Reviews

From JAZZTIMES:

“Saxophonist Mark Lopeman personifies the class and style that once defined jazz. On his newest album, "Nice Work If You Can Get It," Lopeman delivers one spirited performance after another, both uplifting and touching the heart with tracks that convey love and happiness as well as emotional reflection. It’s a well-balanced affair, and Lopeman never ceases to move the listener.”

From @Critical Jazz (Jazz blog):

“Lopeman waited till his early fifties for his debut as a leader and comes out swinging! While Lopeman has a sound reminiscent of Zoot Sims, Lopeman's sound is unique and so is his swing and choice of instrumentation. Lopeman's choice of tunes borders on the eclectic but are all pulled off with first-rate style! Along with a tremendous instrumental voice there is another formidable talent as all arrangements are done by Lopeman as well.”

From “Jazz Lives” (Michael Steinman’s jazz blog):

“QUIETLY SPECTACULAR: ‘NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT’:
MARK LOPEMAN’S DEBUT CD

“…Mark is also one of those players who has thoroughly absorbed the tradition but has managed to bob along on the waves, remaining true to himself. So a tenor aficionado will hear affectionate side-glances of Charlie Rouse and Al Cohn, Lucky Thompson and Stan Getz, but Mark is not one of those Real Book / play-along creations who coast from one learned phrase to another. He is himself, and what a good thing that is!"

Saxophonist Mark Lopeman personifies the class and style that once defined jazz. On his newest album, "Nice Work If You Can Get It," Lopeman delivers one spirited performance after another, both uplifting and touching the heart with tracks that convey love and happiness as well as emotional reflection. It’s a well-balanced affair, and Lopeman never ceases to move the listener.

From Amazon.com Customer Reviews:

“Mark Lopeman brings back all the nostalgia of the years when solid jazz ensembles peppered the clubs across the land, depending on artistry rather than manipulated miking and light effects and abused amplification. This album, NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT (thanks to the Gershwins), is full of fine tunes played by fine artists, not the least of which is Mark Lopeman himself - saxophonist extraordinaire! It makes the listener want to complete the words to the title - `and you can get it - if you try'. All you need to do is put this CD on the player and you CAN get it!

"Lopeman is ably assisted in this concert by Ted Rosenthal, Nicki Parrott & Tim Horner and the selections they play are familiar songs but offered here with a freshness that makes them seem brand new. The arrangements are Lopeman's and he has graced the set with two original songs. Few of us can deny some warm feelings attached to the songs here - `Love Walked In', `My Reverie', ``My Kind of Girl', `I'm a Fool to Want You', the title song, `I'm Always Chasing Rainbows', `Everything Happens to Me', etc. Truth is there isn't a weak band on this finely recorded CD.”

Joe Lang, Jersey Jazz Magazine

"Many of the readers of this journal have seen MARK LOPEMAN playing in Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks, often taking a brief, but sublime solo here and there. Nice Work If You Can Get It (Mark Lopeman – No Catalog Number) gives Lopeman an opportunity to stretch out on tenor and soprano saxes, as well as clarinet, on his first album as a leader. The results are superb. He has gathered a first rate team to join him on this endeavor, Ted Rosenthal on piano, Nicki Parrott on bass and Tim Horner on drums, with contributions from Brandon Lee on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Noah Bless on trombone. Lopeman has a nice tone on all three instruments, is a fluid improviser, and has lent his considerable arranging talent to the charts for the well chosen program. Among the songs are a pair of nicely conceived Lopeman originals, several standards, and a too much neglected tune by Michel Legrand, 'La Station – Service.' This is the kind of first album that makes you believe that it will not Lopeman’s last as a leader. This is a cat who possesses a lot of musical intelligence that needs more exposure."

Interview at "All About Jazz"

It's fitting that the cover of saxophonist Mark Lopeman's latest album, Nice Work If You Can Get It, is a watercolor portrait from his daughter Rosie. After all, Lopeman approaches his instrument like a painter himself, utterly spellbinding in his ability to illustrate various moods from the unbridled joy of “My Reverie" to the warm caress of “I'm a Fool to Want You" to the gentle introspection of “Everything Happens to Me." Stellar musicians such as the New York-based Lopeman aren't simply born; they are made, creatively evolving as the years pass. Lopeman discusses his roots in this in-depth interview....

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