© 2007 COPPER CREEK RECORDS
James Leva and Purgatory Mountain release their new CD February 1, 2007. Fourteen tunes and songs including several originals by James, traditional tunes from Galax / /Mt. Airy, West Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky.
James: Fiddle, Guitar and Lead and Harmony Vocals; Al Tharp: Banjo, Bass, Lead and Harmony Vocals; Danny Knicely: Mandolin, Guitar, Harmony Vocals; Matty Olwell: Cajon, Hambone, Fiddlesticks, Feet, and Foot Stomp.
James Leva plays Bourgeois and Rockbridge guitars and uses fiddle bows made by Lee Guthrie. Winkin Eye was recorded at Al Tharp’s Recording Studio in New Orleans, Louisiana
Recorded May 9-12
"There'll Be None On The Other Side", recorded on July 11, 2006 by Les Thompson
at Log Cabin Studios in Leesburg, Virginia.
Produced by James Leva and Al Tharp • Mixed by Al Tharp •
Engineered by Al Tharp (with Les Thompson on "There'll Be None On The Other Side") •
Photography: Jeremy Leadbetter • • Cover Illustration: D.R. Mullins •
Art direction & layout: Rebecca Pittard
Thanks to: The late James Leva (James’ Dad), Les Thompson, Lisa McCumsey, Larry Skoller, Olivier Perrier, Jacqueline Barbe, Jean Jourdheuil, Bruce Ritz, Susan Sherlock, Tommy Forney, Jaci Coggins, Gary ReidAngelika Torrie, Kitty Sachs, Vivian Deacon, Artie Black, Sam Compton, Randall Ray, Brian Calhoun, Willie May Norcross, Cece Conway, Stephen Wade, and Darlene Crawford.
"Every song on the album is a Leva original, and every song has its own bit of genius." - Cross Cultural Inspirations, March 2005
James' CD, "Til I Know", is on Copper Creek Records. David Greely and Sam Broussard (you might know them from Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys) helped co-produce the recording. It features 13 original tunes and songs and musicians from Louisiana and Virginia, including David and Sam, Cajun pedal steel legend Rodney Miller, Kevin Wimmer, Kyle Hebert, Mark Schatz, Larry Keel, Spencer Lathrop and Johnny Gilmore on drums and percussion, David Winston and Will Lee on banjo, and Camp Mountain members Danny Knicely and Kristin Andreassen.
James Leva (vocals, guitar, fiddle); Sam Broussard (guitar, slide guitar, background vocals); Daniel Knicely (guitar, mandolin, background vocals); Larry Keel (guitar); David Winston (claw hammer banjo); David Greeley (fiddle, background vocals); Kevin Wimmer (accordion); Kyle Hebert (bass guitar); Spencer Lathrop, Johnny Gilmore (drums)
Copper Creek Records, © 2005 Liner Notes by David and Sam
Available at www.CDBaby.com!
Didn't See The Rope, Fire Fire, Baby-O, Poor Mary/Lost Everything, You Always Get Your Way, Died For Love, Family Again, I Don't Know, Old Jack Dog, Lost Moon, 'Til I Know, The Music's Over, It Must Be Good, Bye Bye O
Memory
Theatre"We've been taught that Appalachian is a hybrid, a cross between the music of Africa and the Scots-Irish who settled in the region. Until recent memory only a few performers have tried to meld the styles together. Leva is a hugely talented fiddler who, along with Carol Elizabeth Jones, has written and produced some wonderful original, albeit deeply rooted, music. Each recording includes some of James' fiddling but they always leave the listener wanting more." -Tom Druckenmiller, Sing Out! Magazine
Copper Creek Records, © 2001 Available at www.CDBaby.com!
Copper Creek Records, © 2000
"Besides being two of my favorite people in the business, Carol Elizabeth & James play some of the purest, most real, straight from the heart, emotive music I've ever heard. Their original tunes are timeless and unforgettable. And with tunes like "Scorned & Mocked" and "When We Have Love," James is establishing himself as one of the premier gospel songwriters on the planet. Carol Elizabeth's singing swoops and soars and is absolutely mesmerizing." - David Higgs, Bluegrass Breakdown (WPLN-FM, Nashville)
Jones and Leva's newest recording, featuring John Reischman on mandolin combines nine Jones and Leva originals with their versions of five traditional pieces. Original songs include "Something Shall Remain," "Vertie's Dream," and "The Man In Me." Traditional songs include "Dip Your Fingers In Some Water" and "Minister's Farewell." In her notes for this album, Suzanne Thomas writes: "To my ears, Jones and Leva are the best vocal duet on the scene today..."
Rounder Records 0457, © 1998
Thirteen Jones and Leva originals including "She Could Have Loved Him," "Drunkard's Lantern," "Satan I Won't Be Your Servant No More," and "Hosanna." The Boston Herald said of this recording "The gorgeous retro-country duo Jones and Leva have skills and spirit that equal any traditionalist singers alive ... It's some of the prettiest, most vivid music made in 1998."
Rounder CD 0407, © 1997
© 2006-2008 James Leva. All Rights Reserved