Hold On
Cafe Pacific, 2025
9/10
The prolific vocalist Mark Winkler is back with a 22nd album, where mostly originals are fleshed out by several pianists and plenty of winds, brass, guitars and drums.
The title track leads with John Beasley’s frisky piano and Bob Sheppard’s bright sax complementing Winkler’s expressive pipes, and “A Little Taste” follows with Eric Reed’s lively keys and Grant Geissmann’s playful guitar amid the charming vocals.
“It Was A Very Good Year” lands in the middle and enlists Jamieson Trotter on piano and Joey De Leon on percussion alongside the vivid storytelling in a rich delivery, while “My Future’s Just A Memory” carries an infectious energy via George Doering’s meticulous guitar and Brian Swartz’s soulful trumpet.
Close to the end, “The Devil Don’t Want A Saint” benefits from Rich Eames’ keys and Christian Euman’s drums that suit Winkler’s humorous wordplay, and “I Dream Of You Each Night” exits with a sublime intimacy thanks to gentle keys, light brass and cautious drumming.
Whether you’ve been following along for a while or this is your first taste of Winkler, his vocal jazz presence is always top notch, and his interpretations and originals are always relatable and timeless.
Travels well with: Mark Winkler- The Rules Don’t Apply; Mark Winkler- Late Bloomin’ Jazzman