Mark Carter: Smooth As Silk
February 13, 2008 - Veteran smooth jazz guitarist Mark Carter has been playing and performing for more than 30 years. He has had the opportunity to play with key musicians in the smooth jazz genre such as Dave Koz, Al Jarreau, Eric Marienthal, Jeff Kashiwa, to name a few.

 
     
 

The South California-based artist has always used his Gibson 335 electric guitar as a means to warm up his listener's heart with his vibrant playing style and communicate his religious faith. As he told this writer: "My faith is the center of my life. Music is a gift from God and I would like to reach as many people as possible to share this faith in a positive way."

And Carter manages to reach a wide audience with his latest piece of work, "Smooth as Silk". The album starts with a musical rodeo, a great cover of Blackbyrd's famous tune "Walking in Rhythm", accompanied by Greg Adam's flugelhorn killing solo.


 
  
   


Then you will go through the musician's crooner's attitude with a rolling track "There's That Girl". You will be carried away with a track that will warm your heart, a romantic version of Smokey Robinson's classic "Being With You". Listen to the funky touches of Mark Carter's guitar and Jeff Kashiwa's saxophone on "Funky Like Dat". The groovy "Talk to me Brother" unfolds with Carter's guitar skills and Tim Redfield's bright keyboard. You will then have party time with the musical celebration "Carnival Time". The rendition of Luther Vandross "I Know" is a melodic encounter between Carter's soft gentle touch and Kashiwa's incredible soprano sax. "April's Kiss" is a nice melody, with Carter's sizzling guitar, wrappped up by Greg Adam's flugelhorn and Tim Redfield's keyboards (this musician has produced Carter's three previous albums). "Old Days" has this Wes Montgomery sound, where Carter displays his "axe"virtuosity. Then eventually you will be transported to the "City of Angels" with Carter's and Redfield's musical lightness.

So you will enjoy the playing style of this energetic guitarist that will bring you California's sunshine and take you to a feisty mood. - Review by Akbar Nour