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Richard Smallwood/Will Downing Bassist Serves Up Impressive Debut

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Patrons at Washington DC's trendy Zanzibar On The Waterfront had the pleasure of celebrating with Mark Walker back in July at what many called an incredible evening of music. It was a night for “bass as the principal instrument". Walker, whose gift has been heard on the Grammy, Stellar, and Dove award-winning recordings of Richard Smallwood, Shirley Caesar, Vickie Winans, and Yolanda Adams, stepped out of the background with the release of his debut CD, “Forever Yours". Los Angeles-based keyboardist/writer/producer Tim Carmon (who includes Eric Clapton, Babyface, and B.B. King among his impressive credits), joined Walker in the production, writing, and also shared his absolutely remarkable aptitude on keys. “Forever Yours" offers up 12 tracks of inspirational jazz that soundly declare Walker's love of the instrument from the first song to the last. Armed with keen discernment of timing, and rhythm as if a great drummer, partnered with a seamless fusion of gospel and jazz, Walker makes each track shine. He proves that one can be equally effective and disciplined whether in the shadows or the spotlight. Although he'll quickly confess that he doesn't consider himself a singer, his pleasant vocals on the opening track, “He Cares", just pave the way for other gems including the Latin flavored, “Blessings", and the especially moving “Thank You", and “I Need You". Additional talented personnel include, saxophonist Kevin Levi, drummers J.J. Williams and Andre “Blues" Webb, and guitarist Alvin White.

Currently, Walker is lending his bass artistry to studio work with Philadelphia producer/composer Steven Ford, and live performances with Smallwood (and his ensemble “Vision"), smooth vocalist Will Downing, and the masterful saxman Gerald Albright.

Read more about Mark on the artists' page at neuserbasses.com “Forever Yours", released on the independent MPM label, is now available at cdbaby.com, and Tower Records.

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