Biography
Mark McLean is a New York City-based musician whose career encompasses work as a drummer, bandleader, recording artist, songwriter and Emmy-nominated composer.
Born in Toronto, McLean began studying classical piano at age nine before discovering the drums in his teens. While still in his early twenties, he began performing with legendary pianist Oscar Peterson, an association that would become an important part of his musical journey and continues today through Oscar Peterson tribute and alumni projects.
Since making New York his home in 2000, McLean has collaborated with an extraordinary range of artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, The Count Basie Orchestra, Gladys Knight, Billy Joel, George Michael, Joe Sample, Dewey Redman, Jamie Cullum and Peter Cincotti.
Today, he continues to tour internationally with Michael Feinstein, Catherine Russell, Marilyn Maye, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Darren Criss, bringing his signature musicality to projects that move fluidly between jazz, popular music, and the evolving American song tradition.
As a leader, Mark has released two acclaimed recordings, Playground and Feel Alright, showcasing both his distinctive voice as a drummer and his gifts as a songwriter.
In recent years, composing has become an increasingly significant part of McLean’s creative life. He co-scored the Emmy-nominated American Masters documentary How It Feels to Be Free, executive produced by Alicia Keys, which premiered in 2021. In 2022, he composed the score for the History Channel documentary Black Liberators WWII.
Most recently, Mark composed the score for his first animated series, Acoustic Rooster (GBH Kids/PBS), introducing preschool audiences to jazz through storytelling, collaboration, and ensemble playing. The series received two 2026 Emmy Award nominations: Outstanding Original Song for Preschool Program and Outstanding Short Form Animated Program.
Whether performing on the world’s concert stages or composing for the screen, McLean brings the same depth of musical imagination, stylistic versatility, and collaborative spirit to every project.
