On Top Of The World | Mark O'Connor - Guitar | Markology II (official video)

Mark O’Connor Releases New Guitar CD - Markology II

"On Top Of The World" | Mark O'Connor - Guitar
Carpenter/Arr. Mark O'Connor

Three-time Grammy-winner and seven-time CMA Awards winner Mark O’Connor will release his 46th feature album in his remarkably historied music career.

Markology II is out April 19th, 2021. OMAC Records

Fans of Mark O’Connor’s guitar playing have waited forty-two years for a follow-up to his 1978 wunderkind guitar LP Markology at age 16. After a twenty-year layoff due to chronic bursitis in his right elbow caused by guitar and mandolin playing (but not from playing the violin), O’Connor found a way to come back to his old form and then some on his first love. O’Connor’s inspiration for the return was his own family band and his career-long connection to his guitar mentor and friend, the estimable bluegrass guitar legend Tony Rice. The album is dedicated to the memory of Rice who passed away this past Christmas Day.

While O’Connor’s original Markology album featured the guitar playing of Tony Rice, on Markology II, O’Connor performs his guitar arrangements alone on his favored acoustic guitars, unaccompanied. The result is musical and guitar mastery with stunning natural tone quality showcasing both the soul and fireworks of his guitar playing on pieces like Dvorak’s Goin’ Home to Flailing, Greensleeves and Alabama Jubilee. His reputation garnered during his days as the prodigy teenager winning the National Guitar Flatpicking Champion at 14, becoming the lead guitarist for the David Grisman Quintet at 17 (a role that he shared with Tony Rice) and playing dual guitars with Steve Morse in The Dregs at 19 set the stage for his guitar abilities you hear today.


“…a bit stunned at the shear technical bravado his guitar playing is capable of (including that bit of jealousy that I’ve always had at how well this guy’s hands work!). Great tone he pulls from his guitars…puts us mortal musicians into a state of awe.” -Bela Fleck

“Markology II” is a beautiful tribute and dedication to Tony.” -Wyatt Rice

“While most of us musicians exist over here in our respective worlds, Mark is over THERE....on his own planet.” -Steve Wariner

“Congratulations on all you have accomplished… your playing sounds amazing, as usual. That effortless fluidity would be nice to have! Well done.” –Steve Morse

iTunes link for Markology II
https://music.apple.com/album/id/1560...

Promotion YouTube Video for Markology II link:
   • Mark O'Connor - "Markology II" Promo Video...  


Album Notes by Bela Fleck (excerpt)

When I hear this new recording of Mark’s [Markology II], I have a variety of reactions, all of them very strong. Energetically and sonically there are things Mark can do with the guitar that he can’t do with the fiddle, and vise versa.

I’m so happy to hear the renewed passion in his playing, and that sense of a rediscovered love….I’m so thankful for the evocative aspects of the playing on this recording, which can take you to a peaceful place as a listener, as well as that beautiful sound that Mark has learned to create - and also to record.

And lastly there is the joy of reconnecting with an old friend, the sound of Mark’s guitar playing that I thought was lost forever - a sound that I didn’t realize I had been missing for all this time.” -Bela Fleck


The 10-track album is accompanied by videos taken of the actual recorded performances. These can be seen all together at:
https://www.markoconnor.com/markology...

Mr. O’Connor’s Bio: https://www.markoconnor.com/bio
Mr. O’Connor’s Press photos: https://www.markoconnor.com/photos

“Mark O’Connor Duo” with Maggie O’Connor is newly represented by the Skyline Artists Agency (agents Andrea Sabata and Ben Rossman: www.skylineonline.com). O’Connor’s solo guitar performances representing Markology II will be incorporated into the Duo bookings.

Since June, the couple have been hosting weekly streaming online shows from home called “Mondays with Mark and Maggie”. They are ticketed concerts. Tickets and subscriptions as well as viewing the concerts produced by Our Concerts Live are available on the home page of www.markoconnor.com. April 19th show will be an all O’Connor guitar show online with special guest Bela Fleck.

The internationally recognized O’Connor Method for string education has reached tens of thousands of string students. Online workshops and camps as well as where to purchase the books or digital downloads is at www.oconnormethod.com. Mark will hold a “Guitar Weekend” of workshops online April 24th and 25th!

For information on past Mark O’Connor CD releases for OMACRecords including three new reissues from the 1970s and early ‘80s, go to www.omacrecords.com

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MOC Enterprises, LLC

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