| Jazz. Groove. Passion. Energy. |
2008 was very exciting for us and I'd like to share just a few highlights with you. From signing with a brilliant manager (Gail Boyd) and a forward-thinking label (Paved Earth Music), playing the 2008 JVC Newport Festival, W.C. Handy Jazz Festival, Euphoria Fest, sharing the stage with Walter Blanding, Jr., sold out shows at the Blue Note and so much more, the Mark Rapp Group enjoyed a very fruitful and creative year. Please enjoy the wealth of pictures, videos and more on my Facebook and MySpace pages. Most importantly, THANK YOU for all of your support and encouragement which made it all possible.
Coming up in 2009, we have the official Paved Earth Music/Synergy/IODA CD release of Mark Rapp: Token Tales on January 20th (look for it on iTunes, Amazon, SpiralFrog, etc.) with a huge show at Le Poisson Rouge (NYC) on Jan. 30th. Get your tickets now! |
 |
 |
|
SARAR Partnership
Jazz and high fashion have been inseparable from the start - think Miles, Duke Ellington, Dexter Gordon, Sinatra, Wynton Marsalis. Quality paired with quality, nuance with nuance... passion, sophistication, excitement. SARAR found in Mark the perfect partnerhsip as one supports and enhances the other. From special events to simple photos, this past year has been only the beginning of what is quickly becoming an innovative cobranded partnership.
SEE PICS: facebook.com |
 |
 |
|
Blue Note: Groove Series
It was a late, late Friday night at the world famous Blue Note (NYC) - MRG's debut appearance - and because of YOU, it was a SOLD OUT affair! The band was Jamie Reynolds (piano, keys), Derek Bronston (guitar), Rene Hart (bass) and Gintas Janusonis (drums).
SEE PICS & VIDEOS: facebook.com (pics) | facebook.com (vids) | youtube.com |
|
 |
|
Blue Note: Monday Night
Growing from the wildly successful Groove Series performance, MRG returned to the Blue Note (NYC) later in the year for two sets on a Monday night. The 1st set - sold out - the 2nd set - packed! Gail Boyd said she hasn't seen a Monday night so crowded in 20 years! How did it happen? YOU guys made the night a helluva lot of fun!
SEE PICS & VIDEOS: facebook.com (pics) | youtube.com |
|
 |
|
Gail Boyd Artist Management
"There is no such thing as a self-made man. You will reach your goals only with the help of others." - George Shinn. Earlier in '08, Gail Boyd Artist Management signed Mark Rapp to their stellar roster of musicians including Grammy Award winner John Clayton.
READ ANNOUNCEMENT: gailboyd.com |
|
 |
|
Special Concert in Anguilla
Snatched up from a gig in NYC, Mark Rapp and his pianist, Jamie Reynolds, were wisked away to the beautiful, tropical island of Anguilla to perform a private concert.
SEE PICS: facebook.com |
|
 |
|
Weston Council for the Arts
The Mark Rapp Group played for the Weston Arts Council grand finale concert to a packed house. The reception was so warm and the concert so good - it was a fantastic night in Connecticut! In the band was Michael Bellar (piano, keys), Rene Hart (bass), Ben Perowsky (drums).
SEE PICS & VIDEOS: facebook.com (pics) | youtube.com |
|
 |
|
WC Handy Jazz Festival
The WC Handy Jazz Festival is one of the southeast's leading jazz festivals having everyone from Dizzy to Ellis Marsalis. MRG was one of the featured groups this past year. MRG also held a music clinic for the C.I.T.Y. Program (Community Intensive Treatment for Youth). Rapp says, "This is one of the main reasons I work so hard at playing music - to have the opportunity to encourage and inspire people of all ages to arise to the occasion, find happiness in the journey and to achieve their dreams." And having lunch with Mayor Irons and his wife was a welcomed event. Great festival and even greater people!
SEE PICS: facebook.com |
|
 |
|
Indaba Podcast
Indabamusic.com, a formidable music website who've done features with such artists as Mariah Carey, Yo-Yo Ma to the Roots, interviewed Mark Rapp for their podcast series. Indaba Music podcasts have featured people like Greg Osby (celebrated jazz saxophonist), Fred Davis (Entertainment Lawyer who represented D'Angelo, 3 Doors Down, Busta Rhymes), Tim Westergren (founder of the popular internet radio service Pandora), DJ Smash (a pioneer of the New York acid-jazz, house, and remix scene) and others.
SEE PICS & HEAR PODCAST: facebook.com (pics) | facebook.com (audio) |
|
 |
|
JVC Newport Jazz Festival
MRG's debut appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival was simply awesome largely due in part to the fine folks there. From the great food at Flo's Clam Shack to the festival crew to the warm audience, it was brilliant! The Travel Channel even included Rapp and his band in their Hi-Def documentary which is airing nationally.
SEE PICS & VIDEOS: facebook.com (pics) | facebook.com (vids) |
|
 |
|
Guest Soloist with Big Band
Mark was honored to be one of the returning alums to play a special guest appearance on Winthrop University's Big Band CD recording. WUJE easily rivals the best University and professional Big Bands out there and was featured at the prestigious 2008 Addison/University of North Texas Jazz Festival. Mark is guest soloist on Hoagy Carmichel's classic "Skylark" as arranged by Mike Steinel.
HEAR CLIP: facebook.com (audio) |
|
 |
|
US Open
When Roger Federer won this year's USTA US Open, a trio version of MRG was there entertaining the international crowds that packed the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, NY.
SEE PICS: facebook.com |
|
 |
|
Euphoria: Music, Food & Wine
Last year, Branford Marsalis was Mark's special guest (see videos). This year, it was Wynton's right-hand man Walter Blanding, Jr. They tore it up at the hugely popular Jazz brunch. Mark and Derek also participated in the cooking seminars a la Emeril Live with special guest Chef Kevin Rathbun.
SEE PICS & VIDEOS: facebook.com (pics) | facebook.com (vids) |
|
 |
|
Paved Earth Music
Late in the year, Mark was scooped up by a forward-thinking label based out of Brooklyn, NY and will be releasing Mark Rapp: Token Tales on Jan. 20th, 2009. By combining great music talent with a new media, out of the box approach to marketing, Paved Earth Music is a unique model of what a music company can be. Our goal is to give fans unique access to our artists and make them feel part of the process.
SEE LABEL: pavedearthmusic.com | synergy/IODA |
|
 |
|
Reviews! Reviews! Reviews!
They say, "Any press is good press." But, quite frankly, "Good press is great press." And we're very excited the following (and first) reviews of Mark Rapp: Token Tales, Rapp's debut release, have come in positive, because writers like Gray Hunter and Walter Kolosky do NOT hold back! Thank you gents for digging the music!
READ REVIEWS:
Gray Hunter (album review)
jazz.com (Incense and Peppermints)
jazz.com (Who's the Man?) |
|
| See all the PICS and VIDEOS: markrapp.com | myspace.com | facebook.com | youtube.com |
 |
|
 |
|
CD Release Party at Le Poission Rouge
Friday, January 30
The official Paved Earth Music/Synergy/IODA CD Release party for Mark Rapp: Token Tales. Get your tickets now! |
|
