Without looking at the credits, one might think that the songs on Mark Winkler’s jazzy and breezy album Till I Get It Right were found in the trunk of some jazz composer in the ‘40s rather than (almost) entirely original creations from modern songwriters. With fun lyrics mostly by Winkler (and occasionally others), music by a host of a composers, and bright arrangements (again, mostly) by Jamieson Trotter, the album mixes classic styles with contemporary tastes, creating a unique sound that’s neither completely then nor now.

By and large, it works. Many of the numbers evoke the jazz of the war years, recreating a classic style but adding a healthy dose of modern sensibilities (it seems unlikely that many songs from the ‘50s celebrated gay life so openly). Winkler’s smoky voice and relaxed delivery evoke the stars of jazz’s golden age quite nicely, matching the music for an old-fashioned style.

Many of the songs have a smooth, mellow and cool sound that invites relaxation. “Spring Is Where You Are” (both music and lyrics by Steve Allen) is a quiet, simple love song; “Sissies” (music by Louis Durra) celebrates men who dared to be different when different was dangerous; “Future Street” (music by Marilyn Harris) is hopeful, swingy and joyously bright; and “Cool,” a duet with Cheryl Bentyne with music also by Harris, is decidedly hot, and probably the most exciting song on the album.

Jena Tesse Fox
Cabaret Scenes
July/August 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org