Mark Isham


Mark Ware Isham is an American musician and composer. A trumpeter and keyboardist, Isham works in a variety of genres, including jazz and electronic. He is also a prolific and acclaimed composer of film scores, and has scored over 200 film and television productions since his debut in 1983.
Isham is a nine-time Grammy Award nominee, winning Best New Age Album for his 1990 self-titled album. He was nominated for an Academy Award for A River Runs Through It, and a Golden Globe Award for Nell. He has also been nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards, winning Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music for EZ Streets.

Early life

Isham was born in New York City, the son of Patricia, a violinist, and Howard Fuller Isham, a professor of humanities. He studied trumpet from a very young age, and made his professional debut at the age of 12. When he was a teenager, Isham and his family moved to the San Francisco bay area, where he played with the Oakland East Bay Symphony.

Career

His discography is extensive and varied, including participation with artists including David Sylvian, Group 87, Art Lande, Pharoah Sanders, Van Morrison, David Torn, and sessions with people like Brian Wilson, Joni Mitchell, Terry Bozzio, Bill Bruford, XTC, and Siouxsie Sioux. His musical styles include crossover jazz, post-bop, ambient, progressive electronic, chamber jazz, and new age.

Film and television scores

He is also a film composer, having worked on numerous films and television series, including The Hitcher, Reversal of Fortune, ''Point Break, A Midnight Clear, A River Runs Through It, Of Mice and Men, Warrior, Nell, Blade, Crash, The Black Dahlia, The Lucky One, October Sky, and Once Upon a Time.
Isham acted as well in Made in Heaven by Alan Rudolph and directed The Cowboy and the Ballerina'' in 1998.

Personal life

Isham is married to Donna Isham. He is a Scientologist.

Discography

Studio albums and compilations

;With Group 87
  • Group 87
  • ''A Career in Dada Processing''

    As sideman

;With Art Lande
  • Rubisa Patrol
  • Desert Marauders
;With Pharoah Sanders
  • Journey to the One
;With Van Morrison
  • Into the Music
  • Common One
  • Beautiful Vision
  • Inarticulate Speech of the Heart
  • Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast
;With David Sylvian
  • Brilliant Trees
  • Secrets of the Beehive
;With David Torn
  • Cloud About Mercury
;With Andy Summers
  • ''Charming Snakes''

    Contributions to soundtracks

Films

Television series

YearTitleEpisodeNotes
1994Chicago Hope"Pilot"
1996EZ Streets2
1997Michael Hayes"Prequel"
1997Nothing SacredTV series theme
1998From the Earth to the Moon2
1999Family Law18
2007The Black Donnellys18
2008–2009Crash26
2011–2018Once Upon a Time147
2012Beauty and the Beast"Pilot"
2013–2014Once Upon a Time in Wonderland7
2015Blood & Oil10
2015American Crime21
2017Black Mirror"Arkangel"
2017Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams"Autofac," "Safe and Sound"
2018–2019Marvel's Cloak & Dagger20
2019Godfather of Harlem10
2020Little Fires Everywhere8
2020Amazing Stories"The Rift"
2021The Nevers
2021Sex/Life8
2022The Cleaning Lady-
2023Justified: City Primeval

Documentaries and shorts

Filmography

As director
YearTitleDirectorNotes
1998The Cowboy and the BallerinaMark Isham

As screenwriter
YearTitleDirectorNotes
1998The Cowboy and the BallerinaMark Isham

As actor
YearTitleDirectorNotes
1987Made in HeavenAlan Rudolph