Portland, Oregon based drummer/composer Mark Burdon’s melodic, textural style is a blend of diverse influences including over a decade of work as part of the jazz scene on the East Coast and extensive studies of African and Brazilian styles of music.

Mark’s formal education includes a degree from Berklee College of Music, private lessons with respected teacher Bob Gullotti of the Fringe and the legendary jazz drummer Alan Dawson.

During Mark’s formative years in Boston he had the opportunity to hear and play with a number of excellent improvisors in particular a young Ken Vandermark (saxophone) and Mat Maneri (violin).  Those opportunities coupled with the guidance of his teachers, helped him begin to develop the technical, conceptual and listening skills required to communicate with musicians of all styles; a process that has continued until today.

Over the years Mark has performed and/or recorded with a wide variety of musicians including saxophonist Rich Halley, trumpeter Rob Blakeslee, guitarist Doug Theriault, microtonal guitarist Jon Catler, the Akbekor Drum and Dance Society, the Zimbabwe style marimba band Boka Marimba,  Zimbabwean mbira master Cosmas Magaya, the Brazilian jazz group Gandaya, Three Leg Torso, Brothers of the Baladi, Vagabond Opera and many others.

Currently, Mark is leading his own group 2HDHB with trombonist Greg Scholl and is a member of Njuzu Mbira, a traditional Zimbabwean mbira group; Bahttsi, an Americana string band; and jazz funk group The Rhythm Dogs.

In addition to performing, Mark is a marimba builder, furniture maker, and avid table tennis player.