A talented guitarist influenced by George
Benson and versatile enough to play straight-ahead jazz or R&B,
Mark Whitfield was originally a bassist. At 15 he switched to
guitar and soon won a scholarship to Berklee. After graduating
from Berklee in 1987, Whitfield temporarily moved to Brooklyn
and appeared at many sessions.
George Benson suggested he work for Jack McDuff and that association
was a big break for Whitfield. He has since recorded as a leader
for Warner Bros. and Verve, and as a sideman with many players
including Jimmy Smith, Chris Botti, Nicholas Payton, Ray Brown,
and Courtney Pine.
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