Guiliana was born and raised in
New Jersey, and attended
William Paterson University, where he graduated in 2003 with a degree in Jazz Studies and Performance. Mark Guiliana is a drummer, composer, educator, producer and founder of Beat Music Productions, through which he released
My Life Starts Now and
Beat Music: The Los Angeles Improvisations as a bandleader. His conceptual approach to the instrument is also featured in
Mehliana, the electric duo featuring Brad Mehldau on keyboards and synthesizers. The group's debut album,
Taming the Dragon (Nonesuch), was released in early 2014. Over the past decade, Guiliana's extensive touring has taken him across six continents with artists including
Meshell Ndegeocello,
Gretchen Parlato,
Avishai Cohen,
Matisyahu,
Lionel Loueke, Now vs. Now,
Dhafer Youssef, Beat Music and
Heernt. He has also appeared on over 30 recordings to date, including
Blackstar,
David Bowie's final album. Guiliana was described by
The New York Times as "a drummer around whom a cult of admiration has formed," while
Time Out wrote, "What happens when you add hard bop drum masters Elvin Jones and Art Blakey to a 1980s Roland 808 drum machine, divide the result by J Dilla and then multiply to the power of Squarepusher? Answer: Mark Guiliana." ==Awards and honors==