Mark Isham

Trumpeter/synthesist Mark Isham is a Grammy-winning artist recognized for his own ambient jazz albums, studio-credits, and extensive work as a film composer. Initially emerging in the 1970s as a touring and session musician with Van Morrison, Charles Lloyd, and others, Isham debuted his distinctive blend of jazz, classical, and electronic synth programming on several highly regarded albums for Windham Hill, beginning with 1983's Vapor Drawings. He then moved into film work, scoring for such esteemed productions as Never Cry Wolf, A River Runs Through It, and Crash. Although film scoring is his primary focus, he has continued to explore other creative projects, like 1999's Miles Remembered: The Silent Way Project, and playing on albums like Brian Wilson's 2015 effort No Pier Pressure and Stanley Clarke's 2018 album The Message. He also scored 2021's Oscar-nominated Judas and the Black Messiah, 2023's The Cleaning Lady, and 2025's Soul on Fire.