Singer & songwriter
Multi-instrumentalist, singer, conductor, composer, juggler, and toaster enthusiast Mark Ettinger tours regularly with the Flying Karamazov Brothers, and writes songs and other music the rest of the time. After years of backing songwriters on a variety of instruments on both coasts, he has released in this world, his own debut as singer/songwriter. These songs have been growing for the past five years in every corner of the country, a by-product of an ongoing survey of hotel room acoustics encountered while on tour. The big themes are here- death, love, loneliness, boats, teacups - all sung and played in a deceptively simple way by Mark and his excellent cohorts.
He plays a Mahagony Guild d-19 parlor guitar, salvaged by David Hayford seconds before destruction at the Madison NH dump, and acquired for the scandalous price of $10. On the disk he also plays Li’l Reebs’s mandolin, the 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.
He thanks everyone who has helped him careen this far along his musical paths, and the great musicians who joined him on this record. He looks forward to playing these songs for you somewhere soon.