Mark Lemaire and Twilight profile picture

Mark Lemaire and Twilight

About Me

New Acoustic performer Mark Lemaire has taken the tradition of guitarist and songwriter to a unique place. Berkeley songwriter & political activist Carol Denney says that “To call him a remarkable player would be a considerable understatement-- just about nobody I know is doing what Mark can do on the guitar”. He’s shared the stage with Tracy Chapman, Maria Muldaur, The Dixie Dregs, appeared on ‘West Coast Live’ with Sedge Thompson, and opened for Stephan Grossman and Steve Seskin. Recording studio experiences include work with producer Jimmy Miller (Rolling Stones, Blind Faith, Traffic), and Johnny Thunders (New York Dolls).While Mark’s solo guitar compositions stand as complete statements, the message in the vocals adds another dimension. Mark performs with his partner Cindy van Empel as Twilight. The songs Mark and Cindy sing are personal, but everyone can identify with them. They sing of the vicissitudes of love and the strange surprise of middle age creeping up on us. Audience member David Mears says: “I can listen to your songs and presentation for long periods of time. Why? The song themes resonate with my life experiences”. This is music for adults, yet with clarity and incisiveness appealing to the part of us that is ageless.Mark’s other life is as a classical recording engineer. Clients include the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Guitar Quartet, and the California Bach Society, among many others. Find out more at RubatoRecording.com. CINDY VAN EMPEL has returned to music after time away in her other life as a city planner. She had previously spent several years singing and touring with choral, madrigal, and jazz groups. Cindy has joined with her partner Mark Lemaire to make a duo-- her alto and his tenor. Cindy loves music but city planning is also a source of pleasure. She writes and speaks with great passion on New Urbanism and how to best shape the human habitat._______________________________Mark and Cindy live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 16/01/2008
Band Website: www.rubatorecording.com, www.marklemaire.com
Band Members: “It was an impeccable performance, never have I witnessed such control of the steel stringed guitar’s sound. This was a flawless show.” –Mark Twang, Folkways Recordings__________________ “Thanks for the beautiful, real, and exquisite musical gifts the other night. In addition to great skill you come straight from the heart”. - Philip Rosheger, prize-winning concert classical guitarist and composer, former pupil of Andres Segovia __________________ “If you fail to attend one of his shows you are depriving yourself of one of the main reasons we souls incarnate on our beloved Earth—to realize beauty. It is a rare privilege to encounter original material of this stature.” -Don Villa, concert promoter
Influences:"OH MY GOD, THIS IS GOOD!! Mark Lemaire is, simply, one of the best guitarists I've ever heard and I never get tired of listening to this CD. Each piece is unique--you won't mistake one for another…This guy doesn't just play music, he breathes it!”-- CD Baby "Rubato" reviewGUITAR PERFECTION! In addition to the amazing writing and the virtuosic execution, this CD is, quite simply, long-term listenable. I tire easily of "twangy" guitar and "sameness" in guitar albums-- but “Rubato” stays in my rotation month after month. It is beautiful and varied.” -CD Baby "Rubato" reviewPRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: “This is a fantastic album, it's playing in my car and iPod almost constantly. The lyrics are sensitive and smart—he doesn't dumb down. So far everyone who has heard my copy loves it - I am definitely a fan!” -CD Baby "Practice Makes Perfect" review
Sounds Like: "New Acoustic" noun (ˈnü -k st k)Steel-string guitar based modern music. Sometimes instrumental, sometimes vocal: always singable. Classically influenced; but sometimes it’s “classical in disguise”.Final result: Music that gratifies the brain while also touching the heart.
Record Label: peel off, affix to center of circle
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Kathleen Hogan and the genesis of this song

As many of you know, my friend Kathleen has been dealing with brain cancer. Last Friday Nov 21st, she passed away. For five days before that, she was almost- but not quite- ready to depart. During tha...
Posted by on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:12:00 GMT

Benefit for Carol Denney-- I gotta tell you...

...that I am still feeling the rush of last night's concert! It was a benefit for incredible songstress Carol Denney, who has needed financial help with court costs associated with keeping her ho...
Posted by on Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:22:00 GMT

My b-day show at Spud’s-- Woah!

I'd just like to thank all of you who came to Spud's for my birthday show! It was sold out quickly. Believe me, there is nothing a musician likes better that a room filled to the rafters with friends ...
Posted by on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:56:00 GMT