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Mark Di Claudio

Hailing from Montreal, Mark Di Claudio is an extremely versatile drummer who has been playing professionally since 1988. He has performed and recorded with many top Canadian artists such as Claude Dubois, Bobby Bazini, David Jalbert, Johanne Blouin, Nicola Ciccone, Marc Angers, Dany Bédar, Walter Rossi, Brigitte M, James Correa, Talisma, Stephan McNicoll, Florence K, Pascal Dufour, Lina Boudreau, Ricky Paquette, Russ Dwarf (Killer Dwarfs), Nouzôte, Daniel Lavoie, Marjo, Riot and the Blues Devils, Elizabeth Blouin-Brathwaite, Blou, Patsy Gallant, Jason Bajada, Marie-Denise Pelletier, Ima, Nancy Martinez, Ariane Brunet, Éric Lemieux and Christian Legault (La Chicane), Luc De La Rochellière, Gabrielle Destroismaisons, Philippe Berghella, Bob Walsh, Mario Pelchat and many others in numerous musical styles ranging from Jazz, Blues, and Latin to Progressive and Mainstream Rock.

Mark began studying and playing the drums at the early age of 11. Influenced by progressive bands such as Rush, King Crimson, ELP, Genesis and Frank Zappa his technique and finesse developed at an advanced rate. He later studied Jazz, Latin and Classical music with such great musicians and educators as Charles Ellison, Abdul Wali Muhammad and Pete Magadini before obtaining his Bachelors degree in music from Montreal’s Concordia University in 1997.

In 2000, Mark’s Jazz performances with Quebec artist Johanne Blouin and renown New York musicians John Hicks & Curtis Lundy (and later with Montreal greats Skip Bey & Tim Jackson) gave him impetus to further explore and surpass his musical boundaries. Mark has performed at Montreal’s Place des Arts, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, le Sunside in Paris and Smoke Jazz Club in New York. In 2005 he also performed with Gold-selling Acadian band, Blou, representing Canada at the World’s Fair (Expo) in Aichi, Japan. in addition, Mark has been showcased in magazine and newspaper articles and performed on many major live radio and television shows.

Mark’s flexibility as a musician is reflected in his work with such different artists and groups as: Talisma (Progressive), Dany Bédar (Pop/Rock), Johanne Blouin (Jazz & Pop), Riot and his Rhythm Devils (Blues), Nouzôte (Latino/Quebecois), Panayiotis Brakoulias (Greek Traditional), Blou (Acadian) and Walter Rossi (Rock). Mark has also been teaching music for over 25 years and many of his students have gone on to become very successful drummers in their own right.

Today Mark is known for his extreme versatility and tasteful, dynamic style. His sound, tone, impeccable groove and strong backing vocal abilities keep him very much in demand as a freelance session drummer and band member.

To get his signature sound, Mark Di Claudio uses GMS drums, Los Cabos drum sticks, Remo skins and Zildjian cymbals exclusively.