Dr. Mark Lomax, II

“Lomax is the rare drummer who leaves you wanting more, leading his bandmates through a strikingly terse, brilliantly counterintuitive and ultimately joyous series of explorations.”- Lucid Culture

Dr. Mark Lomax, II, is a critically acclaimed composer, recording artist, drummer, activist, educator, and author of the forthcoming book Toward a Politics of Humanity. In one of the timeliest and most unprecedented pieces of work in our history, Lomax released 400: An Afrikan Epic in January 2019. This magnum opus consists of a 12-album cycle, a curriculum, and a documentary that ambitiously tells the story of the Afrikan diaspora. Divided into thirds, the Epic explores thousands of years of the history that is pre-colonial Afrika, the Ma’afa (400 years between 1619 and 2019), and Afro-futurism expressing a vision of what Blacks in America will heal toward in the next 400 years. Primarily self-funded, The Wexner Center for the Arts provided institutional support for the 400 via an artist residency. Quoted in Columbus Monthly, Lane Czaplinski, then the performing arts director at the Wexner Center for the Performing Arts, says, “Mark is an absolute experimentalist ... and this huge, deep project will look at the legacy of jazz from the past all the way to the future.” Lomax also calls 400: An Afrikan Epic, an opportunity to celebrate the resilience, brilliance, strength, genius, and creativity of a people who continue to endure while offering a transformative view of the future. 
                                                                                                                                            
Lomax, a highly sought-after lecturer, specializes in the socio-political and spiritual aspects of African-American art, music, and race and using the arts to build community.  His TED Talk Activating The Transformative Power Of Trust, documents these ideas. Lomax says, "[T]here has never been a time in his life that music was not a part of me.” Heavily influenced by his father, a pastor, and mother, a composer of gospel music, Lomax was introduced to gospel and jazz at an early age. He continued his study of gospel music working with various practitioners skilled in the Black gospel tradition. Lomax completed formal study in composition at The Ohio State University, where he earned a Doctor of Music Arts degree in classical composition and music theory. Lomax has toured with the Delfeayo Marsalis Sextet and worked with notable artists such as Clark Terry, Marlon Jordan, Azar Lawrence, Bennie Maupin, Billy Harper, and Ellis Marsalis. His classical compositions have been performed by the Czech National Symphony, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Burlington Symphony Orchestra, The Worthington Chamber Orchestra, the Carpe Diem String Quartet, the Cavani String Quartet, UCelli: The Columbus Cello Quartet, Andrew Brady (bassoonist), and Dr. Louise Toppin (soprano). Jazz Times says Lomax’s “forceful drumming would have made Elvin Jones proud.” He has also been a resident artist with the Cincinnati Symphony (2019), and Denison University (2017) and has presented the 400 nationwide at various colleges, universities, art, and community organizations. Dr. Lomax’s myriad experiences have allowed him to create a unique blend of styles in his music. Whether he’s interpreting the Negro Spiritual through jazz, arranging gospel music for a symphony orchestra, or performing his original works, his music is relevant, probing, and inspiring.

Dr. Mark Lomax, II is happy to endorse RBH Drums and Murat Diril Cymbals.