Life Journey is an album by singer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Leon Russell produced by Tommy LiPuma (with Elton John credited as executive producer) released on April 1, 2014. It was recorded in 2013 and 2014. In this album, Russell renewed his songwriting after his 2010 collaboration album with John, The Union. Leon has two original songs on the album, "Big Lips" and "Down in Dixieland".
Leon Russell took this ‘Life Journey’ on tour in 2014 and 2015.
Touring with him was multi-instrumentalist Beau Charron, longtime bassist Jackie Wessel and drummer Brandon Holder.[ Leon Russell Tours ‘Life Journey’ in Hawaii, Ppcorn.com][ Seattle Times, Fabled side man Leon Russell takes center stage, by Gene Stout, Seattletimes.com, April 17, 2015]
Life Journey was the last album by Russell to be released before his death in November 2016. On a Distant Shore, recorded in 2016 and released on September 22, 2017, was Leon's last album.
Reception
The album received general positive reviews. Rock critic Nick DeRiso wrote: "Nothing quite matches Russell interpreting Russell, as heard on
Big Lips — which also features Chris Simmons on slide, Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums and
Willie Weeks on bass."
AllMusic reviewer, Stephen Thomas Erlewine, wrote about the album: "This small list suggests how
Life Journey touches upon much of the music Russell has sung over the years -- it's heavy on R&B, blues, jazz, and swing, but strangely lacking in much country." AllMusic rated the
Life Journey album as one of the
Best of 2014.
Track listing
Personnel
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Leon Russell - Composer, Liner Notes, Piano, Primary Artist, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
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Elton John - Executive Producer
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Tommy LiPuma - Producer
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Shari Sutcliffe - Music Contractor, Production Coordination
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Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra - Featured Artist
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George Bohanon - Trombone
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Lee Callet - Sax (Tenor)
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William Cantos - Vocals (Background)
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Gilbert Castellanos - Trumpet
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Alvin Chea - Vocals (Background)
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Jeff Clayton - Clarinet, Sax (Alto)
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John Clayton - Arranger, Bass, Conductor
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Sal Cracchiolo - Trumpet
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Graham Dechter - Guitar (Acoustic)
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Dixieland Band - Featured Artist
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Keith Fiddmont - Sax (Alto)
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James Ford - Trumpet
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Robben Ford - Guitar
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Larry Goldings - Hammond B3
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James Gordon - Clarinet
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Jeff Hamilton - Drums
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Clay Jenkins - Trumpet
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Abe Laboriel Jr. - Drums
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Greg Leisz - Pedal Steel, Pedal Steel Guitar
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Darrell Leonard - Flugelhorn, Trumpet
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Christoph Luty - Bass
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Hugh McCracken - Guitar, Soloist
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Perry Morgan - Vocals (Background)
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Ira Nepus - Trombone
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Charles Owens - Sax (Tenor)
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Ryan Porter - Trombone
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Louis Price - Vocals (Background)
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Chris Simmons - Slide Guitar
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Maurice Spears - Trombone (Bass)
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Bijon Watson - Trumpet
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Willie Weeks - Bass
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Anthony Wilson - Guitar
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Rickey Woodard - Sax (Tenor)
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Elena Barere - Concert Master
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Alan Broadbent - String Arrangements
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Jill Dell'Abate - String Contractor
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Chandler Harrod - Engineer, Pro-Tools
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Mark Lambert - Piano Engineer, Vocal Engineer
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Ryan Roth - Design, Photography
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Doug Saks - Mastering
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Elliot Scheiner - String Engineer
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Al Schmitt - Engineer, Mixing
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Mike Diehl - Design
External links
