Mark Growden
Each of Mark Growden's albums have been recorded in a place where he felt the songs fit - a place where the musical culture and physical landscape would enhance the album's ambiance. Saint Judas was informed by the soulful complexity of Oakland's cosmopolitan cityscape and Growden's long-standing Oakland/San Francisco ensemble (Seth Ford Young - bass, Myles Boisen - guitar, Jenya Chernoff - percussion, Alex Kelly - cello, Chris Grady - trumpet, Mark Growden - accordion, banjo, bicycle handlebars, sruti box, voice). Lose Me in the Sand is rooted in Tucson's country music scene, with guitarist Clay Koweek, fiddler Tim O'Connor, dobro player Connor Gallaher, bassist Ian Stapp, harmonica player Tom Walbank and guest percussionist Andrew Collberg contributing their homegrown sensibilities. With Growden as music director, the arrangements grew from guided improvisations. Each musician crafted riffs to add nuance and depth to the interpretations.
Saint Judas
(2009)
Although it was recorded live in the studio in just two days, Saint Judas is really a result of a decade of work. The album features Mark on accordion and banjo presenting a set the songs developed over the last ten years in dive bars, large theaters and intimate house concerts.
Lose Me in the Sand
(2011)
Putting down the accordion in favor of the banjo in Lose Me in the Sand Growden moves away from the dark Oakland-inspired style of Saint Judas toward a more country and folk ballad sound. Rehearsed and recorded in Tucson, AZ with a string band of local musicians the album features a repertoire of folk classics and a few very adapted covers of Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Janis Joplin and Francis Scott Key.
Featured videos
Upcoming shows
| June, 2012 | |
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Sat 23rd Jun 8:00 pm | 2179 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA Berkeley, CA (United States) |