Jazz
Mark Elf - Arranger, Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Latin Percussion, Percussion, Producer
Benny Green - Piano
Dennis Irwin - Bass
Eric Alexander - Sax (Tenor)
Gregory Hutchinson - Drums
Louis Nash - Drums
Neal Miner - Bass
Nicholas Payton - Trumpet
Peter Washington - Bass
* Bill Moss - Assistant Engineer
* Fred Bouchard - Liner Notes
* Jim Czak - Engineer
Mark Elf's third self-produced CD is another gem. The guitarist's trio selections, with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Louis Nash, include a snappy miniature arrangement of "After You've Gone," a rarely heard ballad by Harold Arlen, "It Is Written in the Stars," and his bluesy original title track. Elf's guests include the young trumpet star Nicholas Payton on a conversational "Come Rain or Come Shine" and the delightful pianist Benny Green on a lively cover of "Nobody Else But Me." Mark Elf's taste and consistency have helped him break the seeming stranglehold that larger labels have on jazz radio charts; if you haven't yet heard him, start with this highly recommended CD.
---Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
Mark Elf
Active Decades: '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Dec 13, 1949 in Queens, NY
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Neo-Bop, Mainstream Jazz, Standards
An excellent bop-based guitarist, Mark Elf has created a stir with his own small-group recordings. He attended Berklee (1969-1971), picked up experience playing with a who's who of modern mainstream jazz (including Wynton Marsalis, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Benny Golson, Al Grey, Branford Marsalis, and Slide Hampton), and has recorded as a sideman with Lou Donaldson, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Wynton Marsalis, Jon Hendricks, and others. Elf spent time with Jimmy Heath's group, but has achieved his greatest recognition thus far with his recordings for the Jen Bay Jazz label and a set recorded in Chile (Alerce) made available in the U.S.
His album roster supported by Jen Bay includes: Eternal Triangle (1988), Trickynometry (1997), and Over the Airwaves (2000). Swingin' followed in early 2001.
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
