Available at CD Baby, iTunes, amazon.com
from Café Pacific Records
Featuring: BARBARA MORRISON vocals; ELI BRUEGGEMANN piano; TIM EMMONS bass;
STEVE BARNES drums; BOB SHEPPARD sax; KIM RICHMOND sax; GRANT GEISSMAN guitar;
BILLY CHILDS piano; GREG HUTCHINSON drums; ANTHONY WILSON guitar;
NOLAN SHAHEED Trumpet; ROBERT HURST bass; LUIS CONTE PercussionSweet Spot is the follow up to Mark Winkler’s 2009 CD Till I Get It Right which was chosen as one of the 10 Best Vocal CDs of that year by Jazz Times Magazine. Sweet Spot once again showcases Winkler’s skill as a consummate lyricist and singer, but this time features him on 4 standards including "On Broadway" and "But Not For Me", as well as Andre Previn’s "Like Young" and Bobby Troup’s "Their Hearts Were Full of Spring". The title cut is a Winkler original that is a duet between him and Vocalist Supreme Barbara Morrison, with a guitar solo by Grant Geissman. Always known for the company he keeps, this time he ups the ante with such jazz stars as Billy Childs, Grant Geissman, Bob Sheppard, Greg Hutchinson and Anthony Wilson.
As a vocalist, Mark Winkler offers a smooth, hip contemporary sound that has been compared to Mark Murphy and Kurt Elling. With his impeccable phrasing and sure sense of swing, Mark has been pleasing fans at venues on both coasts.
CLICK HERE to read Christopher Louden's
September 2011Feature Article
on Mark Winkler entitled "Playing It Cool"“If Mark Murphy is the reigning king of vocal hipsterism, then Mark Winkler ranks directly behind Kurt Elling among heirs apparent. As a lyricist, he is as consummate a traveler in the world of Dave Frishberg drollness as he is in the land of Cole Porter urbanity.”
- Christopher Loudon/Jazz Times May 2009
“Mark Winkler writes the kind of songs that should provide him with a comfortable spot in the Great American Songbook - if anyone’s still interested in melodic, literate and emotionally touching songs.”
- Don Heckman/L.A. Times
Track listing:
1. LIKE YOUNG (Previn/Webster) 4:09
2. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (Brueggemann/Winkler) 4:51
3. BUT NOT FOR ME (George/Ira Gershwin) 4:00
4. SWEET SPOT (Winkler/Tozer) 4:57
5. THIS SIDE OF LOVING (Winkler) 4:49
6. SOMEWHERE IN BRAZIL (WEST COAST) ( (Winkler/Trotter) 3:46
7. AFTER HOURS (Siegel/Winkler) 2:42
8. ON BROADWAY (Mann/Weill/Leiber/Stoller) 4:45
9. JAZZ IS A SPECIAL TASTE (Winkler/Swann) 3:59
10. SOME OTHER SUNSET (Benoit/Winkler) 4:13
11. THEIR HEARTS WERE FULL OF SPRING (Troup) 3:32
Bonus Track: SOMEWHERE IN BRAZIL (EAST COAST) 3:56
Produced by Mark WinklerCheck out Mark's blog for all the inside information on the making of Sweet Spot.
CLICK HERE to see pictures from Mark's Sweet Spot photo shoot and the Sweet Spot music session.
CD Cover photo and all photo shoot pictures by Mikel Healy.
CLICK HERE to see Mark and Charmaine Clamor sing "Sweet Spot" live!