Music
Press
By Mary-Ann Brandon
WALSENBURG- Since moving from San Francisco to Walsenburg in 2001, Mark Craddock has carved out his niche in the local music scene. During the mid 1990’s Mark began playing saxophone professionally. After putting in his time playing at local Blues jams, Regi Harvey hired him to be part of the house band at Eli’s Mile High Club in Oakland and from there he was off to the races. He became a member of Harvey′s Blues/Rock band “Thunder Blue”. Around this time he also became a member of “The Lab Rats” an experimental free Jazz group. This led to session and club work with many notable artists in the bay area.
After moving to Walsenburg Mark began playing with local musicians Brent and Babz Seawell, Steve Hohn and Glen Wilbanks. During this period he formed his own band “Blue Monday”.
In 2004 Mark met recording artist Ken Saydak and Nashville record producer Fred James. This led to Mark being invited to play with Ken Saydak throughout Colorado and New Mexico.
The current band lineup is a trio consisting of Craddock on saxophone, Tom Reid on bass and David Zehring on drums. It was this trio that caught the ear of Fred James during the summer of 2007. Says James, “Mark shows real promise as a new voice in contemporary Jazz songwriting”. The encouragement led to a recording project for Bluesland Productions, produced by Steve Hohn, that took place at Hohn’s “Fishing Hole” recording studio in Walsenburg. This recording resulted in a CD entitled “Goodbye Blue Monday” by the Mark Craddock Trio featuring Ken Saydak. The project was released earlier in 2009 by Los Angeles record company "Snail Worx".
Craddock′s songs are very melodic with hooks that will get stuck in your head. If you are a fan of classic Blue Note or Prestige Jazz recordings try to imagine just that with a modern jam band twist. There is a vintage quality about the sound that is extremely easy on the ears without being too precious in its homage to the past. Make no mistake, this is a thoroughly modern recording.
Currently, Craddock is in the process of trying to organize a record release concert, hopefully, sometime in October or November. Check back often for news releases regarding this upcoming concert, it will be one that any Jazz fan in the area will not want to miss
If Mark Craddock has his way, Huerfano County may one day be known not only for its amazing natural beauty but also as the birthplace of some fine Jazz music.
Note: “Goodbye Blue Monday” is currently available for downloading from Rhapsody, Amazon.com, Napster, i tunes, and e-Music. You can also visit Mark Craddock’s website at jazz.markcraddock.com or his record company at www.snailworx.com....
Posted on : 24-September-2009 | Section : Extra - Huerfano Journal
Discography
"Goodbye Blue Monday," The Mark Craddock Trio (Snailworx, 2009)
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Bio
A San Francisco player through the 1990s, Mark Craddock was a member of “Thunder Blue,” a heavily Jimi Hendrix-influenced blues-rock band fronted by Bay Area veteran Regi harvey. Mark also was a member of a popular San Francisco free-jazz group, “The Lab Rats,” and did occasionals, session work and jams with many Bay Area notables such as percussionist Hugh “Sweetfoot” Manard (Caribbean All Stars), blues harpist Red Archibald, and steel guitarist Freddie Roulette. At one time or another, he played in most of the Bay Area’s major blues and rock venues, including New George’s (San Rafael); Skip’s Tavern, The Blue Lamp, Lou’s Pier 47, Biscuits and Blues, The Boom Boom Room (all San Francisco clubs); and JJ’s Blues (San Jose).
In late 2001, Mark moved to Walsenburg, Colo., his wife’s hometown.
In addition to gigging with local musicians such as Brent and Babz Seawell, Steve Hohn, and Glenn Wilbanks, Craddock formed his own 9-piece funk/fusion band “Blue Monday,” which gigged frequently around Pueblo and Colorado Springs from 2002 to 2004.
In 2004, Mark met Chicago blues pianist Ken Saydak and Nashville songwriter Fred James at a local watering hole. For the next three years he played extensively around Colorado and New Mexico as a member of Ken’s band, as well as gigging with Fred’s “Blazz” (blues-jazz) project.
For the last year and a half, Mark been playing pretty much exclusively with his own jazz combo, “The Mark Craddock Trio,” with bassist Tom Read and percussionist David Zehring. The trio has just released its first CD project on the L.A.-based Snailworx label, engineered by Steve Hohn, produced by Fred James, and featuring Ken Saydak, who stopped by the studio to lay down some incredible Hammond B3 tracks.
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