# Mark Helias

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mark_Helias
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mark_Helias.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Helias
> Source revision: 1286238327
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|American double bassist and composer (born 1950)}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name                = Mark Helias
| image               = Mark Helias2.jpg
| caption             = Helias at Cornelia street cafe, July 2, 2010
| background          = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name          =
| alias               =
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1950|10|01|mf=y}}
| birth_place         = [New Brunswick](/source/New_Brunswick%2C_New_Jersey), [New Jersey](/source/New_Jersey), United States
| death_date          =
| instrument          = Double bass
| genre               = [Jazz](/source/Jazz), [Avant-garde jazz](/source/Avant-garde_jazz), [Free jazz](/source/Free_jazz), [Free improvisation](/source/Free_improvisation)
| occupation          = Musician, composer, educator
| years_active        =
| label               = [Enja](/source/Enja_Records), Radio Legs, [Koch](/source/E1_Music), [Marge](/source/Marge_Records), GM
| associated_acts     = [Ray Anderson](/source/Ray_Anderson_(musician)), Slickaphonics, [Gerry Hemingway](/source/Gerry_Hemingway), BassDrumBone, [Anthony Braxton](/source/Anthony_Braxton), [Dewey Redman](/source/Dewey_Redman), [Marty Ehrlich](/source/Marty_Ehrlich)
| website             = [http://www.markhelias.com/ MarkHelias.com/]
}}
'''Mark Helias''' (born October 1, 1950) is an American double bass player and composer born in [New Brunswick](/source/New_Brunswick%2C_New_Jersey), [New Jersey](/source/New_Jersey).<ref name="feather">{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Feather |first1=Leonard |last2=Gitler |first2=Ira |title=Helias, Mark  |encyclopedia=The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz |date=1999 |publisher=[Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press) |location=New York |pages=309–310}}</ref>

He started playing the double bass at the age of 20,<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mark-helias-mn0000276365/biography |title=Mark Helias: Biography |first=Steve |last=Huey |website=AllMusic |access-date=February 28, 2022}}</ref> and studied with [Homer Mensch](/source/Homer_Mensch) at [Rutgers University](/source/Rutgers_University) from 1971 to 1974, then at Yale School of Music from 1974 to 1976.<ref name="feather" /> He teaches at [Sarah Lawrence College](/source/Sarah_Lawrence_College), [The New School](/source/The_New_School), and SIM (School for Improvised Music).<ref name="aaj">{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/mark-helias |title=Mark Helias |website=All About Jazz |access-date=February 28, 2022}}</ref>

Helias has performed with a wide variety of musicians, first and foremost with trombonist [Ray Anderson](/source/Ray_Anderson_(musician)), with whom he led the ironic 1980s [avant-funk](/source/Jazz-funk) band Slickaphonics, and a trio with [Gerry Hemingway](/source/Gerry_Hemingway) on drums, formed in the late 1970s, later named BassDrumBone.<ref name="feather" /><ref name="allmusic" /> Helias has also performed with members of [Ornette Coleman](/source/Ornette_Coleman)'s band, [Don Cherry](/source/Don_Cherry_(jazz)), [Dewey Redman](/source/Dewey_Redman), and [Ed Blackwell](/source/Ed_Blackwell), and with musicians affiliated with the [AACM](/source/Association_for_the_Advancement_of_Creative_Musicians), such as [Anthony Braxton](/source/Anthony_Braxton) and [Muhal Richard Abrams](/source/Muhal_Richard_Abrams).<ref name="allmusic" /><ref name="aaj" />

Since 1984 Mark Helias has released twelve recordings under his own name and further albums leading the archetypal improvising trio Open Loose since the late 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.improvisedmusic.ie/artists/details/mark-helias |title=Mark Helias |website=Creative About Music |access-date=February 28, 2022}}</ref><ref name="allmusic" /> The group comprises Helias on bass, first [Ellery Eskelin](/source/Ellery_Eskelin), then [Tony Malaby](/source/Tony_Malaby) on tenor saxophone and [Tom Rainey](/source/Tom_Rainey) on drums.<ref name="allmusic" />

==Recognition/Awards==
*2010 - [American Composers Orchestra](/source/American_Composers_Orchestra) Reading Commission,
*2007 - Chamber Music America Grant for New Works, 
*2006 - Distinguished Alumnus Award [Livingston College](/source/Livingston_College), 
*1991 - Meet the Composer/[Reader's Digest](/source/Reader's_Digest) Commission, 
*1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2000 - Arts International Travel Grant,
*1988, 1994 - [NYFA](/source/New_York_Foundation_for_the_Arts) Grant in Music Composition,
*1984, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995 - NEA Grant in Jazz Performance,
*1981 - CAPS Grant in Music Composition,

==Discography==

===As leader===
* ''Music For Big Band'' (Radio Legs, 2020)
* ''Roof Rights'' (Radio Legs, 2020)
* ''Available Light'' (Radio Legs, 2020)
* ''Fictionary'' (GM Recordings, 1998)
* ''Loopin' the Cool'' ([Enja](/source/Enja_Records), 1995)
* ''Attack the Future'' (Enja, 1992)
* ''Desert Blue'' (Enja, 1989)
* ''The Current Set'' (Enja, 1987)
* ''Split Image'' (Enja, 1984)

'''With Open Loose'''
* ''The Third Proposition'' ([Radio Legs](/source/Radio_Legs), 2020)
* ''The Signal Maker'' ([Intakt](/source/Intakt_Records), 2015)
* ''Explicit – Live at the Sunset'' ([Marge](/source/Marge_Records), 2011)
* ''Strange Unison'' (Radio Legs, 2008)
* ''Atomic Clock'' (Radio Legs, 2006)
* ''Verbs of Will'' (Radio Legs, 2004)
* ''New School'' (Enja, 2001) [Tony Malaby](/source/Tony_Malaby) replaces Eskelin
* ''Come Ahead Back...'' ([E1](/source/E1_Music)/Koch Jazz, 1998) with [Ellery Eskelin](/source/Ellery_Eskelin) and [Tom Rainey](/source/Tom_Rainey)

===Collaborations===
'''Duo with Jane Ira Bloom'''
*''Some Kind of Tomorrow'' (Radiolegs Music, 2020)
'''With Sophia Domancich and [Andrew Cyrille](/source/Andrew_Cyrille)'''
*''Courtepointe - Live at the Sunside'' (Marge, 2012)
'''With Terrence McManus and [Gerry Hemingway](/source/Gerry_Hemingway)'''
*''Transcendental Numbers'' ([NoBusiness](/source/NoBusiness_Records), 2011)
'''With [Michael Moore](/source/Michael_Moore_(saxophonist_and_clarinetist)), Alex Maguire, and [Han Bennink](/source/Han_Bennink)'''
*''White Widow'' (Ramboy, 2001)
'''With [Mark Dresser](/source/Mark_Dresser)'''
*''The Marks Brothers'' ([De Werf](/source/De_Werf), 2000)
'''With Daniele D'Agaro and U.T. Gandhi'''
*''Gentle Ben'' (Nota, 1999)
'''With [Christy Doran](/source/Christy_Doran), [Bobby Previte](/source/Bobby_Previte), [Gary Thomas](/source/Gary_Thomas_(musician))'''
*''Corporate Art'' ([JMT](/source/JMT_Records), 1991)
'''With [Slickaphonics](/source/Slickaphonics)'''
*''Live'' (Teldec, 1988)
*''Check Your Head at the Door'' ([Teldec](/source/Teldec), 1986)
*''Humatomic Energy'' (Blue Heron, 1985)
*''Modern Life'' (Enja, 1984)
*''Wow Bag'' (Enja, 1982)
'''With [Ray Anderson](/source/Ray_Anderson_(musician)) and [Gerry Hemingway](/source/Gerry_Hemingway) a.k.a. BassDrumBone'''
*''The Long Road - BassDrumBone with Jason Moran and Joe Lovano'' (Auricle, 2017)
*''The Other Parade'' ([Clean Feed](/source/Clean_Feed_Records), 2011)
*''The Line Up'' (Clean Feed, 2006)
*''March of Dimes'' (Data, 2002)
*''(Hence the Reason)'' (Enja, 1997)
*''Wooferlo'' (Soul Note, 1989) first album as BassDrumBone
*''Cooked to Perfection'' (Auricle, 1999; Compilation of rec. from 1986, 1987, and 1996)
*''You Be'' (Minor Music, 1986)
*''Oahspe'' (Auricle, 1979)

===As sideman===
'''With [Ralph Alessi](/source/Ralph_Alessi) and Modular Theatre'''
*''Open Season'' (RKM Music, 2008)
'''With [Barry Altschul](/source/Barry_Altschul)'''
*''[Irina](/source/Irina_(album))'' ([Soul Note](/source/Soul_Note_Records), 1983)
*''[Brahma](/source/Brahma_(album))'' ([Sackville](/source/Sackville_Records), 1980)
*''[Somewhere Else](/source/Somewhere_Else_(Barry_Altschul_album))'' ([Moers Music](/source/Moers_Music), 1979)
'''With [Ray Anderson](/source/Ray_Anderson_(musician))'''
*''Wishbone'' ([Justin Time](/source/Justin_Time_Records), 1991)
*''Right Down Your Alley'' (Soul Note, 1984)
'''With the [Ed Blackwell](/source/Ed_Blackwell) Project'''
*''[What It Is? Ed Blackwell Project Vol. 1](/source/What_It_Is%3F_Ed_Blackwell_Project_Vol._1)'' (Enja, 1993)
*''[What It Be Like? Ed Blackwell Project Vol. 2](/source/What_It_Be_Like%3F_Ed_Blackwell_Project_Vol._2)'' (Enja, 1994)
'''With [Jane Ira Bloom](/source/Jane_Ira_Bloom)'''
*''[Wild Lines: Improvising Emily Dickenson](/source/Wild_Lines%3A_Improvising_Emily_Dickenson)'' (Outline, 2017)
*''[Early Americans](/source/Early_Americans)'' (Outline, 2016)
*''[Wingwalker](/source/Wingwalker_(album))'' (Outline, 2011)
*''[Mental Weather](/source/Mental_Weather)'' (Outline, 2008)
'''With [Anthony Braxton](/source/Anthony_Braxton)'''
*''[Six Compositions: Quartet](/source/Six_Compositions%3A_Quartet)'' ([Antilles](/source/Antilles_Records), 1982)
*''[Quintet (Basel) 1977](/source/Quintet_(Basel)_1977)'' ([hatOLOGY](/source/Hathut_Records), 2001)
*''[Quintet (Moers) 1977 - 05.30](/source/Quintet_(Moers)_1977_-_05.30)'' (Braxton Bootleg, 2013)
*''[Trillium J](/source/Trillium_J)'' (New Braxton House, 2016)
'''With [Don Cherry](/source/Don_Cherry_(trumpeter))'''
*''[Live at the Bracknell Jazz Festival, 1986](/source/Live_at_the_Bracknell_Jazz_Festival%2C_1986)'' (BBC, 2002)
'''With [Marilyn Crispell](/source/Marilyn_Crispell)'''
*''[Storyteller](/source/Storyteller_(Marilyn_Crispell_album))'' ([ECM](/source/ECM_Records), 2003)
'''With [Franco D'Andrea](/source/Franco_D'Andrea)'''
*''Sei brani inediti'' ([Red](/source/Red_Records), 1991)
*''No Idea of Time'' (Red, 1984)
*''My One and Only Love'' (Red, 1983)
'''With [Anthony Davis](/source/Anthony_Davis_(composer))'''
*''[Song for the Old World](/source/Song_for_the_Old_World)'' ([India Navigation](/source/India_Navigation), 1978)
'''With [Benoît Delbecq](/source/Beno%C3%AEt_Delbecq) Unit'''
*Benoît Delbecq and [Fred Hersch](/source/Fred_Hersch) Double Trio - ''Fun House'' (Songlines, 2013)
*''Phonetics'' (Songlines, 2005)
'''With [Paul Dunmall](/source/Paul_Dunmall) Sun Quartet'''
*''Ancient and Future Airs'' (Clean Feed, 2009)
'''With [Marty Ehrlich](/source/Marty_Ehrlich)'''
*''The Long View'' (Enja, 2002)
*Dark Woods Ensemble – ''Sojourn'' ([Tzadik](/source/Tzadik_Records), 1999)
*Dark Woods Ensemble – ''Live Wood'' ([Music & Arts](/source/Music_%26_Arts), 1997)
*Dark Woods Ensemble – ''Just Before the Dawn'' ([New World](/source/New_World_Records), 1995)
'''With Ricardo Gallo's Tierra de Nadie'''
*''The Great Fine Line'' (Clean Feed, 2011)
'''With [Dennis González](/source/Dennis_Gonz%C3%A1lez) NY Quartet'''
*''Dance of the Soothsayer's Tongue (Live at Tonic)'' (Clean Feed, 2007)
*''NY Midnight Suite'' (Clean Feed, 2004) 
'''With [Jerome Harris](/source/Jerome_Harris)'''
*''Algorithms'' (Minor, 1986)
'''With [Gerry Hemingway](/source/Gerry_Hemingway)'''
*''The Whimbler'' (Clean Feed, 2005)
*''Outerbridge Crossing'' (Sound Aspects, 1989)
*''Kwambe'' (Auricle, 1978)
'''With Peter Herborn'''
*''Traces of Trane'' (JMT, 1992)
'''With David Lopato'''
*''Inside Outside'' ([Enemy](/source/Enemy_Records), 1991)
'''With [Joe Lovano](/source/Joe_Lovano)'''
*''[Rush Hour](/source/Rush_Hour_(Joe_Lovano_album))'' ([Blue Note](/source/Blue_Note_Records), 1994)
'''With [Michael Moore](/source/Michael_Moore_(saxophonist_and_clarinetist))'''
*''Bering'' (Ramboy, 1998)
*''Chicoutimi'' (Ramboy, 1994)
*''Home Game'' (Ramboy, 1992)
'''With [Simon Nabatov](/source/Simon_Nabatov)'''
*''The Master and Margarita'' ([Leo](/source/Leo_Records), 2001)
*''Tough Customer'' (Enja, 1993)
'''With Operazone ([Bill Laswell](/source/Bill_Laswell)-[Alan Douglas](/source/Alan_Douglas_(record_producer))-[Karl Berger](/source/Karl_Berger)-Project)'''
*''The Redesign'' ([Knitting Factory](/source/Knitting_Factory), 2000)
'''With [Jim Pepper](/source/Jim_Pepper)'''
*''[Comin' and Goin'](/source/Comin'_and_Goin')'' (Europa, 1983)
'''With [Bobby Previte](/source/Bobby_Previte)'''
*''Music of the Moscow Circus'' ([Gramavision](/source/Gramavision_Records), 1991)
'''With [Enrico Rava](/source/Enrico_Rava)'''
*''Flat Fleet'' (Philology, 2005)
'''With [Dewey Redman](/source/Dewey_Redman)'''
*''[The Struggle Continues](/source/The_Struggle_Continues_(Dewey_Redman_album))'' (ECM, 1982)
*''[Musics](/source/Musics_(album))'' ([Galaxy](/source/Galaxy_Records), 1978)
*''[Soundsigns](/source/Soundsigns)'' (Galaxy, 1978)
'''With Joe Rosenberg'''
*''Do What We Must Do'' ([CIMP](/source/CIMP), 2002)
'''With [Roswell Rudd](/source/Roswell_Rudd) and [Heather Masse](/source/Heather_Masse)'''
* ''[August Love Song](/source/August_Love_Song)'' ([Red House](/source/Red_House_Records), 2016)
'''With [Samo Šalamon](/source/Samo_%C5%A0alamon)'''
*''Government Cheese'' ([Fresh Sound](/source/Fresh_Sound) New Talent, 2007; rec. 2004)
*''Two Hours'' (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2006; rec. 2004)
'''With [Dave Schnitter](/source/David_Schnitter)'''
*''Glowing'' ([Muse](/source/Muse_Records), 1981)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.markhelias.com/ Mark Helias official site]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Helias, Mark}}
Category:1950 births
Category:Living people
Category:Musicians from New Brunswick, New Jersey
Category:American jazz double-bassists
Category:American male double-bassists
Category:American jazz composers
Category:American male jazz composers
Category:Sarah Lawrence College faculty
Category:Rutgers University alumni
Category:CIMP artists
Category:Enja Records artists
Category:Yale University alumni
Category:21st-century American double-bassists
Category:21st-century American male musicians
Category:Intakt Records artists
Category:MNRK Music Group artists
Category:NoBusiness Records artists

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mark Helias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Helias) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Helias?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.