Mark Lettieri
Mark Lettieri | |
|---|---|
| Born | Menlo Park, CA |
| Genres | Rock, Funk, Jazz, Soul, R&B, Gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Guitarist, Songwriter, Producer |
| Instruments | Guitar, Baritone Guitar, Bass |
| Labels | GroundUP Records, Ropeadope Records |
| Associated acts | Snarky Puppy, Fearless Flyers, Vulfpeck, Nate Smith |
| Website | https://www.marklettieri.com/ |
Mark Lettieri is a GRAMMY-award winning guitarist, composer, producer, and instructor based in Fort Worth, TX. He is a long time member of the world renowned jazz/funk group, Snarky Puppy.[1] Also a heavily in demand session and touring musician, he has recorded and/or performed with a myriad of artists across multiple genres.[2]
Early life
Lettieri was born in Menlo Park, CA just outside of Palo Alto and attended Menlo-Atherton High School. He started playing guitar in middle school and developed his skills playing in garage bands and various youth group functions through his church. During his teenage years, he studied with Gordon Kahan, a disciple of guitarist Joe Satriani, who helped hone his rock-influenced style.[3]
Despite his passion for music, Lettieri initially had different career aspirations. After graduating high school, he competed in track and field and studied advertising at Texas Christian University (TCU). He continued to play guitar through his college years, and his skills continuously developed as he got older. During the latter part of his time at TCU, he chose to make music his focus. After graduating in 2005, he moved to Dallas and started playing at churches and attending jam sessions.
Career
Quickly becoming a staple of the Metroplex gospel and R&B scene, he became friendly with University of North Texas graduate Michael League, who had started Snarky Puppy as a sophomore in 2004.[4] By 2008, Lettieri was a touring and recording member of the band, first appearing on their 2008 album "Bring Us the Bright.
Since then, he has been a consistent member of the group, both in the studio and on the road. Together, they have won four GRAMMYs, three of which were for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album: "Sylva" in 2016, "Culcha Vulcha" in 2017, and "Live at the Royal Albert Hall" in 2021. They also won Best R&B Performance for "Something" feat. Lalah Hathaway in 2014.
In 2018, Lettieri, in collaboration with Vulfpeck members Cory Wong and Joe Dart, as well as renowned jazz/funk drummer Nate Smith, founded The Fearless Flyers. This all-star group of modern funk veterans released their first EP in 2018, and TREMG magazine described the band "an overload of funk to the max."[5] They released their first full album in 2020, featuring jazz saxophonists Grace Kelly and Alekos Syropoulos.
Outside of touring with Snarky Puppy and The Fearless Flyers, Lettieri also leads his own band, the Mark Lettieri Group. This group plays an eclectic blend of instrumental guitar-based music, with a strong funk and rock flair, much of which features baritone guitar. The band features Lettieri's original work that has been recorded on his six albums as a leader. His solo work has gained significant buzz amongst instrumental music enthusiasts in large part because of his vibrant social media presence. He has also been an active educator throughout his career, hosting master classes at various universities and selling his transcription books online.
Although Lettieri is more known for his work in jazz and funk mediums, his broad stylistic range is one of his biggest assets. As a touring sideman, he has logged miles with artists such as Erykah Badu, Anthony Evans, and American Idol winner Phillip Phillips. He has also recorded on work featuring David Crosby, The Jacksons, Tori Kelly, Kirk Franklin, Ledisi, 50 Cent, Xzibit amongst others. Much of this work came about through his association with producer Symbolic One.
In 2021, he teamed up with Paul Reed Smith Guitars to create his signature model electric guitar, the Fiore.
Discography
Solo Albums
| Title | Year | Billboard Position | iTunes Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Knows" | 2011 | - | - |
| "Futurefun" | 2013 | - | - |
| "Spark and Echo" | 2016 | #11 on Billboard Jazz | #2 on iTunes Jazz |
| "Deep: The Baritone Sessions" | 2019 | #21 on Billboard Jazz | - |
| "Things of That Nature" | 2019 | - | #1 on iTunes Jazz |
| "Deep: The Baritone Sessions, Vol. 2" | 2021 | - | - |
w/ Snarky Puppy
| Title | Year | Billboard Position | GRAMMYs |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Bring us the Bright" | 2008 | - | - |
| "Tell Your Friends" | 2010 | - | - |
| "Ground Up" | 2012 | #14 on Billboard Jazz | - |
| "Family Dinner, Vol. 1" | 2013 | #5 on Billboard Jazz | Best R&B Performance
for Something ft. Lalah Hathaway |
| "We Like it Here" | 2014 | #4 on Billboard Jazz | - |
| "Sylva" w/ Metropole Orkest | 2015 | #1 on Billboard Jazz | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album |
| "Family Dinner, Vol. 2" | 2016 | #1 on Billboard Jazz | - |
| "Culcha Vulcha" | 2016 | #1 on Billboard Jazz | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album |
| "Immigrance" | 2019 | #2 on Billboard Jazz | - |
| "Live at the Royal Albert Hall" | 2020 | - | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album |
w/ The Fearless Flyers
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| "The Fearless Flyers" | 2018 |
| "The Fearless Flyers II" | 2019 |
| "Tailwinds" | 2020 |
Notable/Selected Session Discography
| David Crosby | Kirk Franklin | Ledisi | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Sky Trails" | 2017 | "Losing My Religion" | 2015 | "Let Love Rule" | 2017 | ||
| Anthony Evans | "Long Live Love" | 2019 | Larnell Lewis | ||||
| "Undisguised" | 2010 | Ghost-Note | "In The Moment" | 2018 | |||
| "Home" | 2011 | "Fortified" | 2015 | Tasha Page-Lockart | |||
| "Real Life/Real Worship" | 2014 | "Swagism" | 2018 | "Here Right Now" | 2014 | ||
| "Back to Life" | 2017 | Fred Hammond | Tamela Mann | ||||
| "Altared" | 2019 | "God, Love & Romance" | 2012 | "The Master Plan" | 2009 | ||
| Lupe Fiasco | "I Will Trust" | 2014 | "Best Days" | 2012 | |||
| "Tetsuo & Youth" | 2015 | The Jacksons | "One Way" | 2016 | |||
| 50 Cent | "My Life" (single) | 2012 | Shaun Martin | ||||
| "Triumph" | 2021 | Tori Kelly | "7 Summers" | 2015 | |||
| Kirk Franklin | "Hiding Place" | 2018 | The Walls Group | ||||
| "Losing My Religion" | 2015 | Lecrae | "Fast Forward" | 2014 | |||
| "Long Live Love" | 2019 | "Anomaly" | 2014 | Xzibit | |||
| "Napalm" | 2012 | ||||||
References
- ↑ "Snarky Puppy | 2021 GRAMMY®-WINNING LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL available now". snarkypuppy.com. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ↑ "Mark Lettieri". Mark Lettieri. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
- ↑ "Community School of Music and Arts". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Scaruffi.com". Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Feinerman, Drew (2020-08-29). "Album Review: The Fearless Flyers Put the 'Fun' in Funk". TREMG. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
Category:21st-century American composers Category:Guitarists from Texas Category:Songwriters from Texas Category:Living people Category:Texas Christian University alumni
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