) has become one of the year’s underground hits worldwide. Upcoming releases include collaborations with Kenny Dope (Masters at Work), DJ Spinna (BBE/rapster), Rima (JCR), Phil Asher and Nathan Haines plus Pacific-flavoured hip-hop project Nuvonesia.
