Music
Press
Mahoney
“she’s got the soul.... she’s got rhythm...she’s got spirit... she’s going to be the next big thing”. Curtis Fuller and Fathead Newman, Nov. 17, 2007
"Elyssa Mahoney literally knocked the socks off of everyone as she can only be described as nothing less than amazing". "Along with blind guitar playing prodigy Lucas Haneman, Mahoney's band... left the audience spellbound with their breathless closing version of "Superstition". "Haneman's incredible guitar licks combined with Mahoney's powerful voice left the crowd buzzing at the end of their exceptionally powerful set." Of Cotton's Band who had Elyssa up with them to perform, "a rockin' version of the timeless Flip Flop Fly that took the crowd up to Blues Heaven." The Mississippi Weekender, August 3, 2007.
“...What could possibly come out of this tiny little package? Well I'll tell ya'; I was amazed. She had the grace and voice of a superstar. Totally took me by surprise...This young lady from Ottawa, Canada is going places... turned out to be a stick of dynamite. She has a new CD (Jeff Healey is on it) the title: "Try To See Me Like That". Hm...Imagine that." Gary Eckhart, Blue Monday Vol. 1 Issue 34 Mar. 2007, Owatonna, Minnesota, USA
"...packed Ground Zero (Clarksdale, Mississippi) and jammed with entrants in the area for the IBC (International Blues Challenge)... Elyssa Mahoney from Ottawa, Canada brought the house down with her version of "Stormy Monday Blues" that climaxed in a face-off with (Papa Tas) Cru on electric slide." Don Wilcock, Feb. 22, 2007, The Record, Troy , N.Y.
"...Elyssa Mahoney is one of the most promising young talents in the country." Chuck Jackson (Downchild Blues Band) June 16, 2006
"Special Guest little 12-year-old Elyssa Mahoney stepped up and did several songs with the band (Jack de Keyzer) – singing like a seasoned veteran - and blew the audience away! What a voice and what an incredible future lies ahead for this young artist. " James Doran, Choose the Blues, Jan 31, 2006.
"One of the finest vocalists in the country" Jeff Healey Aug. 19, 2006
Haneman...
“Haneman, a guitarist with an almost frighteningly broad stylistic reach and tone that ranged from clean and warm to distorted and aggressive”. ....John Kelman, All About Jazz Magazine, (July 12/05), Review of Ottawa International Jazz Festival.
“He Comes up with improvisations that aren’t really from the guitar world. Out of this mix he is finding his personal voice” Neal Yorke-Slader, Director of the Nepean All City Jazz Band. Article by Shelley Page, Ottawa Citizen June 26/05.
- various
Discography
Pull Me In
We wrote our first song, How to Dance, during December of '06. While writing this piece we had such a great time we decided to continue, eventually completing the 9 original compositions that appear on this album. We dont try to limit our music to any particular genre, we simply let it flow. The lyrics are inspired by everyday events, and the music is inspired by dreams, or sudden impulses. We share a great deal of energy while writing music, and hope this comes through in what you hear. Incorporating elements of all our favorite styles, from combinations of funk and jazz to blues and pop, everything we love most about music in general shines through in a different way in each of our songs.
During numerous 2007 performances our audiences began asking if we would be releasing an album. This combined with an already strong urge to record together drove us to start this project. It has been an amazing journey, and along the way, we have been blessed with wonderful help and support:
Thank you, first and foremost, to Ken Friesen for bringing out the best in us, the best in our music and for being so amazing all around. Thank you Peter Moore and Michael Crabtree for making our album sound and look exactly like we'd hoped. Thank you to all the musicians for your incredible creativity, dedication, and constant enthusiasm. And finally, thank you to our friends and family for all your support and for forgiving us for the unanswered phone calls while we were in the studio. We love all of you!
To Dad (Elyssa)
To Tim, one of the most hard working, and positive people Ive ever met in my life. (Lucas)
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solo albums:
Elyssa released Try To See Me LIke That in 2005
Lucas released New Beginning in 2006
Photos
Bio
Winners of the Best Blues Award at the 2008 Ontario Independent Music Awards
By far one of the most natural, wonderful talents that Ive come across in a long, long time Jeff Healey, June 30 2005
Award winning singer, songwriter Elyssa Mahoney and national award winning guitarist Lucas Haneman began collaborating in 2006. Playing blues, jazz or mixes with rock, funk and pop influences, Lucass endless energy, his brilliant, broad stylistic approach, blended with Elyssas powerful, soul-filled, honest vocals, bring a unique and thrilling experience to audiences.
They met as competitors in the Youth Spirit Awards in Ottawa. They immediately recognised their mutual passion for performance and began doing shows together, quickly building a strong reputation and following.
As their performance success grew, they realized they also loved creating their own songs. With Elyssa writing the lyrics and Lucas, the music, their originals appeal to young and old.
Their new CD, Pull Me In, was released recently in Ottawa. One of its tracks, How To Dance, was quick to earn the Best Blues Award at the 2008 Ontario Independent Music Awards.
Other nods from the music industry include: Elyssas winning the Eastern Ontario Blues Challenge and becoming a semi-finalist at the International Blues Challenge, Memphis TN.; receiving a Maple Blues Award nomination for new artist; earning semi-finalist standing at the International Songwriters Competition for her original Hot Desert Sun, written when she was only ten. For Lucas, the honours include: winning at the National Musicfest as "Outstanding Jazz Guitarist"; winning the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award; twice earning second place wins as well a people's choice win at the Montreal Guitar Grand Prix. Both Elyssa and Lucas started performing at very young ages and each have many other awards and scholarships to their name.
Elyssas vocal training is classical, while her roots are in the blues/60s R&B/Rock as can be heard on her inaugural CD "Try to See Me Like That" (featuring Jeff Healey on four tracks and co-produced by Downchild Blues Band lead singer Chuck Jackson). Lucas is currently in the top 15% at Concordia University, studying in the fourth year jazz program. His roots are jazz and rock, with his CD of "New Beginning".
They perform as a duo, trio or four-piece band so the venues they have played span the small and intimate to the large and rock'n, including many music festivals across Ontario, opening for and performing with such music legends as: David Fathead Newman, Curtis Fuller, Jeff Healey Blues Band, the Jeff Healey Jazz Wizards, the James Cotton Blues Band. Other festivals include: Ottawas International Jazz Festival and Bluesfest, the Montreal Jazz Festival, Kingstons Limestone City Blues Festival, Gananoques Festival of The Islands, consecutive years at the Southside Shuffle Jazz and Blues Festival, Masena Springs Blues Bash (Masena, NY), and many more...
With accolades from industry and top notch musicians, with their raw talent and passion for the stage, Elyssa and Lucas are serious about their music.
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