Album Notes

Eliza Bonacci aka Eliza Blue writes and sings with a voice like water from a deep well, as earthy and rich as it is sweet and clear. Trained as a classical violinist, Eliza grew up listening to folk and blues on her Fisher-Price record player, but had little vocal instruction. She took up the fiddle after falling in love with old timey music and soon began writing songs of her own. Guitar came next, and then mandolin and banjo. Her music regularly draws comparisons to Gillian Welch, for it’s homage to Appalachian roots, but the quality and timbre of her voice call to mind some of the great jazz vocalists. Since she began her songwriting career three years ago Eliza has crossed the country several times, and averages over a 150 gigs a year.

‘Screen Doors & Back Doors’ was recorded in cabins, basements, and backyards. Eliza played nearly all the instruments heard on the album (violin, viola, guitar, banjo, mandolin) and wrote or arranged all the tunes. The album was engineered by Chris Mara (Mary Bue, Red Veda ) and Ben Durrant (Andrew Bird, Dosh, Roma di Luna) and also co-produced by Durrant. Eliza is joined on the album by partner Paul Miksic, who adds his own unique banjo and guitar parts, as well as harmonica and slide guitar; friend and collaborator Channy Casselle (Roma di Luna) who brings a second fiddle; and Durrant on piano and slide guitar. The album was released in October 2007 by Lucky Micah Records, a label started by Eliza and Paul.