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Mark Elf: Liftoff
ByDavid Hazeltine, Lewis Nash and Peter Washington were on Elf's previous recording, Glad to be Back (Jen Bay, 2004), and they continue to serve him well. Hazeltine is particularly effective in his solo runs. "How Low Can You Go showcases his skills effectively as he gets the piano to dance around the beat and elevate the melody. Elf makes his mark on the baritone guitar (also known as the six-string bass guitar), using the deep tones of the instrument to impart a bite to a 12-bar blues.
Elf can work in gentler terrain, like the captivating "Fundingsland Waltz. His initial quickness on the fretboard dissolves into a slower pace at the end, which captures the better part of his creativity and finds him turning in a strongly emotional performance. And when the last note rings, Elf leaves you with a pleasant feeling.
Track Listing
Liftoff; Thanks For the Memory; Deception Blues; Chuy's Challenge; I've Never Been In Love Before; How Low Can You Go; Fundingsland Waltz; Left Hand Corner; Deception Blues; Liftoff (Alternate Take).
Personnel
Mark Elf
guitarMark Elf: guitars; David Hazeltine: piano; Peter Washington: bass; Lewis Nash: drums; Daniel Sadownick: percussion (4).
Album information
Title: Liftoff | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Jen Bay Records
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