Music review: Leon Russell – 鈥楲ife Journey鈥�
The colorful Leon Russell documents his long and celebrated musical journey with his first album since his highly praised collaboration with Elton John on 2010鈥檚 鈥淭he Union.鈥�
While 鈥淭he Union鈥� reintroduced and reinforced the genius of the 72-year-old Oklahoma native, Russell鈥檚 five-decade career is carefully captured on 鈥淟ife Journey.鈥�
The 12-song set includes spirited covers such as Robert Johnson鈥檚 鈥淐ome On in My Kitchen,鈥� Billy Joel鈥檚 鈥淣ew York State of Mind,鈥� Paul Anka鈥檚 鈥淚 Really Miss You,鈥� Duke Ellington鈥檚 鈥淚 Got It Bad and That Ain鈥檛 Good鈥� and Haven Gillespie and Beasley Smith鈥檚 鈥淭hat Lucky Old Sun.鈥�
鈥淕eorgia on My Mind鈥� is a moving arrangement that features the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee鈥檚 well-worn voice and touches of elegant orchestration, while John Davenport and Eddie Cooley鈥檚 鈥淔ever鈥� noticeably shows off Russell鈥檚 first-rate piano chops.
The highlight of the album comes on the two original numbers penned by Russell. 鈥淏ig Lips鈥� is a rousing boogie burner that proves age is nothing but a number, and 鈥淒own in Dixieland鈥� closes the album in a celebratory manner. The album was recorded and mixed by Al Schmitt and produced by Tommy LiPuma. During his career, the singer, songwriter, pianist and session player has worked with artists like Glen Campbell, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Ricky Nelson, Dave Mason, B.B. King and Frank Sinatra.
鈥淟ife Journey鈥� proves that the two-time Grammy winner is still the master of space and time with a life well lived. Russell鈥檚 magical journey rolls into Pittsburgh for a must-see performance at Altar Bar on Saturday, April 26.