The album opens with an original number, “Sunday In LA,” which Mark Winkler wrote with Greg Gordon Smith, who plays piano on this track. The track begins by establishing a good groove, and there is a pleasant air about the song, appropriate for its subject. “Nothing better than palm trees, perfect weather/The only time to drive the 10 and 405.” That line makes me smile each time I hear it. For those who do not live in this great city, the 405 highway is to be avoided at nearly all times, except, yes, sometimes on Sundays. The same largely goes for the 10. This song celebrates the city, but specifically on that day when you can relax a bit. It features some wonderful work on piano, and of course Mark Winkler’s vocal approach fits perfectly with the attitude of the song, but it is that groove that really drives this song for me. “Everybody loves a Sunday in L.A.” That’s followed by a cover of Donald Fagen’s “I.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World),” a song from Fagen’s debut solo album, The Nightfly, released in 1982. Mark Winkler’s vocal approach here is similar to Donald Fagen’s own. And this track contains some good work by Bob Sheppard on saxophone.
“The Joy Of Singing” is an original song, with lyrics by Mark Winkler and music by Nic Chamberlain, Mark Winkler and Jamieson Trotter. This song celebrates all those who sing, no matter what musical realm they might choose, no matter whether professionally or not. This one too has a delicious groove, and features some excellent work from the brass section. Mark Winkler also makes this one personal, singing “And here’s to the father who’s sometimes a rocker/Doing Jagger down at the bar/And here’s to my mother, who sang like no other/And played piano when I was young.” I think we can all add some lines to this one. Who inspired your love of song? For if you’re reading this, you clearly have a love for music. In the second half, it suddenly gets mellow for a moment, and personal again: “Here’s to my brother/I sing because of you/Our voices together/Singing the old songs and the new.” I believe that much of the world’s joy comes from music, from singing and playing and listening and dancing. Certainly this song has that joyful spirit.
“In Love In New York” is another original composition, this one written by Mark Winkler and Michele Brourman. It eases in, describing the wonder of love: “I met you, and nothing is the same/I barely know my name/And all that I can blame it on is love/Suddenly Manhattan is batting a thousand or so/Tell me where did the big bad city go.” Oh yes, isn’t that the best feeling? When your own love seems to change everything around you. The song then kicks in, developing a cool vibe. This track features some good work by George Doering on guitar. “The downtown subway is a pleasant ride/Broadway tickets aren’t priced too high/I must be in love in New York/In your arms, the Hudson looks much bluer.” I appreciate the sweet humor of those lines. This song is delightful. Love truly conquers all in this song, even having this magical effect: “People smiling wherever I go/They drop their cell phones to say hello.” We need more of that magic everywhere. That’s followed by a cheerful, bright rendition of The Beatles’ “Got To Get You Into My Life,” with an arrangement by John Beasley, who is on keys on this track. This track also contains some nice work by Dan Lutz on bass.
John Beasley also did the arrangement on the album’s title track, “The Rules Don’t Apply,” and begins it with some really nice work on piano. Then Mark Winkler comes in to sing, “One day I told my friend I was terribly blue.” Ah, but nothing about this will make you feel blue, partly because of his delivery, partly because of that work on drums. “He gave me a gift that I would treasure/He said the rules don’t apply to you.” This track features some excellent work by Brian Swartz on trumpet. This is a song reminding us it’s not too late to pursue our dreams, a message I appreciate more and more. And Mark Winkler leads us all to believe it’s true. This track is another of the disc’s highlights. He then delivers a smooth and moving rendition of Paul Simon’s “Something So Right,” with an interesting and compelling approach. John Beasley did the arrangement for this one too.
“Just Around The Corner” is an original composition by Mark Winkler and Greg Gordon Smith. It begins with some good work by Gabe Davis on bass, and soon opens up with the horn section. There is a dramatic quality to this one, seeming to urge us to action, moving the music forward. I appreciate the Shakespeare reference: “I see worlds beyond the old/Brave new worlds, if I am bold.” That is a reference to Miranda’s famous line from The Tempest, “O brave new world/That has such people in ‘t.” And I love the line “Shakin’ up nice and predictable is half of the fun.” This track features some fantastic work on saxophone, and is yet another of the album’s highlight. It is followed by “If These Walls Could Talk (They’d Sing),” which is also about music, about feeling the presence of those who have come before, when new music is being recorded at the studio. Mark Winkler dedicates this one to Capitol Records Recording Studios. It is a vibrant and joyful number that celebrates all who have sung before, whether or not they were successful. Mark Winkler continues the music theme with “Jazz Swings,” another original number. Here he sings, “‘Cause with you I can’t go wrong/Like Benny Goodman playing a song/Jazz swings, the band sounds sweet.” But this one is also a love song. What’s interesting is that at first it seems to be told from the perspective of music fans who are dancing, but then the line switches from “You’re the words to my favorite tune” to “the words to my tune.” So it is both, a songwriter who is also a lover of music. This track features some wonderful stuff by Bob Sheppard on clarinet. Kevin Winard is on percussion.
Mark Winkler gives us a totally fun and energetic rendition of “Mama Told Me Not To Come,” a song written by Randy Newman that was a hit for Three Dog Night. This track features Errol Rhoden on tuba. And yeah, the brass section really shines on this track. Plus, there is also some good guitar work, and even a short drum solo. I love the percussion on this track. Mark Winker and company are clearly having a great time with this song. Mark adds a playful “Should’ve listened to Mama” at the end. The tone then changes for “Lessons I’ve Learned,” an original song written by Mark Winkler and Jamieson Trotter. “I’ve lived more of this life than I have left of this life/But I still keep looking ahead, looking ahead to the future,” Mark sings at the beginning of this one. These lines hit me. Aging and time have been on my mind a lot lately. “I can tell if someone’s crazy within seconds of meeting them,” he sings at one point. Well, these days, the chances are good if you’re in certain part of this country that anyone you meet is bonkers. Hello, Florida. The album concludes with another original tune composed by Mark Winkler and Jamieson Trotter, “Here’s To Jazz.” And it’s another cool one, and another that is about music, featuring some delicious work on piano. “Here’s to being out there and getting it right/Here’s to taking chances.” Those lines can apply to whatever it is that we’re interested in.
CD Track List
- Sunday In LA
- I.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World)
- The Joy Of Singing
- In Love In New York
- Got To Get You Into My Life
- The Rules Don’t Apply
- Something So Right
- Just Around The Corner
- If These Walls Could Talk (They’d Sing)
- Jazz Swings
- Mama Told Me Not To Come
- Lessons I’ve Learned
- Here’s To Jazz
The Rules Don’t Apply is scheduled to be released on January 12, 2024 on Café Pacific Records.
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