Mark Winkler Easy The Hard Way CD

L.A.-based singer songwriter Mark Winkler has vacillated since his late-'80s recording debut from contemporary jazz-based pop-vocal stylings to traditional jazz, with the latter usually tucked neatly among the former, hiding his true artistic leanings behind the commercial expectations his labels have placed on him. While his pop tunes have never failed to delight, his first full foray into traditional jazz vocals here is a homecoming and a revelation, putting Winkler in the lead to become the new millennium's male equivalent to Diana Krall (he has yet to dye his hair blond, though!). Providing sharp images and poignant, melancholy lyrics that speak of heartache, redemption, a love of jazz (the swinging tribute to a fan, "Ellen's Song"), and the supreme coolness of an attitude "Like Jazz," Winkler's true genius is blending his words with the outstanding melodic jazz sensibilities of some of L.A.'s best contemporary and traditional composers -- Emilio Palame, Don Grusin (the title track), Eddie Arkin, Larry Steelman and Wayne Shorter. Though a tune like the opening track "Trio" -- which discusses the pain of lost love in terms of "the moon, my heartache and me" -- could easily become a love on the rocks standard someday, Winkler is also a sharp interpreter of the mood pieces of the past, including Andre Previn's "Like Young," Horace Silver's "Lonely Woman," and George Duning's "Toys in the Attic." Winkler and singer Claire Martin's sassy duet of "Baby It's Cold Outside" rivals Barry Manilow and KT Oslin's version some ten years ago for sheer push and pull emotion. The singer/songwriter draws some material from previous releases, each fitting the mood. "Another Night" is from his autobiographical tour de force Tales from Hollywood and "Kelly's Moods" is from his debut album. Those enjoying the beautiful "Quiet Fire" might seek out tickets to Winkler's soon to be off Broadway musical Too Old for the Chorus, featuring the song of the same name. Winkler has lived all these emotions and has never sounded better. ~ Jonathan Widran

"Stands out among what appears to be a diminishing fraternity: male jazz singers" - (L.A.Times)Winkler sings originals and jazz standards, featuring Billy Childs, Anthony Wilson and Bobby Shew.Mark Winkler is an L.A. based singer-songwriter who has just released his latest Chartmaker Jazz release "Easy The Hard Way".It features Mark singing originals and Jazz standards backed by an all-star crew featuring Billy Childs, Anthony Wilson, Bobby Shew and Claire Martin.It has spent over two months on the Gavin Jazz Chart where it reached the top 20 and was played on over 60 stations across the U.S.Mark sorta sounds like "Mark Murphy by way of Mose Allison or Dave Frishberg" - (Jazz Times)Winkler has written over 350 songs, many of them recorded by the likes of Liza Minelli, Kenny Rankin, Dianne Reeves and Randy Crawford (her 1989 hit "Can't Stand The Pain".)His sensitivity as a performer and his insights as a lyricist are brought to bear in his new CD. "Easy The Hard Way" is a tune Mark wrote after reading the obituary of 60s TV icon, Vince Edwards."It was gonna be the title of his uncompleted autobiography" and I thought it would be fun to write it like it was the end song of an imaginary TV movie they made from Vince's book!" Mark says.Mark also performs a playful duet of "Baby It's Cold Outside" with #1 British jazz star Claire Martin."Funny thing is that we recorded it on the coldest day in October in London-- so we didn't need much inspiration to sing the tune. We basically did it in one take-- facing each other".The producer of the CD, Barbara Brighton brought in Wayne Shorter's piece "Edda", suggesting to Mark that he should write lyrics to it in tribute to their mutual friend, Jazz activist, Ellen Cohn.Mark did and renamed the touching tune, "Ellen's Song".One of Mark's favorite songs on the CD is "Like Young" the old Andre Previn tune that was used as the theme song for Playboy After Dark"."It's just m