Greg Leisz with Michelle Shocked

[Darrell Urbien]

Hey, this is probably old news, but I picked up a copy of Michelle Shocked's 2005 "Got No Strings" album the other day on sale at Barnes and Noble, and it's great! This is an album of Disney songs done in a "Western Swing" Style (according to the liner notes - though IMO they're not all WS). The album was produced by Nick Forster (of Hot Rise) and features the following musicians:

Greg Leisz Slide Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, Weissenborn
Tony Furtado Banjo
Nick Forster Guitar
Gabe Witcher Fiddle, Guitar
David P. Jackson Upright Bass

Not a bad backing band, eh? And the tunes sound wonderful - lots of Leisz on all the tracks (esp. liked Bear Necessities). Shocked is in fine voice on every tune too. This is not just a kid's music album!

(OT - My favorite non-Leisz moment - after a particularly hot swing chorus by Gabe Witcher, Shocked coos, "That's some fancy fiddlin', my little Mohican!" If you're not familiar with Gabe Witcher (Witcher Brothers, John Jorgenson, Chris Thile's How to Grow a Band) in 2004/5 he was sporting a Mohawk. LOL)

She released this album as part of a "Trilogy" with two others, but I don't think either of those has this band lineup.

You can listen to some clips here, but beware there are lots of tempo/style changes in some of the tunes - sometimes the clips aren't highlighting the coolest sections.

[Roman Sonnleitner]

Thanks for the tip, Greg Leisz is one of my all-time favorite lap-steelers, got to check that album out...

[Kay Das]

Greg Leisz is an all time inspiration ! I like particularly the way he accompanies voice with steel guitar, as he often does with K.D. Lang. Check out also his solo version of " Moana Chimes" in "Punch Drunk Love".

Kay

[Craig Ferguson]

Don't forget that Gabe also spent several years playing with Jerry Douglas (while sporting the mohawk!). I'll never forget seeing JD for the first time and then looking to his right and saying, "what?"