Mark Kelso

Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Canadian drummer & composer, Mark Kelso has made Mississauga, ON his home for quite some time. Not only is he a skilled musician who plays drums and percussion, he is also a singer, educator, producer, composer and martial artist as well. As a sideman, Mark has earned four JUNO awards. As a bandleader, he has been nominated four times with his original Jazz groups; The Jazz Exiles (2016 & 2023), the Chronicles of Fezziwig (2020) and again in 2025 for his Mystic Isle Project. Mark is currently in his 10th year as Artistic Director for the Jazz Room in Waterloo and was previously the head of percussion at Humber College from 2005-2021. His latest recording “The Antrim Coast” was released in May of 2024 and features songs dedicated to his father Sam, Northern Ireland and his childhood memories of living there.

Mark’s ability to play a wide variety of musical styles has helped him become one of Canada’s most sought after drummers. An all around player, he has worked/recorded with a wide array of artists such as Pat Metheny, Donny McCaslin, Laila Biali, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Michael Bublé, Changuito, David Clayton-Thomas, Holly Cole, Larry Coryell, Eliana Cuevas, Paquito D’Riveria, Hilario Duran, David Foster, Dave Grusin, Herbie Hancock, Olivia Newton John, Molly Johnson, Chaka Khan, Pat LaBarbera, Donnell Leahy, Natalie MacMaster, Bob Mintzer, Peter Murphy (Bauhaus), Donny Osmond, Danilo Perez, Chris Potter, Jovino Santos Neto, NOJO, Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Bonnie Raitt, Maria Schneider, John Scofield, Ron Sexsmith, Mike Stern, Soul Stew, James Taylor, Susan Tedeschi, Ian Tyson, Gino Vannelli, Carol Welsman and his own band, The Jazz Exiles and The Mystic Isle Project. Mark also runs “Groovy Drums Studio” where he records drum tracks for many artists around the world. To date he has played on over 500 recordings and in 2016 Mark released his very first instructional drum DVD “Musician First, Drummer Second” to great acclaim.

Aside from playing many sessions and movie soundtracks, Mark has also been featured in articles for DRUMHEAD Drums, ETC, Canadian Musician, and Modern Drummer magazines. He has also been a featured clinician/performer at the Montreal Drumfest, IAJE, Musicfest, KOSA, Percussive Arts Society, Regina Drum Festival, Whack Bam Thudd festival, Yamaha Canada, The Stickman Drum Experience, Victoria Drum Festival, the Ralph Angelillo Drum Festival and the Cape Breton Drum Festival. Mark proudly endorses Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Evans Drum heads and Headhunters drumsticks.