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Mark Haskins

Mark Haskins is a Jazz Guitarist/Producer from Cape Town South Africa.

About Me

Music in the Haskins' household was as much a second language as English or Spanish is to another. Mark Haskins’ late father was a violinist and his sister a music teacher. So there was always a tune coming from some part of the house. Mark's room though was flooded with the likes of Miles Davis and Wes Montgomery. Imagine a seven-year- old tackling the likes of “Footprints” and “Born to Be Blue” on the piano. Mark did just that as his lessons started at an early age, only moving onto the drums a decade later. Five years later he switched to the guitar. Many thought he'd jump right into music after high school, but he went to University and graduated with a master’s degree focused on electronic engineering and computer science.

Soon after that was obtained he switched gears and went on to further his music studies (jazz) at the Trinity College of Music in London. It was there that he took that childhood love of the greats and channeled them as he grew into his own modern day Jazz artist. Now an artist with almost four decades of experience behind him, he's built up an impressive resume of accomplishments. From playing around the world touring with countless artists to being on the bill of major Jazz festivals to being featured on BBC - he's done it all and then some. He has also worked as a session musician in London, Ireland, France, America and Australia with some of the very best artists in the world. He has always remained in the background, backing and producing other artists.

For years fans and critics alike have appreciated what Mark Haskins brings to the genre of Jazz. Whether it is his unorthodox compositions in songs like “African Heartbeat” or the more personal tracks he's released recently in honor of his late wife such as “Nightride” and “The Echoes of Your Heartbeat.”

The passing of his late wife prompted Mark to return to his home in South Africa. He has now established his own record company namely, MIH Music Publishers. Mark has stepped out of the background straight onto the world stage where he belongs. A true maestro.

My Jazz Story

Passion, is something that some would argue is ingrained in us from those around us. That could very well be the truth when speaking about Mark Haskins and music. Inspired by the sounds of Wes Montgomery and Miles Davis at the tender age of seven, Mark became a pint-sized piano man. Encouraged by his late father who was a violinist, Mark went on to study music at the Trinity College of Music in London. In the almost 40 years he's been making music he's toured the world, played major Jazz festivals and been featured on BBC. After his wife passed Mark returned home to South Africa and established his own record company, MIH Music Publishers. He quotes; "Jazz is a way of life and I would certainly not change it for anything or anyone. Music is Happiness. So, Let it Play... Play... Play"

My House Concert Story

Mark Haskins together with MIH Music Publishers, hosted two Jazz/Fusion Concerts at "The Little Switzerland Resort", to assist the Ukrainian war victims. The support was phenomenal. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the concert yesterday 21/05/22, due to heavy floods in Durban South Africa.