WRITER'S BIO
Mark Randall has been writing commentary and short essays for over forty years. His pieces have appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Magazine, Harper's Magazine and Metro, among others, and have been cited in various publications including the Wall Street Journal.
Not That You Asked, a broad sampling of his work collected in book form, was praised by Art Carey of The Philadelphia Inquirer for "elegant writing...that combines the literary lucidity of Edmund Wilson and the wicked wit of Oscar Wilde." David Boldt, formerly of the same paper, placed the work alongside Thurber. Unfortunately, fairness probably requires noting that both Carey and Boldt were Randall's former editors. Then too, Carey is prone to a sort of hyperbolic, or perhaps anabolic, enthusiasm, and it is not clear whether Boldt was commenting on the book's stature or its placement on his nightstand. Still...
On a tangential and even more minor note is Randall’s arcane (but short!) The Lost Book of Tennis Leviticus (Wherein the Lord Gives the People a General Tennis Etiquette). If you don’t play tennis, you will probably not want to bother with this. Then again, if you know someone who does, it would make a perfect little gift, especially since tennis – unlike smoking and golf – is sadly short on gift-like accoutrements. Of course, if you happen to be a tennis-playing theologian, or know one, I think this book will seem to have been made in heaven.
(If anyone is interested, both of these books are available via Amazon.)
Randall makes the greater part of his living as a swing jazz pianist in Philadelphia where he lives with his wife, Kate.
PIANIST'S BIO
Mark Randall plays Broadway, movie and jazz standards - the music of Gershwin, Kern, Porter, Ellington et al, in a style that borrows from the great old swing jazz pianists such as Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson and Erroll Garner. Perhaps too melodic and too old-school to be called "jazz" these days, Mark Randall's music swings nonetheless in that idiom that keeps changing its name but not its appeal. Call it old jazz, call it cocktail music, call it cabaret. Whatever.
FROMMER's Guide to Philadelphia called Mark Randall Philadelphia's best cafe pianist. PHILADELPHIA Magazine mentioned him five consecutive years in its Best of Philly issues.
He has been called "first rate" by the Philadelphia Inquirer, and featured in the national KEYBOARD Magazine. He has been invited to play at the Mellon Jazz Festival, at the Bar Cavalados in Paris, and at numerous parties and receptions for notables such as Rudolf Nuryev, Martha Graham and Bill Blass.
Scott Yanow of Los Angeles Jazz Scene writes that "Randall has a style reminiscent of that of Teddy Wilson" and cites his "subtle variations, clear voicings and tasteful and swinging approach".
Mark Randall is currently playing at One Liberty Place and The Union League (alas, neither place is public). In past years he played long stints at Downey’s, Strawbridge and Clothier, The Palace Hotel, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (alas, all now defunct), The Rittenhouse Hotel, the Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton in addition to numerous private homes and clubs.
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