Adèle Paxton and Dennis McCorkle
Adèle Paxton (vocalist) and Dennis “Mackie” McCorkle (guitarist) have teamed up as ‘Mackie and Me,’ to present their own unique sound and original contemporary folk, classical, and jazz compositions.
The songs from The Walter de la Mare Songbook resulted from an invitation to perform at the first ever conference, “Reading Walter de la Mare” at Cambridge University, England, 2018. Composing 10 original songs, Adèle Paxton (Classical Soprano) and Dennis McCorkle (Jazz Guitarist) teamed up as the duo Mackie and Me to present their unique sound and song settings of the English poet.
‘Mere sound is something de la Mare likes to experiment with…The effect is Aeolian…It is like listening to the air, in heavy, frosty weather, humming through the wires near a telephone pole. A child thinks it is the voice of the messages. A grown-up hears it with a sad nostalgia, as in the music of time, of vanished humanity, and dreams that are only dreams. The voice passes on, touching the small things of each, and making them vocal.’ – Richard Church
Adèle Paxton
Adèle Paxton grew up in Edinburgh and now lives in Connecticut, USA. She has sung extensively across Europe, in USA, and Brazil. Her many credits include performances at the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, and St John’s Smith Square, London, and at the Lincoln Center, New York. She has sung in broadcasts and recitals at Aldeburgh Festival, for BBC Radio 3, and Classic FM. She has always had an interest in the capacity of the human voice for pure expression of our inner world of feelings. With the music of Mackie and Me, Adèle explores original musical ideas and a fresh approach to vocal interpretation.
“The honors of the evening belonged to Adèle Paxton. She leads the listener to the heart of the song—nothing is more authentic.” (The Scotsman)
“Adèle Paxton’s performance was nothing short of stunning, an intensely musical voice, rich and warm which went straight to the heart, evoking completely the spirit of the poetry.” (The Orcadian)
Dennis McCorkle
Dennis ‘Mackie’ McCorkle learned his craft as a musician and composer from Dennis Sandole, Frank Mullen, and John Marlow. For some years, he was a guitarist in the United States Navy Band playing in Memphis, TN, Greece, and Naples, Italy. A regular artist in the Atlantic City casino scene for over twenty years, he also performed and recorded regularly in Washington, DC, New York, and Philadelphia. In New York City he served as Executive Director of Music Minus One/Pocket Songs. Mackie composes prolifically across genres including jazz, classical, folk, sacred, and music theatre. His March of Grand Central Station was premiered at Grand Central Station, New York City in 2001. In 2019 he was distinguished as one of the Top-Ten Music Educators in the United States.
“McCorkle creates richly woven sonic tapestries.” (The New Age Music Guide of 500 Top New Age Musicians)
“Tasteful guitar music…” (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
Adèle Paxton and Dennis McCorkle 