Mark–Almond was a sophisticated jazz-rock / art-rock duo formed by Jon Mark (vocals, guitar) and Johnny Almond (woodwinds, flute, sax) in 1970. Not to be confused with the singer Marc Almond of Soft Cell, this group blended jazz, blues, Latin rhythms, and chamber pop into atmospheric, cinematic soundscapes.
Mark-Almond leaned toward lush acoustic textures,
prominent flute and saxophone lines, smooth jazz-rock fusion, dreamy, introspective arrangements, and soulful, often melancholy vocals. Their music often feels like the meeting point between early fusion, baroque folk-rock, and West Coast jazz.
Albums
Mark-Almond, (1971) featuring tracks such as “The City,” and “The Ghetto”.
Mark-Almond II, (1972) featuring tracks such as “One Way Sunday,” and “Then I Have You”.
Rising, (1973), featuring “Summer in the City”.
Other People’s Rooms, (1987) featuring “Lonely People”.
“The City” (1971) is often considered their masterpiece, an extended suite mixing jazz, folk, and orchestral elements, evoking drifting through an urban dusk. While never chart-toppers, Mark-Almond developed a dedicated following among fans of art-rock, progressive folk, and jazz fusion.