Mark McGowan became a professional musician in 1984 joining the Haitian Compa band “The Mini All-Stars, going on tours to Haiti, Guadaloupe, France and Canada. In 1986, Mark went on a tour of Europe playing trumpet with the traveling show “Jesus Christ Superstar”. In 1988, Mark recorded his first album, a jazz quintet record co-led with Reggie Woods (another recording with Reggie in 1991).
In 1992, Mark joined the Illinois Jacquet Big Band, performing at the Village Vanguard and then touring Europe and various venues in the U.S. until 1998. In 1995, Mark joined the Lionel Hampton Orchestra performing and touring with the big band until Lionel’s death in 2002. In 2001, Mark toured the U.S. with the Duke Ellington Orchestra and Lee-Ann Womack, playing lead trumpet. Since then, Mark has performed the Duke Ellington Orchestra at various venues in Europe and the United States (including a Houston, Texas performance with the big band on September 16, 2023). From 2016 through 2018, Mark performed, toured and recorded with the Count Basie Orchestra. From 2014 through 2019 Mark played trumpet with the Michael Feinstein/Tedd Firth Big Band at Lincoln Center among other venues. Today, Mark continues to be a New York freelance trumpet playing with many different groups at many different venues.
Recordings with the Reggie Woods Quintet, Count Basie Orchestra, George Gee Big Band.
Lionel Hampton Orchestra (Legacy Band), Larry Lugar Trio, Bronx Conexion, Art Lillard Heavenly Band (and Art Lillard Blue Heaven sextet)
Mark is a Denis Wick Artist and has played on the products nearly 25 years.
