Mark Lockheart

{{Short description|British jazz tenor saxophonist (born 1961)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = Mark Lockheart | image =Mark Lockheart.jpg | caption = Mark Lockheart performing with Polar Bear | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1961|3|31}} | birth_place =Lymington, England | genre = Jazz | occupation = {{hlist|Musician|Composer|Bandleader}} | instrument = {{hlist|Tenor saxophone|Soprano saxophone}} | years_active = 1980s–present | label ={{hlist|Edition|Linn|Harmonia Mundi|Subtone}} |current_member_of= Shapeshifter, Perfect Houseplants, The Printmakers |past_member_of=Polar Bear, Loose Tubes, Ellington in Anticipation, Malija | website = {{URL|marklockheart.co.uk/}} }}

'''Mark Lockheart''' (born 31 March 1961) is a British jazz composer and saxophonist who was a member of the Loose Tubes big band during the 1980s.<ref name="AAJ2">{{cite web|title =Mark Lockheart |publisher=All About Jazz | url =https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/mark-lockheart |date=1 March 2010 |access-date =22 May 2010}}</ref>

==Career== Lockheart was a prominent figure in the 1980s UK big band scene performing as a member of both Loose Tubes and Django Bates' Delightful Precipice. He went on to form jazz/folk quartet '''Perfect Houseplants''' with Huw Warren, Dudley Phillips, and Martin France.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.perfecthouseplants.com/level1/biography.html|title=Perfect Houseplants|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306210132/http://www.perfecthouseplants.com/level1/biography.html |archive-date=6 March 2012 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> The band released five albums, collaborating on two with The Orlando Consort. Later, Lockheart formed an 11-piece '''Scratch Band''' to perform his original compositions and they recorded two albums including ''"Through Rose-Coloured Glasses"'' in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|title=Delicate essence |work=The Guardian| first=John |last=Fordham |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/mar/22/shopping.artsfeatures6 |date=22 March 2002 |access-date=22 May 2010}}</ref> In 2005 Lockheart put together his '''Big Idea''' ensemble and recorded the album ''"Moving Air"''.<ref name="AAJ">{{cite web |title=CD/LP Review: Moving Air |publisher=All About Jazz |first=John|last=Kelman| url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/moving-air-mark-lockheart-basho-records-review-by-john-kelman |date=9 October 2005 |access-date=22 May 2010}}</ref>

In 2003, Lockheart joined the British jazz quintet Polar Bear.<ref name="AAJ" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Jazz Preview: Polar Bear |work=The Guardian| first=John |last=Fordham |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/28/polar-bear-vortex-london |date=30 May 2009 |access-date=22 May 2010}}</ref> The group have recorded six albums, including ''Held on the Tips of Fingers'', which was nominated for the Mercury Award and was selected one of the 100 Jazz Albums That Shook the World (2006 edition) by ''Jazzwise'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web |title=The 100 Jazz Albums That Shook The World - 2006 List |url=https://www.jazzwise.com/features/article/the-100-jazz-albums-that-shook-the-world |website=Jazzwise |access-date=30 November 2025 |date=1 January 2024}}</ref>

A further project of Lockheart compositions was released in 2009 with the In Deep quintet featuring Liam Noble and Jasper Høiby.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mark Lockheart: In Deep |work=The Guardian| first=John |last=Fordham |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jun/19/mark-lockheart-in-deep |date=19 June 2009 |access-date=19 June 2009}}</ref> The next year, Lockheart was awarded Jazz Musician of the Year award at the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=PARLIAMENTARY JAZZ AWARDS 2010 |url=https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/40962/parliamentary-jazz-awards-2010 |website=UK Parliament |access-date=30 November 2025 |date=25 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Awbi |first1=Anita |title=2010 Parliamentary Jazz Awards |url=https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/news/winners-announced-for-2010-parliamentary-jazz-awards |website=PRS for Music |access-date=30 November 2025 |date=20 May 2010}}</ref> His compositions have been recorded with the NDR Big Band.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mark Lockheart: Days Like These |publisher=The Observer|first=Dave |last=Gelly |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/feb/14/mark-lockheart-days-like-these |date=14 February 2010 |access-date=22 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mark Lockheart: Days Like These |work=The Guardian| first=John |last=Fordham |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/feb/19/mark-lockheart-days-like-these |date=19 February 2010 |access-date=22 May 2010}}</ref>

''"Ellington in Anticipation"'' was released to critical acclaim in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mark Lockheart: Ellington In Anticipation |work=The Guardian| first=John |last=Fordham |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/feb/14/mark-lockheart-review |date=14 February 2013 |access-date=14 February 2013}}</ref> As a septet featuring Sebastian Rochford, Tom Herbert, Liam Noble, Margrit Hasler, James Allsopp, and Finn Peters, Lockheart completed a UK wide tour<ref>{{cite web|title=Mark Lockheart: Kings Place – Ellington In Anticipation |publisher=The Arts Desk |first=Peter |last=Quinn |url=http://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/mark-lockheart-kings-place |date=24 March 2013 |access-date=24 March 2013}}</ref> supported by the Arts Council of England.

In July 2014 Lockheart formed the trio '''Malija''' with pianist Liam Noble and bassist Jasper Hoiby as a result of a request from the Rochester Jazz Festival in New York. '''Malija''' released its debut album entitled ''"The Day I Had Everything"'' on the Edition label in 2015,<ref>{{cite web |title=Malija - The Day I Had Everything |url=https://editionrecords.com/releases/malija-the-day-i-had-everything/ |website=Edition Records |access-date=30 November 2025}}</ref> followed by ''"Instinct"'' in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=Malija - Instinct |url=https://editionrecords.com/releases/malija-instinct/ |website=Edition Records |access-date=30 November 2025}}</ref>

Lockheart completed a major jazz/orchestral work titled ''Days on Earth'' for jazz sextet and 30-piece orchestra, released on Edition in January 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Lockheart - Days on Earth |url=https://editionrecords.com/releases/mark-lockheart-days-on-earth/ |website=Edition Records |access-date=30 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-18|title=Mark Lockheart: Days on Earth review – brightest recording from a glittering career|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/18/mark-lockheart-days-on-earth-review-edition|access-date=2020-12-06|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> These were followed by the electronic quartet album ''"Dreamers"'' in 2022 <ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Lockheart: Dreamers |url=https://editionrecords.com/releases/mark-lockheart-dreamers/ |website=Edition Records |access-date=30 November 2025}}</ref> and 13-piece jazz/rock fusion recording ''"Smiling"'' in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Lockheart - Smiling |url=https://editionrecords.com/releases/mark-lockheart-smiling/ |website=Edition Records |access-date=30 November 2025}}</ref>

Lockheart has also played in sessions with Radiohead, Prefab Sprout, and Stereolab.

Lockheart teaches at Guildhall School of Music and Drama<ref>{{cite web |title=Jazz Instrumental Tutors - Saxophone |url=https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/ |website=Guildhall School of Music and Drama |access-date=30 November 2025}}</ref> and Royal Academy of Music in London. He previously taught on the jazz staff at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance<ref>{{Cite web|title=Performance and Industry Opportunities at Trinity Laban|url=https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/student-life/performance-and-industry-opportunities/|website=Trinity Laban|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mr Mark Lockheart – Trinity Laban Research Online|url=https://researchonline.trinitylaban.ac.uk/oa/person/mr-mark-lockheart-2/|access-date=2025-11-30|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Lockheart/Trinity Laban Jazz Ensemble |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/music/mark-lockheart-trinity-laban-jazz-ensemble |website=Timeout.com |access-date=30 November 2025 |date=11 October 2012}}</ref> where notable British jazz musicians including Nubya Garcia, Laura Jurd, Elliot Galvin, Corrie Dick, Joe Armon-Jones and Femi Koleoso have studied.

==Awards and honors== * 1998 Peter Whittingham Award for Young Musicians for ''Through Rose Coloured Glasses'' * 2001 Touring grant for the Arts for "Imaginary Dances" by the Arts Council of England * 2005 Touring grant for the Arts for "The Big Idea" by the Arts Council of England * 2010 Jazz Musician of the Year, All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.m-magazine.co.uk/news/winners-announced-for-2010-parliamentary-jazz-awards/|title=Winners announced for 2010 Parliamentary Jazz Awards - M Magazine|date=20 May 2010|website=M-magazine.co.uk|access-date=11 January 2020|archive-date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111223044/https://www.m-magazine.co.uk/news/winners-announced-for-2010-parliamentary-jazz-awards/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2013 Jazz CD of the Year for ''Ellington in Anticipation'', ''Mojo'' magazine * 2013 Touring grant for the Arts for "Ellington in Anticipation" by the Arts Council of England * 2014 Jazz Electives Composer, THSH and Birmingham Music Service, 'Are We There Yet' commission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thsh.co.uk/news/jazz-electives-2014-composer-announced|title=Jazz Electives 2014 composer…|first=Town Hall & Symphony Hall|last=Birmingham|date=11 January 2020|website=Town Hall & Symphony Hall Birmingham|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref> * 2016 Jazz FM Instrumentalist of the year<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jazzfm.com/on-air/jazz-fm-award-winners-2016/|title=Jazz FM Award winners 2016!|website=Jazzfm.com|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref> *2019 Composer Award from Paul Hamlyn Foundation Awards for Artists<ref>{{Cite web |title=Awards for Artists |url=https://www.phf.org.uk/funding/awards-for-artists |access-date=2025-11-14 |website=Paul Hamlyn Foundation |language=en}}</ref>

==Discography== ===As leader=== * ''Matheran'' (1993) * ''Through Rose-Coloured Glasses'' (1998) * ''Imaginary Dances'' (2002) * ''Moving Air'' (2005) * ''In Deep'' (2009) * ''Days Like These'' (2010) * ''Ellington in Anticipation'' (2013) * ''The Day I Had Everything'' (Malija) (2015) * ''Instinct'' (Malija) (2017) * ''Days On Earth'' (2019) * ''Dreamers'' (2022) * ''Smiling'' (2024) * ''Shapeshifter'' (2026)

===As sideman=== '''With Django Bates''' * ''Summer Fruits (and Unrest)'' (JMT, 1993) * ''Winter Truce (and Homes Blaze)'' (JMT, 1995)

'''With Loose Tubes''' * ''Loose Tubes'' (1985) * ''Delightful Precipice'' (1986) * ''Open Letter'' (1988) * ''Dancing on Frith Street'' (1989) * ''Sad Africa'' (1989) * ''Arriving'' (2015)

'''With Perfect Houseplants''' * ''Perfect Houseplants'' (1992) * ''Clec'' (1994) * ''Snap Clatter'' (1997) * ''New Folk Songs'' (2000) * ''Extempore'' (1999) with the Orlando Consort * ''Extempore 2'' (2002) with the Orlando Consort

'''With Polar Bear''' * ''Dim Lit'' (2005) * ''Held on the Tips of Fingers'' (2007) * ''Polar Bear'' (2008) * ''Peepers'' (2010) * ''In Each and Every One'' (2014) * ''Same as You'' (2015)

'''With June Tabor''' * ''Angel Tiger '' (1992) * ''Against the Streams '' (1994) * ''Aleyn '' (1997) * ''A Quiet Eye'' (1999)

'''With Huw Warren''' * ''Barrel Organ Far from Home'' (1997) * ''Hundreds of Things a Boy Can Make'' (1998) * ''God Only Knows'' (2005)

'''With others''' * Prefab Sprout, ''Steve McQueen'' (1985) * Steve Berry, ''Trio'' (1988) * Jah Wobble, ''Rising Above Bedlam'' (1991) * High Llamas, ''Hawaii'' (1996) * Stereolab, ''Fluoresences'' (1996) * John Parricelli, ''Alba'' (2000) * Radiohead, ''Kid A'' (2000) * Colin Towns, ''Blue Touch Paper'' (2011) * Colin Towns, ''Drawing Breath'' (2013) * Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winstone, ''Mirrors'' (2013) * Nikki Iles and Norma Winstone, ''The Printmakers – Westerly'' (2015) * Jasper Høiby, ''Fellow Creatures'' (2016) * Dave Holland, Norma Winstone and London Vocal Project etc, ''Vital Spark (Music of Kenny Wheeler)'' (2026)

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://marklockheart.co.uk/ Official site]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lockheart, Mark}} Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century British saxophonists Category:British jazz composers Category:Jazz tenor saxophonists Category:Delightful Precipice members Category:Loose Tubes members Category:Oxcentrics members Category:Polar Bear (British band) members Category:Edition Records artists Category:Harmonia Mundi artists Category:Basho Records artists