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Mark Towns
Mark Towns is a virtuoso trailblazer of guitar-based instrumental Afro-Caribbean Jazz, composing and performing music which blurs the lines between Latin Jazz, Flamenco Jazz, Brazilian Jazz, Salsa, Funk, and Fusion. With grooves inspired by traditional Latin Jazz masters Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, and Cal Tjader, Mark's guitar work and arrangements combine the technical sophistication of Jazz and Flamenco with the down-to-earth feel of the Blues and Rock from his Texas upbringing to create something brand new. As Down Beat Magazine writer Paul MacArthur says, “Mark Towns isn’t just playing Latin Jazz, he’s making sure it continues to evolve.”
Towns leads his own critically-acclaimed bands - Mark Towns Latin Jazz, Mark Towns Flamenco Fusion, and Mark Towns & Brazilliance - in addition to finding time to work with a diverse array of major artists. He has performed and/or recorded with Rickie Lee Jones, Cybill Shepherd, Chaka Khan, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Poncho Sanchez, The Polish National Ballet, Arnette Cobb, Clay Aiken, Stanley Clarke, Pharaoh Sanders, Pete Barbutti, Chucho Valdes, Roy Hargrove, Hubert Laws, Kirk Whalum, Yomo Toro, Rick Braun, Larry Coryell, Augie Meyers, Airto Moreira, Arturo Sandoval, Dave Valentin, and many others, and has appeared playing guitar on the Emmy-winning TV shows "Veep" with Julia Louis-Dreyfuss and “Desperate Housewives” with Terry Hatcher.
Mark Towns’ music is a unique fusion of esoteric hipness and universally accessiblity. "Mark's music has an intensity to it that makes you want to move and dance, and yet it really relaxes you too," says saxophonist Kirk Whalum. No matter what part of the dynamic spectrum his music takes--from fiery hot Latin Jazz to silky romantic Spanish guitar, Mark’s music always maintains an enchanting, magical feel. As award-winning music critic Shea Serrano observed, “Put a guitar in his hands and Mark Towns is otherworldly.”
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Mark Towns: Passion
by John Kelman
Following up his 2000 début, Flamenco Jazz Latino , guitarist Mark Towns returns with another dose of Latin/Cuban-inflected jazz on Passion , again featuring flautist Hubert Laws. While not exactly a groundbreaking affair, there are enough pleasant melodies and good playing to make this album worth a spin for fans of the genre. The question is: does it merit repeated play?Passion also reunites Towns with pianist Rainel Pino and bassist Anibal Ambert, both players who are comfortable with ...
Continue ReadingMark Towns: Passion
by Javier AQ Ortiz
Guitarist Mark Towns releases his second recording, after his Flamenco Jazz Latino, joined once again by special guest Hubert Laws. Although the former Mongo Santamaria flutist is the most acknowledged player in the recording, the rest of the ensemble has some nice surprises in stow for the listener. Simply stated, this is quite a pleasant disk with the heated percussive inevitability of an expertly overdubbed full Latin percussion section...with trap drums in a couple of the cuts...piano, bass and Towns ...
Continue ReadingMark Towns Latin Jazz Quintet One Night Only April 9 Upstairs at Vitello's Jazz Room
Source:
1888 Media
Guitarist Mark Towns will perform one night only this Thursday April 9, 2009 at the new Jazz room Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City. This room is reminiscent of the Jazz clubs of the sixties and seventies, such as Shelley's Mann Hole and Dontes, in Los Angeles and is rapidly becoming known as one of LA's best listening rooms. The passionate Mark Towns will perform with his stellar Latin Jazz Quintet including Mark Towns guitar Bryan Velasco - piano (formerly ...
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“Mark Towns is not just playing Latin jazz, he is making sure it continues to evolve.” - Paul McArthur, Houston Press
"Mark Towns' music has the piquancy and surprise of the best Latin-inflected jazz, with a sense of space unique to his Southwestern roots meeting the sophistication of his residency in Los Angeles. Mark is a deft, lyrical guitarist--the bright arrangements of his pretty original tunes, the quick, tight, shifting rhythm section featuring hot pianist Rainel Pino, and the simpatico guest appearances by flutist Hubert Laws reward my repeated listening with growing pleasure." - Howard Mandel, Down Beat
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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson
