Mark Lockheart

Who is Mark Lockheart?

Mark Lockheart is a British jazz tenor saxophonist who came to prominence as a member of the Loose Tubes big band during the 1980s.

Following the demise of Loose Tubes, Mark went on to form the co-led eclectic jazz/folk quartet Perfect Houseplants with Huw Warren, Dudley Phillips & Martin France. The band released five albums including two with the early music group The Orlando Consort. At this time Mark also formed his own group as leader "The Scratch Band", performing his own compositions and with this group recorded two albums including "Imaginary Dances". In 2005 Mark put together his "Big Idea" to record the album "Moving Air".

2003 saw Mark join British jazz quintet Polar Bear and the group have recorded 4 albums including Held on the Tips of Fingers which saw them nominated for the Mercury Award and which was selected as one of the '100 Jazz Albums That Shook The World' by Jazzwise magazine.

A project of more of Lockheart's own compositions was released in 2009 with the "In Deep" Quintet featuring Liam Noble and Jasper Hoiby and the subsequent year Mark was awarded Jazz Musician of the Year award at the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Awards.