Vocalist and songwriter Mark Winkler is a mainstay on the Los Angeles jazz scene with a devoted fan base. He's also a prolific performer and recording artist with 20 previous albums to his name. 'Mark Winkler is an unsung hero of West Coast Jazz' said DownBeat Magazine.
And he's well named, as this album seems to me to be delivered with a musical wink, songs sung with a sense of fun, but serious when needed, and all with a terrific swinging style, and a talent for writing effective lyrics. For instance, on In Love in New York, he tells us that 'even the trash on the sidewalk's sweet'. Winkler's songs have been recorded by many well known singers, including Claire Martin.
The selection of songs is wide-ranging, from a jazz arrangement of Lennon and McCartney's Got to Get You Into my Life, to Randy Newman's amusing Mama Told me Not to Come, to Jazz Swings with its bluesy swinging style and lots of sax comments added to the vocals.
The Joy Of Singing gives a picture of his family singing, his mother when he was young, and also his late brother. If These Walls Could Talk (They'd Sing) is a tribute to the Capitol Records Studio, where many singers and band leaders have recorded. The Randy Newman track is especially fun, with a mash-up of brass and naughty sounding comments from guitar.
It goes without saying that the instrumentalists are all well up to the job, with organ effects from piano often in the mix. Some of the best musicians are involved, such as Grammy winning pianist John Beasley.
An album which is more than well worth listening to. Available everywhere – see www.markwinklermusic.com. Ann Alex
Sunday in LA*, IGY(What a Beautiful World), The Joy of Singing*, In Love in New York*, Got to Get You Into my Life, The Rules Don't Apply, Something so Right, Just Around the Corner*, If These Walls Could Talk (They'd Sing)*, Jazz Swings*, Mama Told me Not to Come, Lessons I've Learned*, Here's To Jazz*
*Lyrics by Mark Winkler
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