Mark's guitar performance is very mature. He plays clear and convincing. Besides the excellent technique, in his music there are his emotion, his passion, his heart. That's a real proof of a good control over an instrument: when the performer is able to connect the technical and emotional side in one artistic expression. And Mark Barnwell does it with lightness and joy. Well done, Mark!
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Passionata further demonstrates Mark Barnwell’s skill not just as composer and performer but also as an arranger; possessors of his previous albums will be well acquainted with his ability to evoke strong visual imagery as much by the arrangement of a song as by its theme melody.  He continues to create a sense of the magical – continuing from 'The Enchanted Forest' from his album El Mosaico and the beautiful 'Ailia' from 'Viaje Del Mundo' – expressed here in 'Rivendell', which cleverly conveys celebration and solemnity together.  'Desert Sunrise' is a particularly powerful description in music of just that.  The striking moment where it merges into 'Ish' - when you realize that you are not in fact witnessing the spectacle isolated among the undulating dunes, as you thought - is one you won’t quickly forget.  But of all the songs Mark has so far recorded, my personal favourite has to be the Spanish/Latin delight of 'Fiesta Latina'.  I can never hear it without an instant lift of mood - it is, purely and simply, just so foot-tappingly, irresistibly joyous!
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