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Although his last three CDs have placed high on the Jazz Week charts, and his lyrics have been regularly recorded by over 150 singers (including 
Dianne Reeves
vocalsb.1956
Mark Winkler to Release "The Laura Nyro Project"
b.1956
Cheryl Bentyne
vocalsb.1954
Jackie Ryan
vocals
Bob Dorough
vocals1923 - 2018
“I love the songs of Laura Nyro", says Winkler. “I am moved by both her music and her words. Her songs create their own worlds, conjuring up cities, cockleshells, exotic lands...and deep passions that touch and inspire me. She mixes Jazz with Broadway and Soul and Folk, and somehow, it all comes out great. I became aware of her brilliance while still a young man living at home with my family. Ever since then, I've had a burning desire to do her music. I decided that, at last, the time is right for me to tackle it...so I set myself the task of finding the “jazz side" of her amazing work. I'm hoping that today's music lovers will discover that her songs are so good that they really deserve a place in the Great American Songbook."
The Laura Nyro Project is not Winkler's first exploration into the musical legacy of another songwriter. His 2003 release Mark Winkler Sings Bobby Troup received a four-star review from Allmusic.com, while Jazzreview.com raved: “Even the artist himself (Bobby Troup) would be proud..." In his last release, Sweet Spot, Winkler also included interpretations of great songs by other legendary tunesmiths, notably George and Ira Gershwin and Leiber and Stoller. (Sweet Spot was named as the #5 Jazz vocal CD of the year by Jazz Times critic Christopher Loudon in 2011). Still, an attempt to shed new light on an artist with as devoted a fan base as New York-bred Laura Nyro is a brave move for the Los Angeles-based Winkler.
“It has been so interesting - and, at times, frustrating and challenging - to create a Mark Winkler interpretation of Laura Nyro's music", he notes. “The first challenge: Hey, I don't sound anything like her! I am not from the belting, melismatic school - my voice is lighter and more conversational and quite a bit lower. I had to find a way to fit my baritone-ness into her world of soprano side streets and soaring street-corner passions".
The task required collaboration with inspired musicians. Winkler tapped the talents of arranger and SNL Music Director Eli Brueggemann ("simply one of the best musicians I have ever worked with") to finesse nearly half of the CD's 11 tracks. “Eli understood Laura's idiosyncrasies and found parallels for them in the world of Jazz and the Great American Songbook", explains Winkler. “One of my favorite arrangements of his is “Time And Love." When I told him I wanted to turn this mid-tempo shuffle into a ballad, the remarkable musical reference book in his head led him to turn for inspiration to
Ahmad Jamal
piano1930 - 2023
Many other A-list musicians helped Winkler bring his ideas to fruition...the album is chock full of fine work by the likes of
Eric Reed
pianob.1970
Anthony Wilson
guitarb.1968
Mills Brothers
band / ensemble / orchestrab.1928
Bob Sheppard
saxophone, tenorb.1952
Pat Kelly
piano
Larry Koonse
guitar, electricDan Lutz
bass, acousticPrior to his work on The Laura Nyro Project, Winkler had released 11 CDs in the US, developing a substantial fan base of his own. The 2011 release, Sweet Spot, led to a feature article on Winkler's work in Jazz Times, which noted that he is “as both vocalist and lyricist, a master weaver of tunes that seem to demand gin, vermouth, a T-Bird convertible and the occasional femme fatale". In that same profile, Winkler's sometime singing partner Cheryl Bentyne (of
The Manhattan Transfer
vocalsBesides the writing, singing and touring, there is another aspect of Winkler's career: teaching. He is in his seventh year as a teacher at UCLA Extension, for which he created a course called “Crafting Great Lyrics: A Songwriter's Workshop," which is now one of the most popular courses at the school.
Though there is plenty to keep him busy, Winkler plans to devote a lot of time and attention to his Laura Nyro Project. “It's something I've wanted to do for so long, and I was lucky enough to get some of the best people in the business to work with me. I'm proud of this album, and I 'm hoping that Laura's legions of fans will welcome it and feel that I have been faithful to her unique and provocative vision".
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Recording
Mark Winkler
GoMedia PR
Chris M. Slawecki
United States
Dianne Reeves
Cheryl Bentyne
Jackie Ryan
Bob Dorough
Laura Nyro
Eli Brueggemann
Ahmad Jamal
Eric Reed
Anthony Wilson
Mills Brothers
Bob Sheppard
Pat Kelly
Larry Koonse
Dan Lutz
Manhattan Transfer
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