Local Elizabeth Roth releases original CD

by Frank Matzke, Record Correspondent                                                                      

The clanging and banter of restless fans swirled around Cafe Eleven's stage recently. Many anticipated a power-packed performance by Elizabeth Roth. The concert was a sellout, according to Ryan Dettra, owner of cafe eleven.

Debbie Master, a petite redhead, and two friends strolled into the cafe to devour dinner and to savor Roth's fluctuating voice. Master said she has enjoyed how Roth's voice carried harmonies, as well as how Roth commands the stage. "I think she has a great voice," Master said.

Roth took the wooden stage and punched out songs from her new album, "like the david".

Roth mentioned she inserted a poem about the title in the jacket of the CD.

On the CD, Roth's elegant voice crooned 11 originally flawed songs, seven of which she wrote.

Roth said they were "flawed" because she slams out her palette of chords and chips away at not vital flakes to mold a masterpiece, "I like to create blindly and then clean up," Roth said.

For the first 12 years of her public career, she performed cover songs, music originally written and performed by other artists. Then the bug bit.

She at first approached songwriting with formulas and charts to earn universal acceptance. It didn't work very well. "I  found they weren't very good," said Roth. She later avoided the commercialistic style.

In the past six years, she found the songs flowed from her fingers onto the strings. "I believe they reflect who I am," Roth said. "like the david" is her favorite CD, and her only original CD.

The two year molding needed several area friends to chip the CD into stylish melodies. Roth considers it to be a concept CD, of sorts. Every new element pointed her guidance back to Michealangelo's David, a statue he carved from a blemished stone. She mentioned layers of vocals and lyrics also pointed to Greek and Roman eras.

While producing the CD, Roth never aspired to be famous. She just wanted to entertain.

She began performing at age 13. She said her father gave her an Epiphone FT-120 guitar and recommended she play. Roth said she trained in classical guitar at Stetson University and Florida Community College at Jacksonville.

Roth will have a CD release party from 1- 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Tradewinds Lounge. Log onto www.elizabethroth.com for more information.