in this world by Mark Ettinger

of the time. After years of backing songwriters on a variety of instruments on both coasts, he is now pleased to send forth his first singer/songwriter release, in this world, for your amusement. These songs have been growing for the past five years in every corner of this country, a by-product of his ongoing survey of the guitar acoustics of hotel rooms encountered on tour with the Brothers. They are about many things: teacups and death, love and loneliness, night light, half-light, and about 3 to 4 minutes long.

instruments

He plays a Mahagony Guild d-19 parlor guitar, salvaged by David Hayford seconds before destruction at the Madison NH dump, and acquired by self for the scandalous price of $10. On the disk he also plays Li'l Reeb's mandolin, the Mittenwald acoustic bass he got at 18, and an old Italian accordion, among other things. He used Billy Oskay's excellent Yamaha grand at Big Red Studio, and Steve Addabbo's fine funky old wurlitzer electric piano at Shelter Island Sound.

production

Produced by Mark Ettinger with Dave Seitz and Billy Oskay

Recorded at Big red studios and Shelter Island Sound

Mixed at Shelter Island Sound

Matered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge

Still reading?

A few (too many) words from Mark, or, A Brief History of my Musical Life:

Manhattan born, caught between the Old World and the New; the straight way and the truth; Uptown and Downtown. Youth passed shuttling between elite schools and blues bars, opera houses and folk clubs, the streets and the conservatory. Studied Bach on the piano, learned to sing from the Fab Four, learned to hear the blues from electric Bro and Folkways records hidden in a cupboard, on into electric bass, folk guitar, mandolin; jazz on the upright bass, seduced by everything from Hendrix to Planxty to Monk. As a teen played bass and keys in local bands, including Joey Miserable and the Worms, The Hues Blues Band, David Peel and the Lower East Side, and with a rambling cast of mystery characters including Chris Whitley, Bo Diddley and Alan Ginsberg.

Columbia University to study music, literature and philosophy, the Mannes College of Music for Masters degrees in Orchestral Conducting and Composition. A beautiful family growing: wife Jennifer and daughters Caroline and Kate. More bands: The Special Guests/five Chinese Brothers, Barbeque Bob and the Spareribs, The Dharma Bums, Mumbo Gumbo, The Surreal McCoys. A hopping scene, from Columbia's Postcrypt coffee house to Bleeker street and between. A Composer's collective: Composers Workshop, many concerts, much cross-fertilization. Music Director and Conductor: the NY Mandolin Orchestra, 5 years; and the Putnam Symphony Orchestra, 5 years.

Met the great Northwest in the mid-80's: turned out wife Jenny was the Queen of the Royal Famille DuCaniveaux, so arrived in style at the Oregon Country Fair and traveled with the New Old Time Chautauqua - played with legends Faith Petric, Jim Page, Baby Gramps, PK Dwyer, Ron Bailey, Dave Conant, Rebo Flordigan, and many others, sitting in with Leftover Salmon and the Electrodes, and recording with Sweetmeat, a trio with Jim Page and Billy Oskay.

In the late 90's joined the The Flying Karamazov Brothers as juggler and more. With them has conducted many of the finest orchestras in the US and Canada, including performances at Carnegie Hall and Wolf Trap. With the Brothers has found a niche as Jack of all Musical Trades; for the additive principle of Eclecticism mitigates the stigma of Generalism, (whatever that means).

Hey it's all music, baby: the conservatory training, campfire music, street performing, marching band, bar band realities and other musical experiences all add up to the same thing. So after 25+ years of working on other people's songs and writing "Concert," "Theatre" and Art" music, I have made an album of songs I sing. All my musical friends and ancestors have tossed in their influences - it is a melting pot, full of something (hopefully) palatable (probably) wholesome. If you've read this far, check it out - If you don't like it, thanks for trying. Listen to something else instead.

Average Customer Review: