Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Mark Elf: Mark Elf Returns 2014

Mark Elf: Mark Elf Returns 2014

By Dan Bilawsky
September 23, 2014
View read count

Nothing can stop guitarist Mark Elf from making music. He's battled serious health problems, contended with the ups and downs of the music industry for decades, and, most recently, dealt with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the massive storm that flooded his home, delaying the recording of this record for a year. In spite of all of those setbacks and hardships, Elf still manages to have a fairly sunny musical outlook when he straps on the guitar for this, his first album in eight years.

Mark Elf Returns 2014 finds the guitarist swinging alongside an A-list rhythm section made up of pianist

David Hazeltine

piano
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">David Hazeltine, bassist

Peter Washington

bass
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Washington, and drummer

Lewis Nash

drums
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Lewis Nash. All three men were aboard for Elf's two previous projects—Glad To Be Back (Jen Bay Records, 2004) and Liftoff (Jen Bay Records, 2006)—so there's instant rapport, something that's really required when recording without rehearsal, as was done here.

The music presented on this one is direct and accessible, as Elf delivers swingers, a couple of ballads, a spicy mambo, and plenty of songs that basically follow the tried-and-true head-solos-head format. And though the song form(s) may be predictable at times, song forms are merely vessels meant to contain the music. It's what the musicians put into those songs that counts, and these men only add the finest musical ideas and ingredients to these successful sonic recipes.

The album opens on "A Little Ditty," a swinging number that's based on the changes of "Jordu," and quickly moves to ballad country with "It Was So Beautiful." After that, there's more modest swing, a one-off guest shot from percussionist

Steven Kroon

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Steven Kroon on "Michellie's Mambo," a pair of burning numbers that feature Elf on baritone guitar, and a mellow goodbye in the form of "The Sandy Effect." There's lots to love here solo-wise, with plenty of fine work from Elf and Hazeltine, lots of trading fours with Nash, and an eye-of-the-storm solo from Washington during "Low Blow."

This is straight-ahead jazz as it should be played. Here's to hoping that life doesn't delay the next one from Elf.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

A Little Ditty; It Was So Beautiful; Jacky's Jaunt; Time On My Hands; Michellie's Mambo; Low Blow; Titillating; The Bottom Line; People Will Say We're In Love; The Sandy Effect.

Personnel

Mark Elf

guitar

Mark Elf: guitar; David Hazeltine; piano; Peter Washington: bass; Lewis Nash: drums; Steven Kroon: percussion (5).

Album information

Title: Mark Elf Returns 2014 | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Jen Bay Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Manhattan Stories
< Previous

Erland Dahlen: Rolling Bombers and B...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make 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.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves 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.