News ~ Big Speck ~ Mark Reed
February 21, 2022
February 17 and 20 marked the debut of Mark’s music being performed by an orchestra. Under the direction of Maestro Charles Job, the Palm Court Light Orchestra performed Mark’s song Message to Home, with Mark and his proud mother in the audience. Charles pointed out to the audience that Mark was the only living composer of any of the pieces that the orchestra performed on those two days. Mark arranged the song for the 26-piece light-classical orchestra more than 30 years after he performed it with his rock band The Fault in Vancouver.
January 1, 2022
On January 1, 2022, after 16+ years as Secretary-Treasurer of the Island Musicians Association, Local 247 of the Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM/AFM), Mark has decided to retire from that position. He is happy to see that, soon after taking over the position, his successor, Marcus Hissen, has already improved some of the Local’s processes and services. Mark remains active on the Local’s Board and on the Board of the AFM Canadian Conference of Musicians. His retirement allows him to better focus on his own music projects and other interests and responsibilities important to him.
Music Releases
JANUARY 1, 2021
Mark’s first broad release of selected music recordings:
February 7, 2022
The sheet music for Mark’s song Message to Home, for piano and voice (with guitar chords) is now available – and for a while, for free! Just ask for a copy, and he’ll email to you.
The Fault Album Release
The Fault was formerly the band Jonnē Krōm. it changed its name after singer Sue Baim joined the group. The tracks on these two albums are a collection of recordings by the Vancouver band at several studios in 1989 and 1990, a concert at the Commodore Ballroom in 1990, and a concert at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre in December 1990. Aside from a few of the songs that received some airplay around that time, none of these recordings were available to or heard by the public until now.
Release Date: 15 March 2021
JANUARY 1, 2021
Mark’s first broad release of selected music recordings (click on the album cover for more info):
BIG SPECK: Message to Home
Recorded in 2020, this album features Mark’s 7-piece, folk-rock group performing 16 of his songs.
MARK REED: Reedimentary Elements
Mark recorded this solo piano instrumental album in 2014 and 2015. He performed the 21 pieces as closely to the original versions as he can recall them on the same piano on which he composed them going back to 1966 and through to 2009.
U.N.I: Push Me – Pull You
Mark recorded this album with Sue Baim and a healthy handful of their friends, including Paul Hyde, on the Poolwest label in Vancouver in 1991. The album was not released to the public until now.
JONNĒ KRŌM
The tracks on these two albums are a collection of recordings by the Vancouver band at various clubs and studios between 1985 and 1988. None of these recordings were available to or heard by the public until now.
Concerts & Recitals
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Palm Court Light Orchestra Performs Message to Home
February 17 (in Sidney) and February 20 (in Oak Bay)
The Palm Court Light Orchestra will perform Mark’s song Message to Home. This will be history in the making – the first time that an orchestra will perform one of Mark’s songs! Not only that, Mark wrote the arrangements. Join Mark in the audience to experience this wonderful orchestra, conducted by Charles Job and featuring guest cellist Pamela Highbaugh Aloni, at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2 pm and the Dave Dunnet Theatre in Oak Bay on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2 pm. Program and ticket information at:
Stay tuned for concert/recital announcements. Plans are for online and COVID-friendly in-person small venue and house concerts/recitals.
Mark is interested in exploring other music performance possibilities, projects, and collaborations. Contact Mark if you have such ideas.
Other News
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Mark Reed: Social Media & Get Connected
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkReedBigSpeck
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/big.speck/
Bandcamp: https://markreed1.bandcamp.com/
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