mark sylvester

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A Guy and His Guitar... and Heaps of Talent

"Takoma Park resident Mark Sylvester is blessed with unusual musical talent. He plays acoustic guitar, fretless and upright bass, banjo and mandolin with astounding proficiency. "Urban Nocturne" showcases my favorite aspect of Sylvester's performances, his ability to sound melancholy and playful simultaneously."

- Louise Pierce, WashingtonPost.com





"The untimely death of Michael Hedges in 1997 cast a long shadow over the music community. Thankfully, guitarists like Maryland's Sylvester are keeping Hedges' sound alive in blends of neo-classical, folk, and jazz. Sylvester's crisp, tender playing is particularly adept at drawing out folk melancholy."

- c|net editor's review

"With his debut recording, Mark Sylvester gives us a gift of music. These are mesmerizing melodies, presented with a subtle virtuosity, which humbly focuses attention on the quiet beauty of each piece rather than the remarkable skill of the artist.

This solo guitar recording, aptly named American Gypsy, reveals influences from Appalachian tunes and American blues to European Baroque and Medieval music.

Some compositions on American Gypsy are beautifully melancholic, yet many slip into an optimistic major. Urban Nocturne, is a light, blues-influenced number, casual yet refined. I'll Not be Weary is pure, American folk, delivered with a hummable, Arlo Guthrie-esque tune.

Sylvester seems to find commonality in many different cultures. The compositions he creates are evocative and spiritually rich. One striking piece, Alchemy, is built around a harmonic minor scale, invoking a Middle Eastern flavor and a mood of enchantment. Hope, the sweet melody that follows, characterizes Sylvester's non-pretentious versatility. "

- Takoma Voice

Versatile Crocodile

"Mark Sylvester's first solo album dips into a lot of pudding jars, and thus its classification here as "Classical" is entirely misleading. The album is a stunning mix of styles and types of composition, including acoustic rock, folk, world (whatever that means), classical, and styles which until now had only existed in some higher Platonic realm. Each carefully composed original tune has a different flavor, from the hum-strumming goodness of "Caravan" and "How We Go On" to the hilarious romp of "Dance of the Misfits." "American Gypsy," in three parts, is a contemplative epic that manages to weave ever more complex themes together, laying out a life in song. "Night" is one of the most stunningly beautiful compositions I've ever heard, the melody like rain sliding down a window. It's also great to see Sylvester's compositional skills branch out with "Sarabande," a haunting classical piece, and "Alchemy," which sounds like an Egyptian oud composition. He's a more melodic Leo Kottke, a more hammy Hamza El Din, a less pretentious Steve Howe, a more soupy Soupy Sales. Overall, an acoustic journey with a depth and variety rarely heard. Check out his work with Tree Surgeons, too..."

- Zoot, an iTunes reviewer

I've listened to it repeatedly when I had intended to practice my own music...

"Mark Sylvester's American Gypsy sounds wonderful and splendid at home.
It sounds quite good in the car too.
I call it 'Truckin' Music.'
The soundtrack of my travels.
I like it when I'm cruising along a mile a minute.
It's refreshing with the windows down.
It is therapeutic when I'm stuck in traffic, and it prevents road rage with its soothing moments.

It is just right in the morning with the first cup of coffee...stimulates the nervous system to a pleasant and exciting level of consciousness.

I like it immensely in the afternoons as the sun sails past its zenith.
At night it is perfect too and does not require daylight or full sun.
I can enjoy it when I'm alone, and I can let friends enjoy it when I have company.
I like it with water and with wine.

On the negative side, it does not always serve all that well as background music because people sometimes stop the conversation to say, 'Who is that? That sounds great.'

I plan to take care of it and enjoy it when I'm older.

And this CD, on which Mark has the right and minimal amount of uncluttered, tasteful accompaniment (apparently Mark accompanied by Mark) is fairly faithful to the wonders Mark Sylvester does onstage live and solo.

I rank it at the top, along with a favorite by Robin Bullock and Steve Baughman's profoundly beautiful 'Celtic Guitar Summit.'

- Ron Goad