Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Welcome to Marki-Murfs's BlogSpace!

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the Mark Murphy Blog! If you have any questions for Mark, or are looking for information regarding tour dates, music or anything Jazz, just leave your message!

Vicki

657 comments:

1 – 200 of 657   Newer›   Newest»
Anonymous said...

Nice to see a place to exchange news again. While Mark's jazz fans may not be interested in this, his acid jazz fans will: Finally out on CD is "Secrets" by Three Minutes with Mark Murphy. Mostly a dance club album in which there are 10(!!!) mixes of the same title, all using fragments of a MM track that I'm sure is only a few minutes long. For jazz fans, "Secrets (Earthbound Mix)" is the most palatable. The rest it turn-it-up-real-loud danceclub material. Meanwhile, still waiting for the MM Big Band Michel LeGrand material to be released.

Anonymous said...

One more thing. Can we have a little more than a 30-second clip from MM's Ivan Lins album? As a loop, it can make you crazy. (Or, I suppose, I can just turn it down.)

Leaf said...

Saw Mark at Brecon Jazz festival Friday 8th and thought he was better than ever.I know Mark is a great Cole Porter fan. Is there a CD of his which features Cole Porter numbers?

Anonymous said...

A CD called The Latin Porter came out in 2000. On it Mark sings Cole Porter songs combined with Latin rhythms. Another plus is Tom Harrell, featured on trumpet.

Cha Cha

Anonymous said...

I attended a cable tv performance of Mark's on May 14 1998: http://www.lionfox.com/sessions/BET/betjaz01.htm I had a VHS tape of this performance but I would love to have it on DVD. I contacted the television station but they were not able to help me. Do you have any suggestions of how I can download or purchase this recording?

Anonymous said...

Re Mark on BET Jazz: I don't believe this performance was ever commercially available on DVD. It seems that network only released a handful of programs on DVD by less "straightahead" jazz or r&b performers. Is there some way you could get access to a machine that records on cassette and disk? Then maybe you could copy the VHS to DVD. I think that might be legal as long as it's solely for your own use.

Anonymous said...

Hello everyone,

Props to the folks responsible for the website - it's a real achievement!

I'll be at Ronnie's on Friday for M's show. I can't wait - I'm a huge fan and have never seen him perform live! I am extremely excited!

BG

Anonymous said...

Oh and why not join the Mark Murphy Facebook Group?

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6625917599

Anonymous said...

Thanks to the person who suggested copying the VHS to DVD. I no longer have the VHS tape as I got rid of all of my VHS tapes years ago as I figured watching them would be useless without a VCR. I'm 30 so I try to keep up with technology!

Anonymous said...

mark my name is bob gransden. i played piano in buffalo ny for many years. my drummer was albert amoroso. i want you to know that i have seen you in person a few times and was quite impressed. your album (once to every heart) should have been the album of the year. i think no other musician has the emotion and integrity for the lyric than you do. i listen to it most every night. it always sounds new and exiting. please keep it up . love from bobby grant

Anonymous said...

I had the pleasure of meeting Mark when he was playing Scullers in Boston with Rebecca Paris, back in 1998. Rebecca dragged us back to his room after the last set (she didn't have to drag too hard).

I'm pleased to see this site is up.

Now, if he'll just play somewhere in New England again...

Anonymous said...

Hi Vicky
Any news on the availability of the Mark Murphy DVD in the UK? I read somewhere it was to be released in Feb 08 but no sign of it on Amazon, Any ideas??...

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, the release of the DVD in the US has apparently been pushed back to early 2009 (due to music licensing problems). Don't know when it would ultimately be released in the UK.

Cha Cha

Anonymous said...

Hey Bobby,

I'll pass on your kind words to Mark!

Webmaster

Anonymous said...

Hi - Trying to find the personnel on Boplicity from a long while ago

Anonymous said...

As listed on the cover of the album, Bop for Kerouac (Muse 1981), Boplicity (a/k/a Bebop Lives) includes the following musicians: Richie Cole - sax, Bruce Forman - guitar, Bill Mays - keyboards, Michael Spiro - congas and timbales. Apparently, no bassist or drummer are listed for that particular song.

Cha Cha

buddy said...

Vicky

Where in the world can i find a cd of Stolen Moments????

Thanks

Paul

Anonymous said...

Just finished revisting "The Best of... " CD. Will purchase the 'Once To Every Heart' CD and schedule my October around his NYC visit (at Iridium).

GO MAN (GO!)

Anonymous said...

About once or twice a month I would try to get into the old website and naturally be told that a new website was under construction. I am glad we finally have some place to communicate.

Have seen Mark a million times and have NEVER said he was not as good as the last time I saw him. He gets better every year.

Mark, nothing is anything unless it swings.

Donnie B

Anonymous said...

Just checked out a great site called last.fm Mark's on there with a great track i never heard before dont think its available on any albums 'this could be the start of something'check it out...

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, Stolen Moments is out of print. However,CDs are available sporadically in the "Used" section of Amazon.com, but I have to advise you they can be quite costly.

Cha Cha

Anonymous said...

It's been a while since I've made the offer, so I'll make it again.

The Mark Murphy discography I've been maintaining over the years has continued to grow since the old website closed down. At least two more pages of MM releases have been added since then.

The list includes his guest appearances on other people's albums. The discography has always included title, year of release, and record/CD label and number. But I finally got off my butt and added all song titles under each album title... perfect for those who wonder what song can be found where. I don't tend to include anthologies that include a single MM cut that has been issued on several anthologies. ("Dingwalls" is a good example.)

If anyone wants a copy, send me a short e-pistle (steve@readingresource.org)and I'll send the Word document back. I do ask that if you see anything missing on the list... let me know.

Anonymous said...

P.S.: "Marki-Murf!!??" Has anybody asked him if he likes that moniker?

Anonymous said...

Personally I hate it, but it's what Mark asked me to put....

Wayne
Webmaster

Anonymous said...

Haha! 'Marki-Murf'!

Anyway, I went to see him at Ronnie Scott's a couple of weeks ago and he was everything I'd imagined and more - one of the best nights of my life. I wish I could be half as cool as he is!

I had a chat with him after the show and he signed my copy of 'Mark time!'. I was pretty starstruck so probably came across as a bit of a lunatic! An unforgettable night.

BG

Anonymous said...

Dear Mark,

I am a german jazz singer and right now I'm in New York. I saw your tour dates but - will you be around New York the next weeks? And do you give workshops once in a while for singers?

Thanks a lot in advance for answering.

Best regards and wishes to you!

Audrey

kirschki said...

Mark will be doing a benefit concert for the Alzheimer's Association at Yoshi's Jazz Club, in Oakland CA, on October 6th, 2008 at 8PM. All tickets are $50 and profits from the concert will go towards research and support services for the Alzheimer's Association.

Anonymous said...

I just discovered Mark through listening to Kurt Elling... My God Mark.. keep it coming.. you are the very best... I cannot wait to see you in LA soon.... Your last couple of CDs are just beautiful.... A wonderful talent... Torme... Elling.. and now Murphy... three absolute greats in jazz vocals....

Anonymous said...

Great website for the best bebopper in the business, glad to see he is still touring at 76 years of age. Young of mind and heart we all love you mate.


Steve F

Adelaide, Australia

Angela Elliott said...

I've always love Mark's work. I've been writing jazz songs for a while, and, as a singer performing my own version of standards. Recently I've been rewriting the lyrics, or adding extra lyrics - and also doing jazz poems to well known instrumentals. I can't seem to find anything anywhere about copyright issues regarding this though. I have been asked to record some of my work but am afraid of infringing various rights. Any tips? Where do I go to find this stuff out? It must come up for Mark and others like him.
thanks.

Graham said...

Enjoyed Mr. Murphy's great performance yesterday evening at Amsterdam's Bimhuis...appreciated the song information and humorous movie and book streams of consciousness in between songs as well...everything from Eleanor (and Jane!) Powell through Freddie Hubbard, Cole Porter, Monty Woolley, Elsa Maxwell, Jack Kerouac, Broke Back Mountain, Andey Bey and Horace Silver to Hildegard Knef. He sang Being Green, Too Late Now, Stolen Moments, Body and Soul, Parker's Mood (Bless My Soul), Body and Soul, a trio of Porter tunes and others. The audience of all ages was rapt and gave him a standing ovation. He knows why he sings every song...I wish more jazz singers would figure that out. I will remember the evening fondly for years to come.
Best wishes,
Graham

Vickibonbon said...

In answer to a few questions: Stolen Moments CD: If you can't find a copy, Amazon is the best place for finding pre-loved copies. I have found some pretty rare stuff there over the years.

WORKSHOPS: Mark often does give workshops (and they are the BEST vocal workshops ever - he's a Maestro at teaching too). Best way to find one near you when he is playing your town is to get in touch with his Tour Manager - the clubs he is performing in should be bale to put you on to who ever the Tour Manager is and that person will be able to tell you if there are any workshops and where they are being run. Mark does give quite a lot of these. They are brilliant to attend even if you don't take part.

Vickibonbon said...

COPYRIGHT:

Angela...

Can be a minefield. specially if they are jazz standards. One friend I know records lyrics to instrumentals she's covering and says they were vocalese totally improvised on the spot and there for not "written" so she doesn't get credit for writing but they don;t stop her recording them either. She has had long battles with publishers in the past so that is her was around it. It depended on the publisher, the country and where you will broadcast your songs and if you are making money too.

Anonymous said...

In answer to the question about the track
'this could be the start of something"
It's from a great album by the five corners quintet which heavily features Mark

Anonymous said...

I believe Mark originally recorded "This Could Be the Start of Something" on a Capital LP of the same name released in 1959. (Since you're the discography guy, am I right, Steve?)

Cha Cha

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to give other Mark Murphy fans the heads up that his Iridium gig, which had been scheduled for October 9-12, has been cancelled.

Cha Cha

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to give other Mark Murphy fans the heads up that his Iridium gig, which had been scheduled for October 9-12, has been cancelled.

Cha Cha

Anonymous said...

On 7th september I attended a marvellous performance of the rich and famous Mark Murphy with the Rob van Bavel trio during the Laren Jazz festival in the Singer Museum in Holland. I didn't recognize him at all from the piciture in the program. Are we speaking about the same Mark Murphy?

Anonymous said...

Dearest Mark!
Daniela Sudy & Irina Karamarkovic are watching you on Youtube while drinking wine, and we are having a great time!
We just wanted to drop by and leave you a comment, so that you know that we are thinking of you and missing you a lot!
Loads of love!

Anonymous said...

Daniela Sudy & Irina Karamarkovic , I'll let Mark know you are thinking about him!

Wayne, web master

Anonymous said...

i would like to know if mark murphy is planing to do any masterclaas in europe - or elsewere
merci

Anonymous said...

Anni fa ho frequentato a Roma un breve ma bellissimo ed intenso stage con Mark. Vovevo ancora ringraziarlo... Daniela Bruno

www.myspace.com/danielabruno

Vickibonbon said...

Tocca tutti i nostri cuori. Esso non materia di t che cosa la vostra lingua è. Parla direttamente voi. Ringraziamenti per i bei pensieri.

Anonymous said...

Vicki are you kidding me... how many other languages do you speak?

Wayne - Webmaster

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, Mark has been passed over for the 2009 NEA Jazz Masters honors. However, he can still be nominated for the next group of honors in 2010. I have included the url for anyone who wants to fill out the nomination application. (Just click on "Make a Nomination.")

http://www.nea.gov/national/jazz/index.html#

Cha Cha

Vickibonbon said...

The National nominations are for the USA. The criteria asks asking for a letter and address of the person making the nomination. which makes me assume they may not be taking nominations for the 4 billion or so of us who don't reside in the USA. But I could be wrong about that.

Anonymous said...

You may be right, Vicki. Oh well, at least those of us who do reside in the U.S. can try to nominate Mark. In a similar vein, there is also the Down Beat Readers Poll, which I believe is open to fans worldwide.

Anonymous said...

Hey Vicki,

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

Thanks to Mark and Bright Light Dwight.

The performance in Fulton, New York with his Big Brother Doc and Family was the best. Yes, I am biased but as stated at the end of the performance, they are all collectively quite a Talented Family. The Sweet Young Daughters of ( Mark Murphy - a most wonderful musician )-( namesake nephew - son of Doc / Dwight ) were awesome as well. A band of their own right in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains should also be seen. Be well Uncle Mark and Uncle Doc and Cousin Mark and Girls.

( Cousin / Nephew ) Steve xoxo

Anonymous said...

Hey Mark,

Any Seattle dates coming up?

Mr. Brooks said...

In 1998 I had the opportunity to see Mark Murphy perform in Toronto. During that performance he sang a song "I Didn't Know You Then". Does anyone know if it was ever recorded? With thanks...

Cha Cha said...

Just saw, at You Tube, a sampler for the upcoming DVD release of programs from the 1980s Ad Lib TV show. One of them features Mark, and you can see a snippet of him singing You've Proven Your Point (Bongo Beep) in the sampler.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for that cha cha grat clip . I've got some MM on video of a tv programme Mark did from this period called Live at the millionaires club when i figure out how to upload it I will post it on youtube...im sure Mark wont mind?
Jeremy

Cha Cha said...

Hi Jeremy,

I know many others have posted clips of Mark on You Tube. Don't know if he initially approved, but now many of the same clips appear at his My Space page. In the case of the clip from Ad Lib though, it seems to be kind of an advertisement for the upcoming DVD release.

Cha Cha said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Now that a friend has gotten her copy, it can be told. One of the hardest-to-find MM CD's, "Another Vision" can be found at the following German website:
http://www.nlstore.nl/shop3/shopdisplayproducts.asp?search=yes

In my humble opinion, "Another Vision" is the best of his hard-to-find European recordings. "Secrets" by Three Minutes with Mark Murphy can also be found there.

NEWS FLASH: Another Five Corners Quintet release with Mark is on the way. A quote from the record label, Ricky-Tick Records: "The Five Corners Quintet are set to release their eagerly awaited second album November 12th in Finland, November 14th in Europe. The album will see the project introduce a new sound, already evident on the preceding EP. Guests will include Mr. Mark Murphy, among others. Stay tuned for more details soon!"

And thanks to James for the source!

Vickibonbon said...

Steve are you on commission? ;-)


Task of the month:

Name ur 3 fave recorded MM tunes!

Here's mine:

Everybody Loves Me
Angel Eyes
Sad Young Men


Over to you regulars...

Cha Cha said...

As of today (and subject to change according to my mood):

Sconsolato
So Many Stars
DC Farewell

Anonymous said...

Shit... can I only pick three?

Wayne - Webmaster

Vickibonbon said...

Yes Wayne. You have to choose only THREE! LOL :P

Cha Cha said...

Since we have to stick to three songs, can I add Before We Lose Tomorrow and delete Sconsolato? The other two favorites remain the same--at least for now. :)

Anonymous said...

Nope. No commission involved. But I've been enjoying Mark's music since I was a jazz DJ at an NPR station near Cincinnati in the mid 1970s. And as a radio news guy since 1990, the chase after the story is a good bit of the fun. But I'm only as good as my sources. Feel free to send the latest tip and I'll check it out.

BTW, I have sent the promotional radio interview Mark did to support his album "Love Is What Stays" to Webmaster Wayne. Maybe it will show up on this web site soon.

Favorite three songs? (today)
1. "No Problem" on United Future Organization's "V" CD. Mark does the vocal.
2. "I See Your Face Before Me" from Mark's CD "The Dream"
3. "September Fifteenth" from Mark's "September Ballads" CD

Favorite three albums with Mark as headliner:
1. "Mark Murphy Sings" on Muse
2. "Once to Every Heart" on Verve
3. "The Dream" on Jive Music

Favorite three albums on which Mark is a guest artist (also taking into account the performance of the headline artist):
1. "Em Contraste" by guitarist Fernando Correa on LiCord Music (We need to hassle producer Wolfgang Weitlaner into pressing more CDs of this! Brazilian guitar. Intimate.)
2. "Blue Eyed Soul" by trumpeter Till Bronner on Verve (Chet Baker goes hip-hop. Very Tasty. Be sure to get the Japanese release of this. It has an extra Mark track.)
3. "Jardim Botanico Oceanico" by the Rinaldo Donati Septet (from Italy) on the Maxine label. (A double CD with Mark on three long tracks. This is what Mark would sound like if he was backing up a group on the German ECM label.)

Vickibonbon said...

Steve, you are such a total 'BLOKE' lol. I love the way you darling men catalogue things and collect data! :-)

Now what are we gonna do for the next challenge?

I'm saving fave albums till next month/week.. cos I have to look up the titles!

Being a normal jazz loving female I have a lot of CDs but don't ask me about the title, the label or the year because I won't be able to tell you. Except for 'Kind of Blue', that was 1959 but I don't know where Mark was that day. Probably at school dreaming about working with Miles Davis.


Actually here is another challenge: what three living jazz musicians that Mark hasn't worked with, would you like him to record with?


My three are:

Jessica Williams (piano)
Jessica Willams (piano)
and
Jessica Williams (piano)


If you don't know her work check out her website. She is totally brilliant, especially if you are a piano freak, as I am. I know Ms Williams is a fan of Mark's but they hadn't met yet when I spoke to her in 2001. I know Mark rates her music too.

Jessica is a resident of the USA.


Steve where is Cincinatti? I know it is in the States but which one?

Anonymous said...

my three are

Blood count
I don't want to cry anymore
and Wayne of course
I can see "The island" shining in the distance

Paul B

Anonymous said...

Vicki...Cincinnati is in southwestern Ohio along the Ohio River. The station at which I worked was WMUB-FM (the Miami University NPR station) in Oxford, Ohio, about 40 miles north of Cincinnati. (Not to be confused with the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL.) We recorded Mark for broadcast at the Buccaneer Lounge in Cincy shortly after "Mark Murphy Sings" came out in 1975.

Who would I like to see Mark record with?
1. Rob McConnell's Boss Brass or someone like them
2. Duets with Diana Krall
and... all we're missing is the studio time and the contract clearances...
3. The (other three) Four Brothers

Cha Cha said...

Since another Mark-influenced singer who shall remain nameless has recorded with Fred Hersch, I'd love to hear Mark himself make a recording with the pianist.

I heard Giacomo Gates "sit in" with Mark at Iridium last year and it would be great if the two singers could record something together.

Lastly, there's Mark's wonderful pianist and music director, Misha Piatigorsky. He's as wonderful a musician as Mark is a singer but the two have only performed together on stage, never on CD.

Cha Cha said...

Just realized (a bit late) that Vicki's question had to do with three living jazz musicians who Mark hasn't performed with so I definitely have to change my answer.

1. Still would love to hear Mark with Fred Hersch.

2. The great Brazilian jazz guitarist/singer/composer Toninho Horta.

3. The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. (I heard Freddy Cole sing with them, so why not Mark?)

Vickibonbon said...

Steve - so you are "down by the banks, of the Ohio" and speaking of music that has nothing to do with jazz...

There is an artist here in Australia called Steve Cummings (with an 's'). He was quite big here in the 80s/90s - anyway I noticed in the weekend press that he's just released a new CD. He is a art-rock kind of artist suppose.

Anyway that is my useless trivia for today.

Oh and Mark and Herbie should definately work together too.

Vickibonbon said...

Cha Cha: Freddy Cole... I saw him at our major Jazz festival here in Australia, I'm wondering how did he gets to work with Lincoln and Mark has not yet? To me that is crazy. Mark is ten billion times more interesting a musician than Freddy Cole.

No offense meant to Mr Cole or his fans, but we are comparing chalk and cheese here I think.

Cha Cha said...

Freddie Cole was part of some type of tribute, which also included Ernestine Andersen. Apparently, the powers that be at Jazz at Lincoln Center really like Freddy Cole, since he's been at both the smaller Dizzy's Club and the large Rose Hall quite often. Mark, by contrast, has only been at Dizzy's Club, where he packed the house even in a snowstorm. Yet someone in JALC's office claimed to me that he didn't do too well. I was at his gig and believe me, Mark even had other singers and instrumentalists packing the house, plus he sounded great in spite of a headcold! I guess JALC needed some of type of excuse, albeit a false one, to justify not booking Mark for the larger theatres.

Anonymous said...

Hi all,

Mark’s in LA and I got a chance to hang out with him and talk about some of the songs he’s going to play over the week – Paul B, funny you mentioned “The Island”, because I told him the story about how we would get drunk after a long night of partying and sing that song… do you remember?

Personally I would love to hear Mark play with 4-Hero… or maybe he has already?

If anyone’s got any questions for Mark, let me know He’ll be here in LA all week.

Steve C, I’ll probably update the web site next week with the stuff you sent and some new pictures I’m taking of Mark on Thursday.

Stay cool!

Wayne - Webmaster

Cha Cha said...

Hi Wayne,

Tell Mark Cha Cha says "hi" and she wishes she could be in LA for his gig.

Anonymous said...

Cha Cha...

There actually -is- a single recording Mark has made with Fred Hersch, which gives me a chance to promote the discography I've put together... which can be viewed by going to "discography" on this website. Then click on the blue link -above- the list Webmeister Wayne put together. The link will take you to "the big list."

That big list has this entry on the Fred Hersch/Mark Murphy recording:

Last Night When We Were Young: The Ballad Album (1994) (Classical Action 1001): A various artists effort recorded as a fundraiser for Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS. Available by calling 212-997-7717. Or write: Classical Action, 165 W. 46th St., New York City, NY 10036. MM appears with jazz pianist and album producer Fred Hersch on the CD's title track, “Last Night When We Were Young.”

Anonymous said...

Hi Mark - I've been digging your work since around '90. I've seen you in Kalamazoo, Boston, and in Miami (IAJE convention workshop), and am really hoping you might come back to South Florida. Any chance?

Jim Dix

Cha Cha said...

Thanks, Steve. I've been thinking about getting The Ballad Album for a while but now that I've found out Mark and Fred Hersch appear together, I'm definitely going to buy it.

anotherforrsspurposes said...

Hi EVERYONE !

I REALLY need to mail or phone"THE MAN"
I was the exclusive U.K. importer for "Muse".My ol' pal Mark, stayed with my wife & myself @ our home.It used to be the village of Henham ,23 miles ouside Cambridge.
I promoted his stuff @ gigs ect.
I want help to put him "in the frame" even more -with my unique Jazz Web Site.
Check out my "serious page" on my site first.Then if you want to dig where I'm "Coming from.." hit my "About Me" Page.
Last but no least,squirt me a mail via my "Contact Me" Page.All your input ( bottom box on the page ) would be appreciated.
Just "Google" my Site.However, please be hip to the fact that there are still some bits not fully complete.

So it's No: One on Google:
www.allthatjazz-ondvd.co.uk

Also check out my Blog on "Blogger"

Get mailing !!

Colin A.Kellam

Anonymous said...

hey! so good to know there's a new way to get in touch with the big guy. wonderful site, what the f***.
UD, missing you so much.
love and wonderful surprises. :-)
ciao

mauri your "shorty" eye-talian.

Cha Cha said...

Just saw, at the website for Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC, that Mark has a gig on November 27 (Thanksgiving night). He'll be doing two sets at 8:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Unknown said...

I just found mark murphy - can anyone make recommendations of his "best" albums for someone who wants to get into his music please?

Anonymous said...

can anyone make recommendations for mark best albums for someone new to his music who wants to get into it please?

Cha Cha said...

For someone who is buying their first Mark Murphy recording, I would recommend "Giants of Jazz: Mark Murphy" which is a good overview of his years with Muse Records. All of his individual albums with them are now out of print, but you could also try to get a used copy of "Bop for Kerouac." If you want something more recent, I would recommend "Once to Every Heart" or his latest, "Love is What Stays." However, if you want something Mark recorded earlier in his career, "Rah" is a classic example.

Anonymous said...

'MARKI-MURF' EXPLAINED.
brazilians say "nada acontece por acaso" : nothing happens without a reason. with his innate sense of sound and language, MM immediately picked up that brazilians pronounce 'mark' with an ending 'e' sound (like 'marky'), whereas the sound of the final 'y' on 'murphy' is dropped ('murph').
hence the ironic inversion of sounds : mark murphy become marky murph. call it MM's subtle hommage to his beloved brasil. my best MM memories are from the after-hour bossa joints in sao paulo's 'bixiga' district, where we'd land after his 'maksoud' gigs, indulging in local samba/bossa sounds and too much caipirinha.
ahh, os velhos tempos...
peter de jong

Vickibonbon said...

During my time spent working in Brazil all the locals called me "Veeek" and sometimes I noted they did add vowels to English words where there aren't any ... so the "Marky Murph" Brazil theory makes sense to me.

Ate logo amigos

Anonymous said...

I'm looking for some extensive biographical info on Mark or a master's thesis. Is there a book I can read?

Anonymous said...

Heads up! Mark's first album released after he split for England in the mid-60s has FINALLY made it to CD. "A Swingin' Singin' Affair" (also known as "Mark Time" in Europe) has just been reissued and is available at amazon.com. Price is about $12. At this very moment (Nov. 21, 2008), Amazon does not have it but its web site has links that will lead you merchants that do. This is old style Mark with pop crossover added. Ironically, it was the Beatles and other British invasion bands that made making a living in the US difficult for jazz singers. (Mark had just had two albums released on Riverside when he left for the UK.) So what do we find among the cuts on this one he did for Fontana? The Beatles' "She Loves You." Other tracks are Ballyhoo; My Foolish Heart; Iceberg; Happy Days Are Here Again; I Left My Heart in San Francisco; Hard Hearted Hannah (The Vamp from Savannah); Stablemates; I’ll Be Around; From Time to Time; Come Rain or Come Shine; The Best Is Yet To Come. Happy hunting!

Anonymous said...

Perhaps I should elaborate on the above. Go to amazon.com, type in and enter a search for Mark Murphy, and then albums will be displayed, including "A Swingin' Singin' Affair." Click into it and you will then see a small click that will take you to new or used copies. All the ones you'll see will be new. Click on one of the price choices and you'll then leave your billing info for the retailer you'll be dealing with.

Unknown said...

I caught two amazing shows this year when Mark was with us up here in New England. He wowed everyone at the Press Room in Portsmouth and the Sahara in Methuen. Thanks for some great music Mark! Especially loved the Kerouac-style raps, now that's some hot vocalese baby!
-John

Anonymous said...

I unfornately missed Mark's recent gig at Birdland,NYC.
Can you let me know upcoming dates in NY-metro area?
I have heard most incredible words of his ability..but NOT seen him in person.
Most appreciably,
Lorin Karic
25 e.9th st.
NY,NY

Cha Cha said...

Mark is scheduled to appear, accompanied by the Misha Piatigorsky Trio, at Smoke Jazz Club in New York City. The dates are December 11, 12 and 13. For more information go to www.smokejazz.com.

Sandy said...

Didn't know about Birdland...but saw Mark at BlueNote. He was my Thanksgiving Dessert...quite yummy! Even sang an Ivan Lins song, Ivan being my ALL TIME FAVORITE, I couldn't have been happier except for the 30 mile drive home to Jersey.

Cha Cha said...

Re Mark's Thanksgiving night gig at the Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC: a friend of mine, with permission from Mark, the band, and the club, has posted videos at You Tube. These include his performance of the Ivan Lins composition, Evolution. Go to www.youtube.com/friendofjazz if you want to see them.

Enjie said...

Mark, I missed all your 2008 NYC gigs! 2009 will be different.

Happy Holidays!

Cha Cha said...

Fear not--Mark still has one three-day gig left in 2008. It's at the Smoke Jazz Club from Thursday, December 11 through Saturday, December 13. Since the venue only seats about 50, I suggest people make reservations. You can get more information by going to www.smokejazz.com.

Enjie said...

Thanks, Cha Cha!

Neil

PS: Will you be there?

Cha Cha said...

Hi Neil,

Yes, I should be at Mark's Smoke gig with at least one friend, as well as hopefully a few others. We plan to be there on both Friday and Saturday for all three sets.

Cha Cha said...

On Monday I received a phone call from Smoke Jazz Club that due to illness, Mark's gig this week has been cancelled.

Vickibonbon said...

Let's send Mark loving vibes for a speedy recovery.

Anonymous said...

This just in... about 4 years late:

Something you always have to watch out for are various artist compilations that recycle old MM material. But not this time.

I've just got my hands on a various artists album titled "Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein Tribute Album." It contains an MM recording (made specifically for this project) of "This Nearly Was Mine" from "South Pacific." This was recorded in 2001 with orchestra conducted and arranged by Nan Schwartz, Mark's collaborator on "Once To Every Heart" and "Love is What Stays." However, this track predates and is a prelude to those two albums. I had heard it and knew it existed, but never managed to find where it wound up until now.

The 10-track collection is available at cdbaby.com. When you get there, do a search on "Something Wonderful." The web site describes the album this way:

"This is beautiful collection of classic songs by the legendary Broadway duo Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein, performed by an array of top jazz/pop artists and musicians. Produced by Tim Weston [and released in 2004], this 10-song album is a balanced combination of excellent vocal renditions and stellar instrumental performances."

"There are many highlights on this album, both vocal and instrumental: “Some Enchanted Evening” (sung by Phoebe Snow); “This Nearly Was Mine” (sung by Mark Murphy”); "Out of My Dreams" (sung by Kevin Mahogany); “If I Loved You” (sung by Shelby Flint & Dori Caymmi, guitar by Caymmi); “We Kissed In A Shadow” (saxophones and woodwinds by Tom Scott); “My Favorite Things” (harmonica by Toots Thielemans, piano and keyboards by Don Grusin); “March Of The Siamese Children” (soprano saxophone by Kenny Garrett)."

What the summary doesn't tell you is that Tim Westin is the son of Paul Weston and Jo Stafford, whose May 1953 recording of "I'm Your Girl" is a track added on at the end. Note to ladies: Send that last track as an e-mail attachment to your significant other on Valentine's Day (either gender works) and be prepared for a very positive response.

The album's first 5 tracks are very laid back, but the most upbeat arrangements won't detract from a "dim the lights" atmosphere... with the exception of the Van Dyke Parks arrangement of "Everybody's Got a Home But Me." More evidence that Parks has ADHD. But an excellent album.

Anonymous said...

P.S.: The album just mentioned is also available at the same website as a download for $9.99 (the CD is $12.97) and you can click to listen to sample streams of each track.

Anonymous said...

Question: My mom used to have a recording of Mark's version of "My Favorite Things" that had some added lyrics. The added lyrics were cut off for the album Rah!, but somehow my mom had that version that had the added lyrics. It totally rocked my socks off. Anyone know where I might be able to get a copy? I've been looking for years!

Anonymous said...

Carmen...

Get the Japanese CD release of "Rah." It has both versions.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to monopolize the conversation. The new CD from the Five Corners Quintet, "Hot Corner," which features a guest appearance by MM will be released in the US in February but is available now in England and continental Europe. Try this web address to get it now: http://www.juno.co.uk/products/336570-01.htm

Cha Cha said...

Carmen,

You can also do a Google search for Gilles Peterson's mixtape of Mark's music. It includes the extended version of "My Favorite Things."

Cha Cha said...

News about Mark's first NYC gig of 2009: It's at the Iridium Jazz Club from Thursday, January 23 through Sunday, January 25, with sets at 8:30 and 10:30. You can get more information at www.iridiumjazzclub.com or by calling 212-582-2121.

Anonymous said...

I just heard Mark for the first time a couple of weeks ago on the "new" jazzfm.com out of London. I'm going to have to charch a show. Great music full of great soul.

Anonymous said...

Just received The Five Corners Quintet CD "Hot Corner" in which MM appears in "Kerouac Days in Montana" and "Come and Get Me." I am glad to say the preformances are as good as I expected. I am sorry to say the recording quality and engineering is abyssmal. Vocals are buried in the mix. But the worst thing is the sound quality. It's horrible!! Without going into all kinds of jargon used by recording engineers, there is distortion that even the untrained ear will catch... many times sounding like overmodulation distortion that comes from "pinning the needles." (Well, okay, there's -some- jargon.) Way-too-heavy audio processing has the dynamic range reduced to the audio equivalent of mashed potatoes.

It's a pity. The Five Corners Quintet has the chops and everything else needed to sound great... except for a competent recordining engineer. Fellas, I'd suggest scrapping your record label. They should have caught this before it was released. And the previous album, "Chasing the Jazz Gone By" (on the same label and on which MM also guested) had many of the same problems. But most important, fire your recording engineer and find a new studio. These people are butchering your stuff.

Let the buyer beware.

Anonymous said...

Hi any news regarding gigs for Mark in the UK 09?....

yannis said...

hi
i ordered the mark murphy - murphy's mood (dvd), from www.cduniverse.com, suppose to be releiced on January 20, 2009, but its backordered since then. Does somebody knows when its going to be available?
Thanks

Cha Cha said...

I just got an e-mail myself from CD Universe about the backorder, with no revised release date. The good news is that when I checked the Arkadia Jazz site, there was a picture of the actual DVD cover, so I assume it's almost ready for release.

yannis2 said...

Hi
According to mr. Cummings's m.murphy discography, there are some, i'd like to have. For example those Jazzette records, some 45 singles, Bobbe Norris - Close Up and of course "This Must Be Earth" which seems that nobody own that LP in this world.
I'm interesting of sharing or bying the stuff. Is there a way to do this?

Cha Cha said...

You should periodically check www.dustygroove.com to see what unusual Mark Murphy recordings they currently have in stock. In the past I've purchased LPs and singles, as well as CDs, from them. As a matter of fact, a while back I got a reissue of "Why Don't You Do Right" (with Eddie Jefferson performing a different song on the flip side) and at another time a 33 1/3 EP single of four songs from the North Sea Sessions.

Cha Cha said...

A correction to my post about Mark's Iridium gig, albeit a bit late. It begins tonight, Thursday, January 22 and continues through Sunday, January 25. All the other information remains the same.

Anonymous said...

I'll take that as a no........

Anonymous said...

Replying to Yannis2:
The two Bobbe Norris CDs that Mark guests on are available on the amazon.com web site ("Closeup" and "Out of Nowhere"), but the "Closeup" CD is a Japanese import and is very pricey. You might try sending a snail mail note to Bobbe, who may still be selling the CD herself. But confirm before you send money. See the Cumming discography for the Pacifica, California address.

As for the titles on the Jazzette label, that will be very difficult to pull off. The label was an in-house enterprise of a small jazz club in Croatia which was one of the many victims of the war there in the 1990s.

For the 45s, try www.gemm.com and do a search on Mark Murphy. A word of warning though; Mark is a pop singer on the 45s. About 90% of the things he did on "singles" were never released on albums and were targeting a different audience. The albums went after a more jazz-oriented audience. For the 45's, imagine the "Singin' Swingin' Affair" album (lots of "pop" already), with even more pop influence.

Anonymous said...

By the way, "This Must Be Earth" is the most pop-oriented album Mark has ever done. It is now the only MM album Mark has done that has -not- been released on CD. But I'm guessing that Mark would tell you he doesn't mind that.

Cha Cha said...

Was at Mark's Iridium gig and he was incredible, as always. After I mentioned to him his 45 of "Why Don't Do Right," he even sang a few bars of it in the middle of another song. What what were some highlights for others who were there on any of the four nights?

Cha Cha said...

Just received my copy of the DVD, "Murphy's Mood," from CD Universe. Haven't watched the whole thing yet but I have seen excerpts from the Ad Lib tv show, done in 1981. This is a rare occasion to see Mark doing songs from "Stolen Moments" and "Bop for Kerouac," close to the time they were originally recorded.

Cha Cha said...

Finally watched the DVD, "Murphy's Mood." It's Mark at his best, and he performs "You've Proven Your Point," "Parker's Mood," "Again," and "Farmer's Market." Plus Pete & Conte Candoli perform 6 songs. (I do like their playing, but the fact that they get an extra 2 songs doesn't make too much sense.) At any rate, this DVD is definitely worth adding to the collection of all Mark Murphy fans!

Anonymous said...

Hello there! I've been searching all over the internet trying to find a recorded scat solo of Mark's before 1960. Can't find one anywhere. I'm writing a master's thesis on vocal improvisers and am transcribing solos of several that happen within the time period of the mid to late 50's. Do you have anything on record from that time, Mark?

Anonymous said...

...and if nothing in the 50's then when is your first recorded full chorus of solo?

Cha Cha said...

I know Mark did have a scat break in the song, Lullaby in Rhythm, from the late 1950s LP, "Let Yourself Go." However, it is nothing like the type of "no-holds-barred" scatting we would associate with Mark from the 1970s onward.

Vickibonbon said...

Any of you live in NY City?

I'll be there late April early May and of course looking for good gigs other than clubs like Birdland. Blue Note, Vanguard etc. Hints and tips welcomed! Thanks.

Cha Cha said...

Hi Vicki,

At the beginning of April, you should see if you could get the latest copy of one of these: Hot House, All About Jazz NY, or Jazz Improv NY. They're all free and give you lots of info on what's going on in the clubs and theatres. You can also do a Google search and go to their sites, which will give you similar info online. (As for smaller, lesser-known venues, Smoke, Smalls, Cachaca and the Bar Next Door tend to have great jazz and World Music.)

Cha Cha

Vickibonbon said...

Thanks Cha Cha, I was trying to find out about smaller venues. Thanks for that. Last time I was in New York I checked out most of the well known ones, but I know there is great stuff happening elsewhere too so now I have some tips. Cachaca is my favourite drink so I'll have to visit that one!

Cheers

Vicki

Cha Cha said...

You're welcome Vicki. Before you come to NY, you can check Cachaca's website: www.cachacajazz.com. My favorite drink containing Cachaca (and one of the club's specialties) is Caiparinha.

Cha Cha said...

Another NYC club tip. You should check club schedules to see if Misha Piatigorsky is appearing anywhere in the area around the time you'll be here. He's been Mark's music director and pianist, and Mark himself loves working with him. Plus, Misha, on his own, is a phenomenal performer and composer.

Vickibonbon said...

I got hooked on Caipirinhas in Brazil. Oh my goodness, they are so yummy and SO DEADLY. Heh heh heh. I remember drinking one in the pool in my hotel in Rio looking at Corcorvado. Nice thing to do.

Cha Cha said...

Hey Vicki,

Now you're making me jealous!

Cha Cha

Cha Cha said...

Did anyone go to Mark's recent Japan gig? If so, please share! :)

Cha Cha said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

hi any chance mark might be coming to london this year to gig

Cha Cha said...

You can check the website of the Maurice Montoya agency: www.mmmusicagency.com/itinerary.htm periodically for updates as to Mark's touring schedule.

Anonymous said...

Wondering when Mark will be coming to Michigan??

Anonymous said...

Has Mark scheduled any upcoming
performances in Los Angeles or
San Diego? Saw him in SD last
year and really enjoyed his music.

Anonymous said...

Hey Vicki & Paul, didn't know you guys were such big Marki-Murf heads. I have been listening to Mark since the early 70's and was amazed to see him live for the very first time. It was the late 70's in the Kiama Surf Club ( Kiama, south coast New South Wales, Australia.) At one point in the evening he did Jobim's Dindi and the hairs stood up on the back of my neck. From that night on I have been hooked on this brilliant singer.
My favourite song is Mark's take on I'm Glad there is You from Bridging a Gap 1972 Muse Records MR 5009.
Albums it's hard to go past the companion album to Bop For Kerouc - Then and Now. Also love his new work with Till Bronner.

Vickibonbon said...

I though I knew all the Jazz freaks from Kiama!

Who is this?

Do I know you? I think so... have we hung out at the Wang jazz festival? I think so.

Hmmm... secrets tell us your name mate!

I love the Til Bronner recording, it is superb, should have won ten Grammies!

Cha Cha said...

Been listening to what I feel is one of Mark's most underrated recordings, "Sings Mostly Dorothy Fields and Cy Coleman." It was recorded in 1977, in the midst of the breakthrough period when Mark recorded so many classics for Muse Records. But the songs on this were done for Alec Wilder's radio series on American Popular Song and here Mark sings most of them with minimal scatting, utilizing sensitive phrasing and just plain "belting" them out. Is there anyone else out there who absolutely loves the CD?

catte adams said...

Perhaps this has been asked and answered but when is Marc coming back to LA?
Hopefully a better venue than the BAKERY...UGH. But I will go anyway if that's where he chooses to be.
I'd go anywhere he chooses to be.
Love,
Catte Adams

Cha Cha said...

1) Catte,

See my earlier post with the url of the Maurice Montoya Agency, to get periodic updates on Mark's gigs.

2) Vicki,

Unfortunately, Cachaca was forced to close its doors after the final set last night, due to landlord problems.

Cha Cha

Cha Cha said...

Vicki,

As of now, the owners of Cachaca managed to temporarily work things out with the landlord so it's still open. Nearer to the time you plan to visit NYC, I'll post the club's status at that point. btw--just realized I didn't mention that in the early part of 2008, Mark himself was at Cachaca as a guest artist. He was mesmerizing in such an intimate setting.

Cha Cha

Anonymous said...

Caipirinha and Mr Murphy - at the same time! That's just plain greedy! :-)

I've been on the look out for some Mark gigs but nothing seems to be happening at the moment. Hope all is well with Mr Murphy.

Vicki

Cha Cha said...

Vicki,

The combination of Mark and Caipirinha was actually glorious!

Mark does have a gig from April 2-4, 2009 at Prince Claus Conservatoire Groningen, Holland. I believe he's going to be giving a workshop there.

Cachaca changed the website yet again and restored the notice that it has closed. Don't know what's going on but I think you'll have to forget about sipping Caipirinhas with your jazz in NY!

Cha Cha

Paul651 said...

I was first introduced to MM by my favorite college professor Chuck Mancuso in 1976. I have been a fan ever since. Thanks Chuck

Cha Cha said...

Just have to vent some spleen. Was at Jazz at Lincoln Center's website and saw that the usual singers, who have performed there each year, are back again for the new season. In the meantime, Mark (rather than one of his clones) has never been booked into the larger theatres of the complex. He was only booked at Dizzy's Club, on the same floor, exactly once a few years back. Don't know what could be done to remedy this situation. Any suggestions?

Anonymous said...

Last year's gig at North Sea Jazz in Rotterdam was great. I wonder if Mark will play NSJ again this year? The organisers are usually tight-lipped about bookings until May - but does anyone here know?

Cha Cha said...

Another Mark Murphy fan has uploaded quite a few wonderful videos of Mark's gigs. If anyone wants to see them they can go to the following You Tube channel: www.youtube.com/friendofjazz.

Enjoy.

Cha Cha

Steve Cumming said...

Finally got my copy of the DVD "Murphy's Mood." Yes, MM sounds damn good! But give the Candoli Bros. credit for playing their asses off too. Had to feel a bit for Monty Budwig on bass. The guys in the control room spelled his name "Marty" when they typed it into the character generator and the error showed up in both programs.

BTW, got my hands on the -Japanese- pressing of The Five Corners Quintet's "Hot Corner" CD and the distortion that's in the Finnish release is gone. The mix is still lousy (not enough from the vocals, too much from the instrumentalists, so the vocals are buried) but at least the distortion is gone. And there is an extra MM cut, "Layers of Layers", a spoken word item in English for a Japanese audience (strange), but I'm just grateful for the extra cut and the cleaner recording.

Cha Cha said...

Just giving everybody the heads up that a few upcoming gigs have been added for Mark. You can check his section at http://www.mmmusicagency.com/itinerary.htm, for more info.

mark richards said...

Hi Mark. This is Mark Richards, the jazz vocalist. I have been trying to find our where your next gigs will be, and how you are doing. We live in Las Vegas now, and would love to hear from you. Phone is 702-286-0054.

Cha Cha said...

Once again, please go to http://www.mmmusicagency.com/itinerary.htm, for info about Mark's upcoming gigs. :)

Cha Cha

Cha Cha said...

Vicki,

Someone just brought to my attention Sounds of Brazil (a/k/a SOB), a music club in NYC. It also features jazz now and then and most likely serves Caipirinhas. (Just thought this was info you could use when you come to our fair city!)

Cha Cha

Cha Cha said...

I have been encouraged to mention that Mark himself does not regularly check this blogspace. However, he has been kept apprised of the good wishes sent his way by the fans who post on it.

Cha Cha

tania said...

hey there, this is tania from austria. could you be so kind and let mark know, i said hello and i miss him lots!
much love tania

May said...

Looking for album Swingin', singin' affair on fontana. Any ideas where to find it?

Cha Cha said...

I believe Swingin', Singin' Affair has just been reissued on CD and is available at Amazon.com.

Anonymous said...

Anyone know how Mark's health is? Just found the videos @ http://www.markmurphy.com/gigs.html. Man... this guy is amazing. I have been closely following his career since I was a college student in the 80's (Edmonds Community College Soundsation alumni 1986) and had a chance to see him at several jazz festivals. I plan to make a special trip to see him sing live again as soon as I can. I hope his health has improved... what exactly was/is the problem? I can't begin to express how much I enjoy/appreciate/admire/adore this man and everything he has given to jazz music with his gentle spirit, incredible voice, and fabulous musicianship skills. I don't think there will EVER be anyone who will replace Mark in the pantheon of GREAT jazz vocalists.

Cha Cha said...

I think all of us Murphy fans agree fully with the last poster's comments. Plus Mark's a really sweet person and very accessible to his fans at gigs. For more videos of him, go to www.youtube.com/friendofjazz. You can watch him performing songs from a recent Blue Note Club gig in November, 2008.

Anonymous said...

Cha Cha, is that the Blue Note in the Village? The last Blue Note gig I remember was in Jakarta, I think.

Neil M.

Cha Cha said...

The gig in the Friend of Jazz videos did take place in the Village Blue Note, in the evening on the Thanksgiving holiday. It was a great way to keep celebrating, after dinner with my family earlier in the day. (btw--Friend of Jazz is not me, but someone else who was allowed to take the videos by Mark and the members of the Misha Piatigorsky Trio.)

richard said...

wondering when mark will be in los angeles cant get enough of this fabulous singer jazz or other music

Kate Murphy said...

Hi, I'm Mark's sister-in-law, Kate. Spoke w/ him on phone recently and he mentioned he might be coming out to LA (soon?)
Can I get any info on this?
Don't see any gigs at all on the "gigs" page.
Thanks so much,
Kate

Anonymous said...

Hey Kate...your second-cousin-in-law Neil here...I'd like to talk to you about the Family Tree...Mark has my telephone number, e-mail address, etc.

Kate Murphy said...

Hi Neil, I remember you.
Will try to call Mark this weekend.
Trust all is well in NYC.
Peace, Kate

Cha Cha said...

Hi Kate,

Re Mark's gigs: When I checked Maurice Montoya's site it did mention a gig in California, but that's not until October 25 and it's in San Francisco, at the Florence Gould Theatre.

Cha Cha

Mike said...

Cha Cha - Thank you for the reference to the Maurice Montoya site. I learned there that Mark will perform here in Chicago at Columbia College on May 15. Hallelujah!

(Do you know whether there were any recordings made of Mark's performance with Rebecca Parris a few years back? I deeply regret not being able to fly out to hear the two of them.)

Cha Cha said...

Hi Mike,

You're welcome. Glad that you'll get to see Mark in Chicago.

I don't know of any official recordings of him with Rebecca Parris. There might be bootlegs floating around, however... :)

Cha Cha

Ian Bernard said...

Would like dates of gigs thru sept 2009

Cha Cha said...

Here are Mark's 2009 gigs, as of now, which have been listed at Maurice Montoya's site:

May 15, 2009 Columbia College Chicago, IL
July 31 - August 1, 2009 Kitano Lounge New York, NY
October 25, 2009 Florence Gould Theater San Francisco, CA

Cha Cha

Anonymous said...

Hi Mark

Will you please come to Sydney, Australia?

Best regards

Michele

Anonymous said...

Can you tell me if Mark has any planned gigs in London this year please?

Anonymous said...

can you let me know if Mark has any planned gigs in London this year please?

Cha Cha said...

Please look at my post, about four posts up, to see the list of Mark's gigs for 2009, as of today, May 8. :)

Anonymous said...

Hey Cha...

why isn't the gigs page updated?

David

Kate Murphy said...

Yes, please update the gigs page.
Thanks so much.
Kate

Cha Cha said...

Actually, I'm just a fan and acquaintance of Mark's who has taken it on herself to try to answer questions about gigs and recordings. Please go to the Contact section of the main site if you want to e-mail the webmaster (who is not me).

Vickibonbon said...

we'd love to have an updated gigs page but it's proving difficult to get the regular info. Best thing is to do as Cha Cha suggest and check the agent's page for now.

Cha Cha said...

Hi Vicki,

Did you come to NY earlier this month as you planned? Hope you got to hear some really good jazz in our local clubs.

Cha Cha

Anonymous said...

yeah I did got to NYC. I saw amazing Chris Potter's Underground at Jazz Standard, brilliant Randy Brecker with Antonio Hart at Iridium, Barry Harris at Vanguard and a so-so big band at Birdland.

Meant to get to Smalls and a few others but didn;t have time.

I love NYC I'll be back soon.

Vicki

Cha Cha said...

Hi Vicki,

If you saw Randy Brecker with Antonio Hart at Iridium, then was that the Herbie Project with George Colligan on piano? I was at the second set on Friday, wearing earrings spelling out "Jazz" in rhinestones and sitting at a table near the stage with George's wife, Kerry, as well as George himself, before the set began.

Glad you loved New York. If by coming back soon you mean late Summer, Mark himself is scheduled to be the Kitano on July 31 and August 1!

Cha Cha

Anonymous said...

You have short hair right? I wondered who you guys were. I was at the table next to you on the left. There was an Asian couple at my table. I was there for both sets!

Small world eh.

Vicki

Unknown said...

Are there any Boston-area dates upcoming? Thanks. Steve

Kate Murphy said...

God bless you Cha Cha! Thanks for doing all you do. And, one would hope the Web Master reads these comments. THANKS AGAIN - YOU'RE THE BEST! Love, Kate (Mark's sister-in-law)

Cha Cha said...

1) Vicki,

Yup I have short hair. Too bad I didn't know in advance you would be at the same gig--I would have introduced myself. Oh well, maybe at some other NY gig...

2) Kate,

You're welcome. I try to help because I've gotten to know Mark after attending so many of his club appearances and found him to be a very warm and friendly person, as well as a still amazing performer. It's made me want to "spread the word" you might say, with others who have been touched by his music. If you also ever find yourself at one of Mark's NY gigs and see a short-haired lady with rhinestone "Jazz" earrings, do say hi!

Cha Cha

Anonymous said...

Note from the Webmaster…

Just so you know Kate, I have given all my time developing, creating and maintaining this website for NOTHING, as a favor to Mark not only as a long time fan, but a friend. It breaks my heart when uninformed people make silly comments without finding the facts first. I have put thousands of hours into this site, but because Mark deals with several booking agents and unfortunately cannot keep me up to date on his concert dates, I intern cannot update the information on this site. Kate perhaps instead of complaining you should take on finding the up to date concert information (seeing you’re so connected being Marks sister-in-law) and email them to me, and I will be more than happy to update the gigs page regularly.

I’m pleased everyone is enjoying this website dedicated to Mark, and special thanks to Vicky for volunteering her time to moderate the Blog.

Wayne Fernandez
CEO/Creative Director
Ubiquity Design

Kate Murphy said...

To Wayne - First of all thank you so very much for the thousands of hours you have put into this site. It is hugely important to us all. I was the one who designed and mostly paid for (thank you Cindy B.) Mark's first website. I also ran his fan club at that time. So I know how it is. Anyway, there is a gigs page on this site... are you planning to post his gigs on it at some point? Again, we all thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Love, Kate

Anonymous said...

Mark will be performing THIS FRIDAY May 15th at 4:30 p.m. at 610 S. Michigan Ave. as part of Columbia College Chicago's Manifest Urban Arts Festival. NO CHARGE. The concert, which will also feature the vocal jazz ensemble 3CVJE, will be in the Feinberg Theater of the Spertus Institute. The venue is completely accessible, and free trolleys will take you around the Manifest venues in the South Loop. Go to http://www2.colum.edu/manifest/ for more information.

DON MACKAY said...

WHERE IS MARKS BROTHER DOC, A FINE BASSIST

Mike said...

Saw Mark in performance tonight at Columbia College in Chicago.

Mark, the Ark of Youth! The Master onstage with our young hopes, student artists.

Matisse in maturity: a few simple lines, supple and spare and complete. (And maybe just for chuckles and because he could, he offered a sustained, pure, final tone in “Stolen Moments” that left the twenty-something musicians wide-eyed and grinning.)

There were particularly engaging interplays between Mark and two student vocalists: The young man (in “Red Clay”) had clearly done his homework and called to Mark from “Rah” and “Bop for Miles,” and Mark in turn called back encouragement, leading him further and further. The young woman, shy and hesitant at first, simply echoed Mark phrase for phrase in “Stolen Moments,” but then opened up as Mark, eyes twinkling, brought her out of herself, and she became airborne, her voice flying freely in graceful figure eights.

All hail! And thank you, Mark.

Anonymous said...

Mike,

Thank you for sharing this precious piece of news about THE MASTER! The fact that he's able to pass on his craft and inspire young artists as you've described, gladens my heart! Praying that Mr. Murphy will continue to fulfill us for many more years to come!

Vickibonbon said...

I'm so jealous I wasn't at the Chicago gig. I miss seeing Mark live. It is such a treat to hear him live. Always the best way to hear jazz.

Thank to EVERYONE for contributing to the Blogspace and the site.

It would be great if we had more resources and ways of getting all the timely info that everyone would like but this is a communal effort and so we all do what we can.

All appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

Vickibonbon said...

Kate, do you have an email where I could contact you privately please?

my email is vickibonet@gmail.com

Hope you read this soon.

Vickibonbon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Wanted to know if it is possible to take some private lessons with Mark - if so could you please forward me the contact information to do this?

Thanks so much
Nitya.

Anonymous said...

Very sad news to hear Mark is so ill.
I have been a Murphy fan for twenty years discovering him on Jazz FM when I was a student. I have also had many great times at Marks gigs in London and Birmingham.
I hope he is well soon, that you can pass on my best wishes, and we will see him back on that stage.
Heres to the best singing voice in the world!!

Anonymous said...

Note from the webmaster...

Sure Kate, if you can help me out I'll keep the gig guide up to date, Vicky told me that Marks not well, perhaps that's why its been hard to get a hold of him. Sorry for being a little snappy, got lots on my plate at the moment...

I was at this very cool underground hangout in LA chillin' with some friends and herd a track Mark did with this group Hot Corners, its amazing how Mark still seams to always be there... everywhere I go he seams to follow me...

Kate Murphy said...

Dear Ones, Yes you can email me privately: ksinger5@hotmail.com be sure to mention Mark Murphy in the subject line so I retrieve it from the junk mail. Peace and blessings to you all, Kate

Cha Cha said...

I want to mention to all his fans that I spoke to Mark on the phone earlier today. His speaking voice sounded strong and he was in good spirits. As you can imagine, our brief conversation started my day on a very good note. (Pun partially intended.)

Anonymous said...

Note from Mark:

It has recently come to my attention that there have been several postings about the state of my health. I would have addressed this sooner but I was in Chicago as the featured guest vocalist as part of Manifest 2009. The tales of my impending demise are greatly exaggerated and I have several gigs lined up (www.mmmusicagency.com). Instead of staying home and worrying about my health why don't you come out and support my gigs? It would be great to see all you well wishers in the audience.Thanks for your support!

Mark Murphy

Anonymous said...

great news. We love you Mark, now get your gorgeous self down to Australia please. :-)

Vicki x

Unknown said...

Can we see Mark here in San Diego again? I still regret learning about his concert at Anthology a little too late.

Anonymous said...

How many times did they nominate this man for a Grammy? 6 times? Not once did he receive the honor he so divinely deserves. Too many lack the intellect it takes to recognize the incredible depth this man brings to the human race. He callenges and stimulates the senses so ..... you don't know which direction to go first ..... you can't keep up ..... EVER!!! He is the "PRECIOUS ONE" ..... so precious your voice ..... so precious your breath ..... so precious your senses, your soul ..... so precious your body of work ..... so humbled I am time and time again ..... so loved, so adored you are, MR. MURPHY.

friendofjazz

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