Mark Haskins

Mark Haskins is a South African jazz guitarist based in Durban.

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.

Haskins' room was flooded with music by such US jazz artists as 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 had jumped into music after high school, but he went to University and graduated with a master’s degree specialising in electronic engineering and computer science.

Shortly afterwards, Haskins pursued with his jazz studies 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, he has built an impressive resume of accomplishments. From playing around the world touring with countless artists, to being on the bill of major jazz festivals and being featured on BBC, Haskins has done it all. He has also worked as a session musician with some of the very best artists in the UK, Ireland, France, the US and Australia. Haskins has always remained in the background, backing and producing other artists.

For years, fans and critics alike have appreciated what 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 honour of his late wife, such as 'Nightride' and 'The Echoes of Your Heartbeat.'

The passing of his wife prompted Haskins to return to his home in South Africa and established a record company called MIH Music Publishers. Now he is working on his fifth studio album 'Changes'. Haskins has stepped out of the background straight onto the world stage where he belongs. A true maestro!