Philzone.org Discussion Board: Archive 2004: Non-PF/Dead Show Reviews Archive 2004: An Evening With Chuck Leavell

pulled this off of eMule



>>>>>Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 00:04:46 -0500
From: Dream Peach
Subject: An Evening With Chuck Leavell

From: Ron Bruder
Subject: An Evening With Chuck Leavell
Evening friends,

Felt it was necessary to pass this post along from the HTW site. It's Rob
Johnson's description of Chuck Leavell's performance in Macon last Friday.
I spoke with Rob today when placing an order with HTN, but hadn't read this
yet. I wish I had so I could've thanked him for his efforts in writing this
outstanding review. Read it and weep!

===========
If you weren't at the Douglass Theater in Macon on Friday night, trust me,
you wish you were! Chuck Leavell graced 300 lucky souls with a uniquely
intimate night of music, with stories about his remarkable life woven into
the performance.

The whole shindig was a fundraiser for the Big House Foundation, and
everyone at the Foundation greatly appreciates Chuck's generous gift of his
time and his music. I don't have a final count, but many thousands of
dollars were raised towards the worthy goal of a permanent, full-time Allman
Brothers museum. As Chuck himself said after the show, "This thing is going
to fly." I think a down payment on some wings was made on Friday!

Chuck started everything off with some old New Orleans numbers from his days
with Dr. John, a personal highlight for this Tulane grad. Mr. Leavell
name-checked all the greats of the Crescent City keyboard pantheon, from Roy
"Professor Longhair" Byrd to Huey "Piano" Smith to James Booker. It was
clear to me that a lot of Chuck's style derives from New Orleans piano
traditions, and the evening was off to a swinging start!

After playing a bluesy number from his days with Alex Taylor, James'
brother, Chuck played wonderful renditions of Midnight Rider and Statesboro
Blues. As he would all evening, the songs were laced with colorful and
amusing stories about how he joined the Allman Brothers. Chuck has an
endearingly humble nature, and always presented the positive turns in his
life as good fortune, rather than just rewards for his superior
musicianship.

Several numbers from Sea Level followed, including a mesmerizing "Living In
A Dream" and a persussive "A Lotta Colada." The Douglass is a fantastic old
theater with great acoustics, and you could really hear the piano breathing
during some of the songs. If you ever get a chance to see a show at this
historic 319 seat venue, do it and thank me later.

After a typically entertaining story about joining the Rolling Stones, Chuck
played a quick medley of Stones tunes, including great versions of "Sweet
Virginia" and "Rip This Joint." A quick recap of his time with Eric Clapton
included a soulful reading of "Alberta, Alberta" from the Unplugged session.
His time with George Harrison was illustrated by "Here Comes The Sun" and
"Taxman."

Possibly my favorite part of the whole evening was a trio of songs Chuck
wrote for "his girls," meaning his wife Rose Lane and daughters Amy and
Ashley. "Blue Rose" melted into "Song For Amy" and "Ashley's Song," and you
couldn't ask for a more exquisite sequence of music. Considering the
sentimental value of the songs, it seemed that Chuck played with extra soul
and feeling on these, and it was just magnificent. An instrumental version
of "Joy To The World" was another highlight, kicking off a sequence of
Christmas songs that were appropriate for the season.

Everybody at this show had one song they wanted to hear, the song that has
become Mr. Leavell's calling card, his signature song. When those opening
chords of "Jessica" rang out, there was true joy in the room. Chuck played a
very jazzy, expansive version, not relying too heavily on his most famous
riffs and fills, and brought the house down.

Anyone who read Chuck's heartfelt tribute to Ray Charles in Hittin' The Note
wouldn't be surprised to hear that "Georgia On My Mind" was the encore.
After the show, Chuck graciously received his fans, autographing books and
cds. Meanwhile, the Big House Foundation auctioned off some signed Allman
Brothers photographs in the 4-figure range, and many generous folks came by
the Foundation table to make outright donations.

Overall, it was simply one of the most unique and enjoyable evenings of
music I've ever experienced. I want to thank Chuck Leavell, Kirk West, and
all the people who helped make this night happen. Thanks to this event, the
Big House is that much closer to being a reality. To find out more about the
Big House Foundation, check out bighousefoundation.com.
=====================

...then, when prompted if it had been recorded, Rob replied:


===============
Actually, there was a glaring omission in my earlier post. The entire
evening wasn't just taped, it was filmed with multiple cameras for an
upcoming Cox Cable special! The good folks at Cox were another big part of
making this whole evening possible, look for the special soon, I believe it
will be called "An Evening With Chuck Leavell."
================

Thank you, Rob, for bringing us there with you!


Ron

------------------------------

Nice review. Thanx
Gotaa love Chuck!

This sounds like it was so cool!! Chuck is the ultimate rock and roll utility keyboard player. He's also known for his work in promoting the planting of trees.
this report inspired me. How about a similar retrospective by another respected player? Say, David Lindley or Ry Cooder?

Back in 1971 I was campin in BC in a shack on beach w/ no electricity for 2 months...Went to Vancouver and first amplified musics I hear was terrific..asked who is this..

The Album..Cowboy..5'll get ya 10..

Got that Album and most of the others by band..They were on Capricorn..Really good group..

They toured with Greg Allman and Friends and had a few songs on a live dbl album from that tour....

Got to see them when they swang thru San Diego..

Found one of their albums on disc a while back..

Randall Bramlett along with Chuck (for part of the time) were in that band..

Cowboy - Diskography
Allman Bros + Cowboy

5'll Get You Ten
Boyer and Talton
Different Time: The Best of Cowboy
Why Quit When You're Losing

Kinda sad that Cowboy don't get mentioned much when they talk about Chuck Leavell's career..

Song most widely know....and the one that got me back then in 71 was

Please Be With Me..Written by Scott Boyer and Duane Allman..

Oh my word, what does it mean?
Is it love or is it me
That makes me change so suddenly?
Looking out, feeling free.

Sit here lying in my bed,
Wondering what it was I'd said
That made me think I'd lost my head,
When I knew I lost my heart instead.

[Chorus:]
Won't you please read my signs, be a gypsy.
Tell me what I hope to find deep within me.
Because you can find my mind, please be with me.

Of all the better things I've heard,
Loving you has made the words
And all the rest seem so absurd,
'Cause in the end it all comes out unsure

Great review - gave me goose bumps. Thanks, Zen; folks, this is the essence of the Zone!

Check out Chuck's "Forever Blue - Solo Piano" disc. Beautiful stuff.