Mark Guiliana

Mark Guiliana was born on September 2, 1980, and raised in New Jersey. He pursued his musical education at William Paterson University, graduating in 2003 with a degree in Jazz Studies and Performance. Guiliana quickly established himself as a versatile drummer, composer, educator, and producer. He founded Beat Music Productions, through which he has released several projects as a bandleader, such as ‘My Life Starts Now’ and ‘Beat Music: The Los Angeles Improvisations’. His unique approach to drumming, integrating both acoustic and electronic elements, has distinguished him in the music industry.

Over the past decade, Guiliana has toured extensively across multiple continents, performing with a diverse range of artists. A notable collaboration was with David Bowie, where Guiliana served as the drummer for Bowie’s final album, ‘Blackstar’, released in 2016. He also formed the electric duo Mehliana with keyboardist Brad Mehldau, releasing the album ‘Taming the Dragon’ in 2014. Guiliana has contributed to over 30 recordings as a sideman, working with artists such as Meshell Ndegeocello, Gretchen Parlato, Avishai Cohen, Matisyahu, and Lionel Loueke.

Guiliana’s career trajectory includes leading his own groups, such the acoustic Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet and the electronica-focused Beat Music. His contributions have been recognized with accolades such as being named “25 for the Future” by DownBeat magazine in 2016 and receiving the Best Jazz Drummer award in the Modern Drummer Readers Poll 2017. In 2024, he was nominated for a 67th Annual Grammy Award in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category for his album ‘MARK’.