Mark Clifford is a vibraphonist, composer, and percussionist living in Oakland, CA. A sought after performer and improviser, Mark is equally involved in free improvisation, new music, jazz, and indie music, and is a part of multiple projects in the Bay Area and around the country.
His performance experience spans worldwide, and he has had the honor of playing alongside an array of wonderful musicians including Tatsuya Nakatani, Jeff Parker, Wu Fei, Moe! Staiano, Ron Miles, So Percussion, Scott Amendola, Aram Shelton, Greg Gizbert, Paul Riola, Danny Meyer, Colin Stranahan, Paul Romaine, and Josh Berman.
Since moving to the Bay Area in 2009, Mark has recieved multiple commissions for new music , including music for the New Keys Ensemble, Samantha Stone's Dance Company, and an original score for the short film Sprinkles.
Mark is currently looking forward to releasing 6 different albums in the coming year with various projects that have been in the works for a long time, and has started work on a full length album with his own project, The Dirty Snacks Ensemble
Mark Graduated with a B.M. in classical percussion performance from the Lamont School of Music, where he studied Percussion under CSO master percussionist John Kinzie, and Jazz theory and composition under pianist Eric Gunnison. Mark has also had the honor of studying percussion and marimba at Japan's Nagoya University with Tomomi Sugo, and has been lucky enough to study vibraphone with two of his greatest heroes, Steve Nelson and Matt Moran.