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“Sparkles with energy… beautifully performed. Great songs, interpreted with style. Jennett is a singer who understands and immerses himself in the stories the songs are telling.” AllAboutJazz.com
“Hugely enjoyable” Jazzwise
“Refreshingly original… a stand out performance” Jazz Rag
“This is a welcome release from a male singer who thankfully sideswipes the deluge of post Sinatra crooners - yet homage to the great swinging vocal tradition is ever present “ Ian Shaw April 2014.
A regular on the London scene for the last few years, Mark has been working with renowned musician and producer Geoff Gascoyne on a set of sophisticated reinterpretations of 20th century standards from writers as diverse as Cole Porter and Randy Newman. Geoff says “Mark’s unaffected tone, warm sound and restrained emotionalism complement the arrangements beautifully.”
The arrangements encompass energetic swing and soulful balladry while embracing a range of styles from gospel and hip hop to bossa nova and even Motown-inflected pop. Coolly updated show tunes rub shoulders with radically altered 60s pop favourites.
Cole Porter’s ‘Just One of Those Things’ is reborn as an aching jazz ballad while Bacharach and David’s ‘Wives and Lovers’ exchanges it’s original waltz-time for a jagged 5/4; the title track places Sondheim in an up-tempo swing setting and Gershwin’s ‘How Long Has This Been Going On’ receives a sensuous hip hop workout; two lesser known Jim Webb songs are paired with a driving Pat Metheny-style groove. ‘Oh Look At Me Now’ is a straight ahead voice and bass duet, ‘Train In The Distance’ receives a wistful ballad reading and ‘Slow Boat To China’ is sophisticated jazz pop. Lerner and Lowe’s ‘Hurry It’s Lovely Up Here’ unfolds bewitchingly in a gentle Latin arrangement while another Bacharach tune, ‘Are You There With Another Boy’, acquires a driving, mesmeric pulse which matches the urgency of the lyrics.
Throughout the album Mark’s classic approach to jazz singing matches the subtle complexity of Geoff’s arrangements in which musical and emotional values are equally well served. As well as being in great demand as a musician, Geoff Gascoyne is well known for his production and arranging work with Jamie Cullum and others. Most recently he produced Jacqui Dankworth’s acclaimed Live To Love album.
Mark Jennett - Vocals
Geoff Gascoyne - Bass/Producer/Arranger
Rob Barron - Piano/Keyboard
Drums - Sebastiaan de Krom
Martin Shaw - Trumpet
Andy Panayi - Saxes/Flute
“Mark Jennett is a unique story teller and, regardless of genre of song, his interpretation is always fresh, new and exciting. Wonderful, compelling listening.” Anita Wardell