MVI (MARK VICKNESS INTERCONNECTED)
I formed MVI (Mark Vickness Interconnected) in 2019. In addition to my steel string modern fingerstyle guitar parts, the initial group consisted of Mads Tolling, violin; Joseph Hebert, cello; Dan Feiszli, bass and Ty Burhoe, tabla. Given the experiences that inspired the music on In The Rain Shadow, I decided to add two more musicians to the group bringing us to a total of seven. We were incredibly fortunate to include the virtuoso wind player, Matt Renzi (playing oboe, english horn and saxophone) as well as the Grammy Award winning percussionist, MB Gordy, whom I have known since graduate school at the California Institute of the Arts in the late 1970’s.
I first became exposed to the idea of an interconnected, interdependent world as a teenager. Although I had virtually no exposure to music outside the Western tradition growing up, that changed once I got to college. I was mentored by a composer and jazz pianist (Relly Raffman) who urged me to expand my musical horizons as much as possible. So I began to study and play music from India and West Africa as well as broaden my understanding of European music and the vast array of Western popular music (jazz, rock, folk, funk, blues, soul, etc.). As a result, I eventually became the kind of musician that reflects the reality of the interconnected world we live in. MVI is intended to embody that idea.
As a composer, this is my dream ensemble. Each musician is an accomplished soloist adept at many different types of music. They all bring an astounding breadth and depth of musical understanding and experience. There is almost no style of music, no musical culture or era that we cannot draw from. We have a classical trio (violin, cello, oboe), a jazz quartet, percussion instruments from almost every continent and culture, and virtuoso players capable of playing pretty much anything I put in front of them from funk to raga style improvisation, from interwoven counterpoint to rock power chords, from a fast Irish 12/8 romp to an ambient textural musical tapestry and more - they do it all with ease and with an infectious energy that is palpable on every track. I could not be more grateful to be able work with these remarkable musicians!
Vickness and MVI embody the belief that music is a universal language that transcends boundaries. Their music speaks to the interconnectedness of humanity, offering a rich tapestry of sounds that resonate with listeners worldwide. As MVI continues to push boundaries with their unique blend of acoustic fusion, they invite listeners on a journey of discovery and unity through music. David Henry/LA Weekly 7/17/24
Since its inception, MVI has been a beacon of innovation in the realm of Instrumental Progressive Acoustic Fusion music. Mark Vickness, alongside a group of exceptionally skilled musicians . . . has shaped a unique musical narrative. Their music resonates with a blend of technical prowess and heartfelt expression, creating an immersive experience for listeners worldwide. Vents Magazine - 7/26/24
MADS TOLLING - violin
Mads is an internationally renowned violinist and composer, two-time Grammy Award-Winner and the 2016 DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star winning violinist. As a former nine year member of both the Turtle Island Quartet and bassist Stanley Clarke’s band, Mads has spent most of his professional life touring internationally. Since 2007 Mads has lead his own group, Mads Tolling Quartet. Mads has been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition and his recordings have received rave reviews in Downbeat Magazine, Strings Magazine, The Washington Post and the San Francisco Chronicle. He has performed with The Who, Chick Corea, Ramsey Lewis, Kenny Barron & Paquito D’Rivera and many others. Most recently Mads has toured with Bob Weir and the Wolf Pack. Mads grew up in Copenhagen, Denmark and moved to the U.S. at age twenty to pursue jazz studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he graduated summa cum laude before joining Stanley Clarke’s band. Mads’ work with Mark dates back to 2010 when he recorded on Long Way Down with the duo, Glass House followed by live performances with Glass House and then recording again with Mark on his solo release, Places in 2017. www.madstolling.com
MATT RENZI - oboe, english horn, saxophone
Matt Renzi has been a sought after performer and composer in the U.S. and internationally for the past twenty years as a soloist and with The Matt Renzi Trio. He holds a Bachelor’s in Music/Performance from the Berklee College of Music and a Master of Arts in Classical Composition from San Francisco State University. Matt has performed and recorded with Marc Johnson, Michael Formanek, Eddie Marshall, Herbie Lewis, Ben Monder, Eberhard Weber, and Bobo Stenson.
JOSEPH HEBERT - cello
Joe has recorded and performed around the world across multiple genres with hundreds of artists. He is a Grammy Award Winner on Santana’s Supernatural recording as well as other Grammy Nominee recordings. He’s worked with Stevie Wonder, Tower of Power, Journey, Natalie Cole, Jessye Norman and many others. Joe is Assistant Principal cellist with the Oakland East Bay Symphony and is on the faculty of Cal State University East Bay. In addition to his work as a cellist, Joe is a seasoned choral director having performed multiple world tours with his choral and instrumental ensembles. The Oakland Tribune describes him as “one of the most eloquently expressive cellists in the San Francisco Bay Area.” www.josephhebert.com
DAN FEISZLI - upright and electric bass
Experienced on both upright and electric basses, Dan has performed in concert with such notable artists as James Moody, Raul Midon, and Mickey Hart. He has toured nationally and internationally with artists including Julio Iglesias, Nicole Yarling and Raul DiBlasio, and played in the pit orchestras for musical theatre productions including Hamilton, The Lion King and Billy Elliot. In addition to his career as a performer, Dan is featured on hundreds of recordings as both a bassist and recording engineer, and has recorded and mixed albums reaching the highest positions on the US Top 40 Jazz Charts. Dan’s work with Mark dates back years as both a bassist performing with Glass House and recording engineer for Places, Interconnected and In The Rain Shadow. www.studiorhythm.com
TY BURHOE - tabla
A disciple of the great tabla maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ty is internationally recognized for being instrumental in creating unique collaborations that weave tabla with other world traditions. Nominated for three Grammy Awards, he has been featured on many soundtracks including the academy award winning documentary, "Born into Brothels." Ty has recorded and performed with a broad range of artists including Ustad Zakir Hussain, Art Lande, Bela Fleck, Walter Becker (Steely Dan), Mamadou Diabate, Kitaro, Jon Anderson (Yes) and many more. He has performed around the world including at Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House and Royal Festival Hall in London. Ty’s collaboration with Mark dates back decades to early recordings with Glass House. www.tyburhoe.com
MB GORDY - percussion
One of the top studio session players in Los Angeles, Grammy-winning percussionist, MB Gordy has recorded on releases by artists such as Neil Diamond, Aaron Neville, Faith Hill, f.u.n., Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Josh Groban, Guns and Roses, Childish Gambino, and Beck as well as on hundreds of film and television scores (including Agent Carter, American Sniper, Battlestar Gallactica, Bourne Legacy, Frozen, Game of Thrones, Spiderman, Straight Outta Compton, Terminator, and many more). MB has toured internationally with Rita Coolidge, Three Dog Night, the Doobie Brothers, John Tesh, and Josh Groban, and performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The National Symphony, Frank Zappa, Jacky Evanho, Andrea Bocelli, Johnny Mathis, Yoko Ono, Seal, and Idina Menzel. Having earned his Master’s Degree in Music from the California Institute of the Arts with extensive study in ethnic percussion, over the last three decades he has worked in a wide variety of roles as performer, composer, professor, and recording musician.
When not touring or in the studio, you can find MB performing with his own bands, Opium Moon, and Kaosz Theory.
