Raylan Loggins (bass) is a jazz-immersionist preferring to swirl in a sea of bop, bossa and cool jazz to any other musical form. He includes such diverse sources as Timothy B. Schmidt, Paul Chambers and Wassily Kandinsky among his musical inspirations and traces his clothing inspirations to Salvador Dali. He traces his early interest in jazz to teenage insomnia that led him to listen to the only all-night radio available at the time: the easy listening jazz of the sixties. A lifelong Dallasite, Raylan’s past musical pursuits have included Janet Davis & The Velvet Living Room and The Livingstones. In addition to the upright bass, he plays electric bass and guitar.
Mark McKenzie (alto, tenor and soprano saxophones) has been playing saxophone since age 11, and has been active since the mid-90s in various local groups. He had an 11-year stint with the Dallas Christian Jazz Band, played with the jazz/pop group Janet Davis & The Velvet Living Room, and currently plays in the Wilshire Wind Symphony in addition the MMQ. He traces his serious interest in jazz to 1986, when he saw a Sting concert featuring saxophonist Branford Marsalis: “I started checking out Branford’s records, and that led me to Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and others.” In recent years, Mark has intensified his focus on the art of jazz improvisation.
George Gagliardi (piano, guitar) has spent his entire adult life as a working musician. In addition to Nashville and Los Angeles studio work, he has performed in most every type of setting — with bands big and small, vocalists of all styles, church groups, and even improv comedy groups. He has written over 700 songs, and his longtime collaboration with singer Cynthia Clawson has yielded Grammy and Dove award nominations. George's playing and music direction have graced Dallas theater stages for years, and he also teaches music privately and in public schools. In addition to the MMQ, he plays in the Singapore Slingers and frequently subs in other local bands.
Jon Hock (drums) inherited a pair of used drum sticks from his oldest brother, and started tapping along to a variety of music (thanks to four older sisters who played virtually every musical and movie soundtrack from the 50s and 60s, along with an amazing range of music that included everything from Dean Martin and Sarah Vaughan to Elvis and Chopin). Soon he was accompanying a local jazz guitar teacher and finally got a full drum set at age 14. Along with the MMQ, Jon has played drums or percussion with bands including Janet Davis & The Velvet Living Room, the Wilshire Wind Symphony, and the Heritage Brass Band.
mckenziejazz@gmail.com | © 2008-2011 Mark McKenzie Quartet. All rights reserved.
