Mark Winkler with special guest Claire Martin
(Pizza Express Soho. 9 July 2024. Review by Barb Jungr)
Photo credit: Nadja von Massow
Spoiler alert, dear readers. I am a friend of Claire Martin’s and therefore also Mark Winkler as she introduced us some years ago, so it was with a great deal of pleasure that the pianist Jenny Carr and I attended Mark’s London debut last night. I’m a partisan writer here but I know eggs from eggs and these eggs, were eggs to wear socks, were swinging them off. Claire kicked us off introducing Mark and the band. And what a band! The créme de la créme of the British jazz scene underpinned Mark’s set of largely original material celebrating his new CD release The Rules Don’t Apply.
Mark opened with “Old Devil Moon” and found his stride before stretching into his own material, which contained some absolutely cracking jazz songs. I am unsurprised that Claire and many other great singers draw on his songbook. It’s got serious legs. Stand outs for me were “Late Bloomin’ Jazz Man” which showcased Mark’s ability to sing with great precision challenging melodic changes and “Bumpin’”, the Wes Montgomery tune to which he wrote a winning lyric that Wes’ publisher loved on hearing it. Michele Brourman (often co-writing with Amanda McBroom) and Mark’s “In Love In New York” was simply beautiful.
Claire Martin guested in both sets singing “It Could Happen to You” and the Mark Winkler penned, “Another Night” in the second set. Claire’s delivery of both were seat-pinning as always, but the the depth, authenticity and emotional commitment she brought to Another Night was revelatory.
It was a daring moment when, following Late Blooming Jazzmen which celebrates the longevity and experience of the older performer, Mark launched into a ballad. Not just any ballad, Here’s To Life, with Jim Watson whose inspired accompaniment was worth the ticket price of the evening alone.
Throughout Mark celebrated, with charm and humour, his love of songwriting and its importance with his musical choices and his skilful storytelling.
The second set contained more jewels and the well chosen killer of a song “On Broadway” closed an evening of absolute delight, with our fab London audience giving Mark, the band and Claire the applause they well deserved. Like I said, I’m partisan in this scenario, but I know eggs from eggs. These eggs were Fabergé, no less.
Mark Winkler – vocals
Claire Martin – guest vocals
Jim Watson – piano
Laurence Cottle – bass
Luke Tomlinson – drums
Nigel Price – guitar
LINKS: Mark Winkler’s website
Album feature by Andrew Cartmel
