FACE 2 FACE CONCERT
BILLY JOEL AND ELTON JOHN

Face To Face
Billy Joel, Elton John and saxophonist Mark Rivera
By Marcia Stevenson

Featuring LP Players John Mahon (Elton John), Crystal Taliefero (Billy Joel) and Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel)

Individually Elton John and Billy Joel can energize an audience, but together the duo is nothing less than phenomenal. Their 3-1/2 hour concert showcased their galleries of greatest hits! For the record, the pair has sold over 141 million albums in the U.S. alone.

The show started with the "piano men" playing several songs together. Billy left the stage leaving Elton to start. In an elegant blue and ivory colored, tapestry suit, Sir Elton began his set with an acoustic number.

One of the first musicians to enter the stage was LP player, John Mahon. A tasteful and skilled percussionist and vocalist, John added tonality and depth throughout the performance. Playing Elton’s vast catalog of songs demands a wide range of sounds from Mahon’s percussion arsenal, which includes LP Galaxy Fiberglass Congas and Bongos with a full assortment of LP bells, blocks, chimes, and hand percussion. "Some songs call mainly for just tambourine and shakers, while others require me to throw in congas, timbales, and bells," he says.

Part way through the set, Elton asked the audience to take a moment to observe the life of Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street journalist who was tragically murdered in Afghanistan. After the moment of silence, Elton played a heartfelt rendition of "Daniel".

The dynamic, New York guy, Billy Joel played a strong set from lullabies to hard-rockers. His classic, New York really got the audience up and singing. It was very evident by the number of bras and panties tossed to his piano bench, that Billy still has it with the ladies!
Check out Elton John's percussionist,
John Mahon's set up!

Face to Face
Check out Elton John's percussionist, John Mahon's set up!
Percussion diva, Crystal Taliefero looked and sounded superb. Her LP Galaxy Giovanni Model Conga cut through the electronic music, giving spirit and dimension. She was all over the stage, playing percussion, saxophone and guitar. I agree with Michael McFall of Rhythm Magazine, when he wrote "A force to be reckoned with."

Liberty DeVitto, an original member of Billy’s band, played a solid and aggressive beat on drum set through out the show. Accented, of course, with a few LP Tito Puente Timbalitos,LP Cowbells and LP Blocks. Speaking of LP Cowbells, saxophonist Mark Rivera abandoned his sax for one number and went to town on an LP Cowbell, saxophonist Mark Rivera abandoned his sax for one number and went to town on an LP Cowbell.

For the closing set, the dynamic duo unleashed their standards, interlaced with some Beatle tunes. By concert’s end, it was very obvious that both bands had a blast performing together. The cheering fans brought them back on stage for an encore of favorite tunes. It was a show music fans will not forget!