"Jimmy Leslie drops a funk and pop mix that's all his own."—Pacific Sun Jimmy Leslie is somewhat of a musical renaissance man on the San Francisco Bay Area scene. He’s a freak “freehand” guitarist with a funky roots rock style, a soaring soulful singer, and a multi-faceted writer. Leslie’s groovy songs flow like water, as do the features he pens each month for Guitar Player and Bass Player magazines. Leslie coordinates GP & BP Presents events as well. Leslie also authored a popular musical marine epic—Guitarfish Adventures Vol. 1:Blue Is the New Green (forward by Bootsy Collins)—and co-founded the Guitarfish Musical Festival. Leslie’s musical credits include Honey Island Swamp Band, Shana Morrison (Van’s Girl), LunaGroove, A Spirit Hustler, Visitor Jim, Allmond Brothers Clan, and Guitarmageddon. He’s performed at O2 Arena, Great American Music Hall, High Sierra Music Festival, Sea of Dreams, and Burning Man. He’s shared stages with the likes of Luther Dickinson, Cyril Neville, Sonny Landreth, Devon Allman, and Papa Mali. A Guitar Player’s Guitar Player Leslie has a signature "freehand" guitar style that incorporates flamenco-like flourishes, slapping & plucking, and inventive faux-slide leads. His tenor voice is equally unique, surprisingly versatile, and central to his distinct roots rock sound. "Vocals are paramount to most of my material," says Leslie, "but the music is entirely guitar-based with an emphasis on groove." Dance Until Forever Dance Until Forever is the long-awaited follow up to Leslie's solo debut, Surfin' the Swamp. [Leslie was sidelined with a debilitating repetitive stress injury for much of the time in-between.] Like its predecessor, it was recorded in New Orleans with a choice local rhythm section. "I chose to record with Garland Paul and Sam Price because we discovered a natural chemistry post-Katrina during the formative period of the Honey Island Swamp Band, and developed it as a trio gigging around the Bay Area until Garland and Sam eventually rejoined the rest of Honey Island in New Orleans," Leslie explains. The single "VooDoo Doll" featuring Eric McFadden (P-Funk, Eric Burdon & the Animals) was actually recorded later in San Francisco. Mixed by GP honcho Michael Molenda, it was added last, and appears first on the digital version of the album. "Save Us!" features emotive vocals and deep lyrics that consider the myriad natural and man-made disasters that plague our planet. The closing title track deals with similar subject material in acoustic fashion and with a more optimistic perspective. There's tons of fun on the R&B tinged "Smile On," the sexy strut of "Soulful & Strange," and the Mardi Gras rock & roll hybrid, "Shake!" Keyboards courtesy of Eric Levy (Night Ranger, Garage Mahal), and horns courtesy of Ryan Scott (Monophonics, Vinyl) and Alan Williams (Katdelic, Afrolicious) flesh out the grooviest guitar-based release you're likely to hear for years. Produced by Jimmy Leslie and Drew Vonderhaar at the Graveyard in New Orleans, LA. Recorded and mixed by Drew Vonderhaar at the Graveyard with Garland Paul on drums/backing vox and Sam Price on bass/backing vox except: Bass on tracks 4 & 9 played and engineered by Peter “P Bass” Canton at Hole in the Hill Studios, Oakland. Eric Levy played all organ parts at Hole in the Hill. Jonathan Herrera played bass on the title track engineered by Jeff Parsons at Expressions in Emeryville, CA. Ryan Scott and Alan Williams played trumpet and trombone on tracks 6 & 7 engineered by Ian McDonald and Kelly Finnigan at the Soul Barracks in SF, CA. Mastered masterfully by the master, John Cuniberti. All songs by Jimmy Leslie, Leslieland publishing BMI. Photos by Kerri Kelting-Leslie, graphics by HighWater Design. Executive Producer and Guiding Light, Charlotte Leslie. Jimmy Leslie played all guitars, sang lead & backing vocals, and played percussion. Jimmy played Fender Stratocasters through Category 5 amplification courtesy of the immeasurably generous Don Ritter, who also provided the lovely ’34 National pictured on the cover and played on “Ice Thin.” Jimmy used D’Addario strings, Planet Waves accessories, and effects by Boss, T-Rex, Electro-Harmonix, Blackstone, and Dunlop. Special thanks to Michael Molenda and all at Music Player Network, Chris Mule, Anders Osborne, Alex Andreas, Dino Gankendorff, Paul Rivera Jr., Gary Brawer, Brent Dana, Papa Mali, Jim Greer, Garth May, Todd Spencer, Daria “Shani” Johnson, Jordan Feinstein, Shana Morrison, and the Kelting and Leslie families.