MarkHollingsworth.com - "On the Mark" Reviews:

"This is a wonderful CD!" - WBCX, Gainesville, GA

"Great album!" - WBCP, Champaign, IL

"Great Song!"(Steppin' Up) - KJZS, Reno, NV

"Mark Hollingsworth's "On the Mark" (Windshore) came as a wonderful surprise -- good tune, emphatically earthy, punched-up in the good sense, swingin' and rather cool. This guy can really play too."
~Carol Archer (Radio & Records)

"Nice track, Man!"
~Dave Koz

Reviewed by: Sheldon T. Nunn:

JazzReview.com

Featured Artist: Mark Hollingsworth

CD Title: On The Mark
Year: 2005
Record Label: Windshore Music
Style: Contemporary Jazz

Review: Opening an obscure artist’s CD for the very first time is synonymous with receiving a letter in the mail, you can see who and where it came from, but the contents are not known until it is opened and read. This was brought to my attention when I received Mark Hollingsworth’s latest album entitled On The Mark, who was unknown to me and I didn’t really know what to expect from someone making a CD for the very first time. As soon as I placed Mark’s disc into my player to hear what was an obvious mystery at the moment, I soon realized this was not another ordinary run-of-the-mill recording. At first glance, one of the initial aspects I observed was a bunch of guys having fun doing what they loved. My second impression brought to mind a sincere response to an intuitive creative desire to make a musical statement. Historically, many debut releases follow a formula that does not always work, especially if the artist attempts to record a Kenny G clone. Because Kenny is the most successful smooth jazz artist in the music industry, many aspiring musicians create copycat versions of his work with little if any substance creatively. On The Mark does not fall into that trap by any stretch of individual production.

Mark and his crew of merry men consisting of Dan Siegel, Bart Samolis, Tal Bergman, Brian Kilgore, Bill Armstrong, Nick Lane and James Hollingsworth have put considerable effort into On The Mark. Every aspect of the intuitive creative spirit that comes from within is quite evident from beginning to end. Mark Hollingsworth's saxophone dynamics are phenomenal technically, while collaborating with James Wirrick, who co-wrote and co-produced all of Greg Adams’ solo albums. Aligned with a stellar cast of characters, On The Mark draws upon Hollingsworth's native Chicago music scene to push this release forward. Overall he does an impeccable job of tying his musical journey to other styles and cultures. This album is a personal statement for Mark Hollingsworth, who in essence wanted to “take advantage of the interaction between real musicians.” He believes: “There is something terribly powerful about hearing great musicians interacting to great music.” Along the same lines, while listening to this CD I was struck by the lack of programming or sterile electronic infertility I have often heard in many recordings. The impressionistic approach that Mark took is seen in his originality and a desire to reflect upon his musical influences, to include Tom Scott and Cannonball Adderley; as evidenced by two cuts respectively, "On The Mark" and "Catch This."

When one examines and listens to On The Mark, the first impulse is to be energized by some very strategic craftsmanship at work. The instrumental voices are crisp and pure, with little if any abuse to the senses. In fact, this CD will take you on a groove melodically as it bounces with toe-tapping rhythms. The sound is so very genuine lyrically; the vision of these guys jamming together becomes extremely real intuitively. Without a doubt, the intensity and spirit of Mark Hollingsworth is automatically transferred over to anyone within earshot of this CD. As an artist painting a jazzscape, Hollingsworth’s grasp of scenic textures are vivid and his depth of harmonic insight has allowed him to record an album that bodes well for a first time release. Looking towards the future, everything is as bright and fresh as the intuitive creative spirit Mark has exhibited thus far. This debut release by Mark Hollingsworth is a panoramic jazz perspective that provides entertainment of the highest degree. 

Reviewed by: Sheldon T. Nunn

Review by Jeff Charney http://www.contemporaryjazz.com/ I love records like this.  Hollingsworth is a young saxophonist from Chicago who now lives in LA and makes a living as a studio musician.  He has played with Tom Jones, Dan Siegel, Greg Adams, Grant Geisman, U2, Tom Petty, Luther Vandross and Santana.  On his debut solo release he has had lots of time to make every thing perfect and boy that is exactly what he did.   More of the songs are up tempo than not.  The record kicks off with such a track "Steppin' Up" which is a perfect Smooth Jazz romp. "Sunset Rose" is more of a smooth beat with steady up tempo hook.  Siegel guests on "Catch This" (dedicated to Cannonball Adderley) which is real bluezy and funky at the same time. Hollingsworth can play some sax.  He wouldn't have been able to make a living if he couldn't blow and there is every indication on On The Mark that he has a bright future and that his CD's just won't end up in the cut out bind.  Nine out of ten songs are originals with the lone cover being Jeffrey Osborne with LTD's "Back In Love Again."  Hollingsworth made a perfect choice for a cover because it is up and fun.  It is also the only song that has any vocals on it.  The title track is another up and fun song with a fat sax chorus sound.  Hollingsworth dedicated it to his hero, Tom Scott, another studio musicians who was also a great hired hand.   When a majority of the songs on your debut CD are winners with tracks  that you can listen to over and over again then one can only smile.  Hollingsworth is beaming! ~ Jeff Charney ~
Review by Denis Poole www.smoothvibes.com

"Readers of Denis Poole’s Secret Garden will know it’s the place to go for a British perspective on all that’s good, and not so good, in the world of smooth jazz and classic soul. In order to bring you more of the news more of the time this latest Secret Garden Snippet delivers another current sound bite from the adult contemporary scene. A CD well worth looking out for is the debut release from sax player Mark Hollingsworth. With ‘On The Mark’ he has teamed up with veteran writer and producer James Wirrick to deliver nine sparkling originals and one quality cover that is sure to move this long time session and sideman to center stage.

A graduate of Berklee, firmly centered in Los Angeles but with his roots in his home town of Chicago, Hollingsworth has worked with top notch artists from Stevie Wonder to Santana and Ray Charles to Quincy Jones. For the last three years he has been a featured member of the Greg Adams band and it was while touring that people began asking if he had his own solo album. Consequently the idea for ‘On The Mark’ was born.

The title cut, dedicated to his childhood hero Tom Scott, is all about the thrusting sax that one would associate with Scott himself while ‘Catch This’, another dedication, this time to Cannonball Adderley, is less smooth and more funky but none the worse for that. The CD is full of nice surprises from the Latin rhythm and superior guitar work of James Wirrick on ‘Bahia Moonlight’ to the big brassy sound of ‘Hot Nights’. Other standouts include the delightfully R & B tinged cover of the Jeffrey Osborne recording ‘Back In Love Again’, featuring excellent backing vocals from Kelly Moneymaker and Bernadette Barlow, and ‘Sunset Rose’, catchy yet mellow and a superb example of classic west coast smooth jazz. Two personal favorites are the haunting, Boney James like ‘Prairie Rains’ and the catchy feel good ‘Steppin Up’.

All in all ‘On The Mark’ is a well crafted collection that deserves to hold its own in the ultra competitive market of smooth jazz saxophone

~ Denis Poole ~
Review by Scott O’Brien. SmoothJazz.com

MARK HOLLINGSWORTH - "On the Mark" - Windshore Music

I know you’re interested in discovering great new Smooth Jazz artists. Otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this right now. Read on, then, my jazz loving brethren… ‘Cause I’ve got a hot tip for you: Mark Hollingsworth, amazing sax player, Chicago native now in L.A., featured with the Greg Adams band for almost three years, studio work and tours with more big names than you can imagine, plus TV, motion pictures, commercials… It’s unbelievable. Did I mention that he plays sax? Whoa, does he play sax! This brand new debut solo release is ON THE MARK, literally and figuratively, with all of the ingredients you’re looking for in a hit Smooth Jazz album. Great melodies, solid grooves, polished, top-drawer musicianship and production, plus that extra hard-to-define aura, that sense of passion and confidence that tells you that Mark really knows what he’s doing here, and understands how to touch the Smooth Jazz listener on a visceral level. He’s got it! No clinkers on this album… not a one. With nine sparkling originals that include keyboardist Dan Siegel as a special guest on one, and an awesome T.O.P.’esque cover of  L.T.D.’s “Back in Love Again”, ON THE MARK is what today’s dynamic sounding Smooth Jazz is and should be all about. And since I’m dropping acronyms, allow me to encourage you to pick up a copy of O.T.M. A.S.A.P. This is as surefire a Smooth Jazz hit as you’re ever going to find. ~Scott O’Brien.~

This review is in Dutch, and if you can translate it,.... I'd love to know what it says! It's from a Belgium based jazz site. He (Patrick) emailed me this:
"My review of your beautiful cd is now online at www.keysandchords.com."

De smooth jazz liefhebber weet ondertussen dat ik hier constant nieuwe producties voorstel. De volgende in lijn is het debuut van saxofonist Mark Hollingsworth. Mark werd geboren in Chicago, en werd beïnvloed door een mengelmoes van jazz, R&B, en blues. Na zijn graduaat aan het Berklee College of Music in Boston, trok hij richting L.A., en studeerde daar verder, terwijl hij optrad als sessiemuzikant. Kort daarop toerde hij met Tom Jones, leerde etnische Chinese ßuit spelen (waardoor hij in een Þlm uit Taiwan te zien was), nam muziek op voor tv-spots, en cartoons, en speelde mee op de opnamen van U2, Tom Petty, Luther Vandross en Santana. Gedurende de drie laatste jaren trad hij op met Greg Adams Band. Tijdens die periode werkte hij ook met Dan Siegel, en groeide het idee voor dit smooth jazz debuut. Hij teamde samen met componist/ gitarist/ producer James Wirrick (die het merendeel voor Greg Adams’ solocd’s schreef en produceerde). Wel, zo’n debuut mag er best wezen! Leuke melodieën, sterke ritmes, gepolijste muziek. De schijf bevat 9 originele nummers, en een funky cover van L.T.D’s ‘Back In Love Again’. De track ‘Catch This’ (waarop Don Siegel keyboards speelt) is opgedragen aan Cannonball Adderley, en de titelsong is een

eerbetoon aan Tom Scott. De overige tracks zijn ook zeer sterk en “feel good” songs. Mark weet heel goed hij de luisteraar moet bereiken. Een prachtige ontdekking!

 

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