Jon Mark

From the spellbinding majesty of the Alhambra to the thunderous war machine called Conquistadores, Jon Mark has again captured the soul and spirit of a people in his music. The Alhambra was at one time the royal city/fortress of the Moors, looking down over Spanish Granada, with numerous and wonderful palaces, courtyards, fountains, and splenderous gardens. It was built over the course of centuries, and became the birthplace of countless legends of opulence, mighty rulers, intrigue, and romance. As in The Standing Stones of Callanish and Land of Merlin, Jon Mark weaves ancient melodies and rhythms into his electronic tapestry, this time portraying the elegance and grandeur of medieval Spain. With classical guitar accents, sounds of harp, trumpet, and the hot desert wind adding vivid colorings, Alhambra is yet another haunting soundtrack to give wings to ever-nomadic imaginations.

Off the northwest coast of Scotland on the Isle of Lewis, rise the Standing Stones of Callanish. The main ring of these stones is often called the Scottish Stonehenge. The importance and purpose of the stones is not known. Theories suggests possibilities such as a transducer for healing energy, an astronomical observatory, a place of sun-moon worship, or an entryway to places that exist in Celtic myth.

Jon Mark uses his electronic keyboards to produce a CD filled with incredibly evocative music. The melancholy and reflection that flow through every song on this recording are indicative of the time of year when trees go bare, the air grows cold, and winter begins to appear. Some of the songs are tinged with bittersweet memories, others are more minor-key and somber.

Jon Mark is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist, who is best known for his recordings with Marianne Faithfull, Sweet Thursday, John Mayall and Mark-Almond. Mark, who received a Grammy in 2004, lives in Rotorua, New Zealand.