Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Mark Murphy, Folk Artist: Hiding Place

Mark Murphy, Folk Artist: Hiding Place

By C. Michael Bailey
August 5, 2020
View read count

Mark Murphy's 2018 release Pocketful of Rainbows (Self Produced, 2018) was a surprise stand-out recording that year. Now, this Mark Murphy is not that Mark Murphy (1932 -2015), icon of jazz vocals. This Mark Murphy is a singer/songwriter whose 2016 release, Slip Away (Mini Movie) scored points for one of Downbeat Magazine's recordings of that year. Murphy returns with Hiding Place, a slim collection of seven songs, originals mixed with imaginative covers, in keeping with his previous offerings.

Murphy allowed no moss to grow on him as he began recording songs for Hiding Place, once having finished Pocketful of Rainbows. The songs were shelved for a time before the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine, which provided Murphy the time and introspection to add the finishing touches to the seven selections contained herein. Murphy's music is steeped in the folk singer-songwriter tradition, with his subtle and quiet/savvy guitar and sweetly-stated vocals completely informing his sound.

The style of Murphy's delivery might best be compared to a cross between

Michael Franks

vocals
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Franks and

Earl Klugh

guitar, acoustic
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Earl Klugh, sprinkled with some as-yet-unknown influence approximating honey and Quaaludes. Listen to Murphy's take on

Neil Young

guitar
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Neil Young's "Harvest" or the Eagles "Best of My Love." This is no knock to Murphy. Murphy proves an equal to

Shirley Horn

piano
1934 - 2005

" data-original-title="" title="">Shirley Horn at being able to slow a song down to its point of stasis (a gross paraphrase of

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis) while still retaining the sacred pulse of forward motion.

Murphy has the fortunate knack of choosing the right musicians for the job, particularly saxophonist

Dayna Stephens

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Dayna Stephens, who provides a languid vibe similar to Brian Travers on UB40's debut Signing Off (Graduate Records, 1980). Stephens provides a special light touch to the recording, one that infuses and supports Murphy's quiet and determined approach. Bassist

Tony Scherr

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Scherr provides the same support within the rhythm section. His contribution to

Paul McCartney

bass, electric
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul McCartney's "Junk" is of equal importance to Murphy's understated guitar. Murphy shares vocals with

Alexa Barchini

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Alexa Barchini beautifully and intimately on the hidden McCartney gem . A second Beatles connection is in "Two of Us" from Let It Be (Apple, 1970), presented as one of the more upbeat pieces in the collection, reminding us of Murphy's added dimensions as an arranger.

While an excellent composer as illustrated in the title song, Murphy's remains outstanding in selecting and transforming cover material. The Police's "Tea in the Sahara" and "Two of Us" may stand as definitive performances of these songs, something like Joe Cocker's "With a Little Help from My Friends." This is a great direction Murphy has chosen. It will be wonderful and welcome to see what happens next.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Hiding Place; Junk; Tea in the Sahara; The Best of My Love; Two of Us; Harvest; 3420.

Personnel

Mark Murphy, Folk Artist

vocals

Alexa Barchini

vocals

Jon Cowherd

piano

Kenny Wollesen

drums

Tony Sherr

bass

Dayna Stephens

saxophone, tenor

Dilad Hekelsman

guitar

Album information

Title: Hiding Place | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Mini Movie Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Seeing Through Sound: Pentimento Vol...
< Previous

The Truce
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.