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ABOUT US

The Mark Travers Project is an exciting acoustic jazz quartet that is joined by guest instrumentalists and vocalists on an eclectic combination of original compositions and arrangements of jazz standards and contemporary classics. From stylings on Charlie Parker’s Ornithology to a latin take on “All of Me’ this group are an engaging and exciting blend of youth, experience and talent that have played everywhere from Ronnie Scott's and The 606 Club to the Royal Albert Hall.

Our core quartet is formed of Mark Travers on trumpet, Pablo Barrios on piano, Oscar Ho on double bass and Manuel Filgueiras on drums.  

PHOTOS

MUSIC

A selection of live clips from our most recent performances

Blue Runningcomposed & arranged by Mark Travers
00:00 / 01:37
Cantaloupe Islandcomposed by Herbie Hancock & arranged by Mark Travers
00:00 / 00:49
My Favourite Thingscomposed by Richard Rogers & arranged by Pablos Barrios
00:00 / 01:06
Blue Bossacomposed by Kenny Dorham & arranged by Mark Travers
00:00 / 01:10

THE BAND

Trumpeter MARK TRAVERS is a product of the Huddersfield Youth Orchestra system, starting on cornet and then quickly moving to trumpet. From 15 years old he played with the Huddersfield University Big Band and at 16 took up the piano. He then studied Composition & Arranging at City of Leeds College of Music, where he won the Peter Knight Yorkshire Television Arranging Prize, and started playing saxophone. Mark then went on to do a Masters in Film Composition & Sound Design at Bournemouth University where he also started playing the drums. Alongside a career as a Director of Music in schools, Mark has always enjoyed a diverse sound world and has sought additional creative challenges: forming his own sextet who performed at the 606 Jazz Club amongst other places; writing and performing a litany of original pieces including a ballet 'The Snow Queen'; a Gloria for orchestra, mixed choir, trebles and soprano solo; a jazz choral work 'Syncopated Psalms' for mass youth choir and big band; and a jazz biopic with 12 piece big band and actors based on the life and music of Thelonious Monk. 

Pianist JUAN PABLOS BARRIOS is a Venezuelan-born pianist, composer/producer and percussionist. He studied composition and jazz piano at both The Purcell School of Music and The Royal College of Music under the likes of Simon Speare and Mark-Anthony Turnage (composition), and Tom Challenger and Mike Moran (jazz piano), amongst others. As a composer he has won awards such as The William Mathias Composition Prize in Bangor (Wales) for his piece “Distortions for Flute and Electronics,” as well as numerous commissions such as a piece for the inauguration of HRH Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as Duke and Duchess of Sussex, where he played the Steel Pan. As an active jazz pianist he as had the privilege of playing with renowned jazz ensembles such as The National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Great Britain and The Len Phillips Swing Band, as well as world class jazz artists such as Jo-Jo Mayer, Pete Long, Simon Gardner and Tommy Blaize.

Double bassist OSCAR HO is a dynamic musician currently immersed in the world of jazz at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. His musical journey began at the prestigious Chetham's School of Music, where he honed his skills in both jazz and classical double bass from 2019 to 2021. During his time at Chetham's, Oscar caught the attention of the musical community, earning the esteemed "Ida Carroll Scholarship" for his remarkable progress as one of the most promising string players. Under the mentorship of renowned jazz bassist and educator Steve Berry and bassist Rachel Meerloo from the Hallé, Oscar delved into symphonic works, including Mahler 8, with the Chetham's Symphony Orchestra. Since relocating to London and joining the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Oscar has had the privilege of working with distinguished figures like Norma Winston and Scott Stroman.

Drummer MANUEL FILGUEIRAS started playing the drums at the age of 11, having learned from some of the most prolific musicians in the Portuguese music scene he then moved to the UK to continue his studies at Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Aside from a busy schedule gigging and recording all over London, he is pursuing a career as an educator and teaching at Hatcham College and Middlesex University. He has performed at a variety of venues and festivals and even countries, most recently in Spain.

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