Chuck Leavell, who has been tagged the “fifth Rolling Stone” and remains one of music’s most respected & sought-after pianists of the past 30 years, will celebrate the release of a new double CD set Live In Germany: The Green Leaves and Blue Notes Tour on May 13, 2008 on Evergreen Arts, distributed by RED/Sony.
An inductee to both the Alabama and Georgia Music Halls of Fame, Leavell is perhaps best known for his work with The Rolling Stones – a long and prosperous association that began in 1982 and continues today. His piano and keyboard work has also been heard on recordings with the likes of Eric Clapton, The Black Crowes, George Harrison, The Allman Brothers Band, The Indigo Girls, Blues Traveler, Train, Montgomery-Gentry, Lee Ann Womack and many more.
Leavell’s previous solo efforts have been highly acclaimed by the press, beginning with the celebrated 1999 Christmas album What’s In That Bag? on Capricorn Records; 2001’s Forever Blue: Solo Piano, a collection of seven original songs and three classics including “Georgia On My Mind,” and 2005’s Southscape, described as “Southern Jazz.”
As the two-year long Rolling Stones’ “A Bigger Bang” tour came to an end in late summer of 2007, Leavell remained in Europe for the “Green Leaves & Blue Notes Tour,” where he recruited some of Germany’s top musicians to accompany him. In a live performance recorded on September 14, 2007, for the German radio station HR1, Leavell and his international crew, which included drummer Paul Höchstädter, bassist Christian Diener, saxophonist Lutz Häfner, guitarist Frank Kuruc, recorded 19 songs in an hour and a half set. In addition to performing a handful of Leavell’s original tunes, the group performed covers of such classic songs as The Allman Brothers’ “Jessica” and “Statesboro Blues” (with a cameo appearance by Henning Eichler on harmonica) ;The Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Woman” and “Rip this Joint;” a rousing rendition of Les McCann and Eddie Harris’ “Compared to What;” moving renditions of Ray Charles’ “Georgia” and George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun;” and a few standards including “In the Wee Wee Hours” and “Route 66.”
Live In Germany: The Green Leaves and Blue Notes Tour was produced by Leavell. The live recording was produced by Christoph Classen and engineered by Rainer Schwarz. Further engineering and re-mixing is by Chuck Ainlay at Sound Stage Studios in Nashville. It was mastered by Randy LeRoy at Final Stage Mastering in Nashville, TN.
In addition to his accomplishments as a musician, Leavell is also a well-respected, award-winning author. His books include his insightful look at forestry & conservation, “Forever Green: The History and Hope of the American Forest; ” his children’s book, “The Tree Farmer;” and his autobiography; “Between Rock & A Home Place,” once called "the best rock autobiography ever" by an adoring critic.
At home in rural Georgia, Leavell can be found at his beloved pristine pine forest plantation & hunting preserve – Charlane Plantation – in Macon, GA, working in the woods, playing his piano & declaring he’s fortunate to have three real passions in his life: "My family, my trees and my music."
