Mark Winkler
Known for his smooth, relaxed, laid-back sense of swing, Mark Winkler is a flexible vocalist/songwriter whose influences (direct or indirect) include Dave Frishberg, Mose Allison, Kenny Rankin, and Michael Franks (among others). The Los Angeles resident is comfortable in either jazz or pop settings; he has done his share of traditional pop and crossover jazz/smooth jazz work, but he can also handle straight-ahead jazz and bop. Whether a Winkler recording has a jazz improviser's perspective or more of a pop/crossover perspective has depended on different factors, including the label and the producer. Some of Winkler's work has leaned toward the Mose Allison/Dave Frishberg side of things; other times, his approach has been closer to Michael Franks or Kenny Rankin. And either way, Winkler generally maintains his smoothness; he has never been known as a forceful, overly aggressive, or in-your-face type of singer.
Born and raised in the L.A. area, Winkler launched his recorded career in the mid-'80s. After recording some albums for the independent, L.A.-based Chase Music Group (including Color of Love, Ebony Rain, and Hottest Night of the Year), the Southern Californian freelanced for various indie labels in the '90s (including Countdown and Chartmaker). Winkler didn't build a huge catalog in the '80s or '90s; when the early 2000s arrived, his catalog added up to about six albums. But he has kept busy doing a variety of other things, which have ranged from writing songs for other vocalists to theatrical projects. Winkler -- whose songs have been recorded by Liza Minnelli, Randy Crawford, Dianne Reeves, and others -- wrote the off-Broadway musical Naked Boys Singing! (which debuted in New York in 1999 and went on to play in a few others cities as well). In 2003, the Rhombus label released Mark Winkler Sings Bobby Troup, which found him paying tribute to the songwriter who gave us gems like "Route 66," "You're Looking at Me," and "Baby, Baby All the Time."
© Alex Henderson /TiVo
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Eastern Standard Time
Jazz - Released by Cafe Pacific Records on 2 Apr 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
West Coast Cool
Vocal Jazz - Released by Summit Records on 10 Sep 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Old Friends
Jazz - Released by Cafe Pacific Records on 23 Feb 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Company I Keep
Jazz - Released by Cafe Pacific Records on 1 May 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I'm with You: Mark Winkler Sings Bobby Troup
Jazz - Released by Cafe Pacific on 6 Aug 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz and Other Four Letter Words
Jazz - Released by Cafe Pacific Records on 21 Jul 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World)
Jazz - Released by Cafe Pacific Records on 6 Oct 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Late Bloomin' Jazzman
Jazz - Released by Cafe Pacific Records on 8 Apr 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Laura Nyro Project
Jazz - Released by Cafe Pacific Records on 5 Mar 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Why Are People so Stupid?
Jazz - Released by Cafe Pacific Records on 8 Jun 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Till I Get It Right
Jazz - Released by FreeHam Records on 1 Jan 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Easy The Hard Way
Jazz - Released by Chartmaker Jazz on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tales From Hollywood
Jazz - Released by Countdown - Unity on 1 Jan 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sweet Spot
Jazz - Released by Cafe Pacific Records on 25 Jul 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Rules Don't Apply
Jazz - Released by Cafe Pacific Rcords on 12 Jan 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Shadow of Your Smile
Jazz - Released by Cafe Pacific Records on 8 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mark Winkler Sings Bobby Troup
Jazz - Released by Rhombus Records on 1 Jan 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sings Bobby Troup
Jazz - Released by Rhombus Records on 4 Mar 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Better Than Anything
Jazz - Released by Cafe Pacific Records on 16 Apr 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don't Be Blue
Jazz - Released by Cafe Pacific Records on 3 Feb 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo