Mark Sammo moved to Ithaca in 1974 with the Peabody Band and has lived and played in numerous bands in the Ithaca area ever since. Mark has been playing drums and various world percussion for over 40 years and was fortunate to have been in bands that opened for some notable 60's bands, including: The Young Rascals, The Loving Spoonful, The Turtles and the Strawberry Alarm Clock. Locally, Mark has
recording credits with Jodi Kestler, Desperado, Fe Nunn, Larry Watson and sound track credits for the movie "Skateboard" recorded at Pyramid Studio in Ithaca, NY. Mark generally plays the electronic TrapKat percussion controller triggering a Roland TD-20 and Emu Procussion sound modules. He also has a very extensive collection of world hand drums, ethnic percussion and traditional trap drums. After the demise of the Peabody Band, Mark has played in numerous bands in Ithaca, NY, including: Yoruba Afro Latin Jazz, Sensitive Nice Guys Jazz Quartet, Desperado, Shinny Capine, Diamond Sutra Blues Band, Rags to Riches Blues Band, Glen Davis Blues Band, Slammin' Blues with Tony Nassar, Flesh Pot Village, Soul Jazz, Fire Within, Crazy Wanderers, Millennium Jazz Quartet, Dance Medicine, Whippin' Post, Rosie Rocca, The Swamp Cats, Bozos on the Fun Bus, Fall Creek Folks, Katherine Aelias Band, The Casey Max Quartet, The DixieKats and as a guest or stand in drummer with various other musicians and bands. Recording credits include, "Spring Song" with The West Side Highway, "Out On a Limb" with Desperado, "Leap Of Faith" with Jody Kessler, "We Can Make It" with Fee Nunn, "In Another World", self titled CD where Mark wrote all the songs and played all the instruments, multiple CD's with the DixieKats, "Where Were You When the Fun Began?" with Danny Speer and as a drummer for the movie sound track of "Skateboard". Although his primary instrument has always been the drums and percussion... Mark has had a lifelong relationship with the piano. Self taught, he brought his first synth in the mid 80's, which started his massive collection of synths, soft synths and all that makes up Matrix Studios as a project studio and unique place to create and record music of all different types. Influences in his personal compositions run from Classical to New Age, World, Jazz, Rock and Ambient Soundscapes, all of which are reflected in his catalog of recorded music. Mark is the owner and operator of Matrix Studios, a project recording studio and live sound recording, sound reinforcement and musical booking company in Ithaca, NY. MatrixStudio.biz
Mark is also the owner of lil mOOse recOrds... lilmooserecords.com
Mark owns Matrix Recording Studios (MatrixStudio.biz) in Ithaca, NY
