Greg Leisz
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Greg Leisz is an American multi-instrumentalist, playing lap and pedal steel guitars, guitar, mandolin, and bass. Little known by his own name, his superb playing has appeared on recordings by Bill Frisell, Dave Alvin, Tracy Chapman, the Smashing Pumpkins, Matthew Sweet, the Jayhawks, Beck, Me'shell Ndegeocello, Bruce Cockburn, Wilco, Shawn Colvin, Lucinda Williams, Peter Case, Joni Mitchell, Whiskeytown, and Sheryl Crow, to name only a few.
Leisz was influenced early on by the Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers, especially pedal steel player "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow. During the 1970s he was a member of the short-lived and forgotten Funky Kings project, created by Arista's Clive Davis to mirror the Eagles' success. Since then, he has enjoyed a busy career as a sideman.
Two of his closest collaborators are Dave Alvin (formerly of the Blasters), for whom Leisz produced and played on several records, and jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, with whom he tours regularly and appeared on the records Good Dog, Happy Man, Blues Dream and The Intercontinentals. Leisz has also worked extensively with Matthew Sweet since the early 1990s.
To sample Leisz's brilliance hear Santo's Dream - excuisite and evocative - which can be found on the compilation Legends of the Lap Steel Guitar. He's also done some wonderful playing with Neal Casal, himself worth a listen to - a latter day Terry Reid.
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