Now for a feature on contemporary jazz violinist Mark Cargill that originally appeared in my regular column at ABYSSJazz. For more information on this top notch soul, R & B and smooth jazz magazine go to www.abyssjazz.com
Aside from the huge yet subtle orchestras that provided the back drop to much of the greatest soul music of the 60’s and 70’s it was when I first heard the violin being used to such sensational effect on Miles Jaye’s 1987 classic ‘I’ve Been A Fool For You’ that I realized the instrument has its own place in the fabric of popular music. The years have done nothing to change that view yet, with the notable exceptions of the wonderful Karen Briggs and the under hyped Gwen Laster, violinists, on the R & B and contemporary jazz scene, remain relatively few and far between. Yet, someone who has worked tirelessly to change all that is session player and sideman extraordinaire Mark Cargill. In fact multi instrumentalist Cargill ( he also plays harp and percussion) appeared on Karen Briggs 1992 project ‘Karen’ and over three decades has gathered credits that read like a veritable ‘who’s who’ of pop.
