Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Mark Elf: Glad to be Back

195

Mark Elf: Glad to be Back

By

Sign in to view read count
Mark Elf: Glad to be Back
New York City guitarist Mark Elf has been missing in action for the past year. Mr. Elf spent the majority of 2003 and 2004 recovering from not one but two life-threatening health conditions. Now, convalesced and back on his feet, he offers us an expression of gratitude in Glad to be Back. Always in the company of great musicians, Mr. Elf recruits the stellar rhythm section of pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Lewis Nash to join him on his new recording. Their presence elevates this recording above the typically excellent Mark Elf offerings to a sublime status.



Mr. Elf serves up his trademark quicksilver bop guitar on a collection more heavily seasoned with the guitarist's original compositions than previous recordings. Elf makes this a personal statement, as his compositions are all directed toward and dedicated to individuals instrumental in his recent recovery. The Latin-tinged "Groove for Gonzalez," the Carnival-infused "Bossa for Eric A," the waltz "A Fancy for Yancy," and the soft-spoken "Ballad for Bertrand" all specifically express Mr. Elf's gratitude in a very unique way. "Gaston's Gate" is a wonderful Basie-type blues that walks right off of the disc. These pieces all betray a great deal of thoughtful consideration in composition.



Of the remaining pieces, "Elfin's Pace" is based harmonically on John Coltrane's "Giant Steps." Elf takes an already demanding set of chord changes and spins a commanding melody over them, providing him and his rhythm section a superb vehicle for probing improvisation. Elf's playing is strutting and bright and his note choice perfect. Elf blazes through Hoagy Carmichael's "Little Old Lady," in which David Hazeltine submits a nifty solo with Elf capably comping behind him. There are two takes of the Rogers and Hart tune "Falling in Love with Love," each offering its own unique charm and loads of round tones from maestro Elf.



Visit Mark Elf on the web.

Track Listing

Elfin's Place; Little Old Lady; Groove For Gonzalez; Alfie; Bossa For Eric A; A Fancy For Yancy; Falling In Love With Love; Ballad For Bertrand; Gaston's Gate; Falling In Love With Love.

Personnel

Mark Elf
guitar

Mark Elf--Guitar; David Hazeltine--Piano; Peter Washington--Bass; Lewis Nash--Drums.

Album information

Title: Glad to be Back | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Jen Bay Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.