San Francisco native DALLIS CRAFT released her debut CD appropriately titled LEAP OF FAITH early in 2001. It's an eclectic blend of americana stylings built around 12 great original songs with beautiful arrangements, powerful vocals, masterful musicianship, in a presentation which makes it stand out as a high-tech yet refreshingly truthful production.

Dallis and producer-engineer Bruce Kaphan successfully teamed together to take on the task of creating cohesiveness and continuity within a seemingly diverse range of musical styles, by virtue of instrumentation and overall theme. If there must be a term to describe the music, one might use "alternative country", "Americana", or "pop". Whatever you call it, it's definately "world class".

Over half of the songs are written or co-written by Dallis. She plays piano and keyboards and, backed by her band's rhythm section: Brent Rampone, Paul Olguin, Keith Allen, Dennis Geyer, and Jim Nichols, you can hear the special chemistry throughout the tracks. Add to that many talented guests. Local luminaries include: John Lee Sanders on vocals (including one hellacious duet vocal) and sax, Jim Pugh (Robert Cray Band) on B3, Hershel Yatovitz (Chris Isaak) on guitar, the legendary Jules Broussard on tenor sax, and Andy Sturmer (Jellyfish) on vocals.

Not to be missed in all of this sonic splendor are Dallis' convincing vocals as she brings to her performance an emotional depth from personal lessons learned about the "big picture": letting go, trusting your heart, forgiveness, not giving up, and taking those "leaps of faith" along the way.

THE PLAYERS:

BRENT RAMPONE - drums on all tracks / PAUL OLGUIN - bass on all tracks / KEITH ALLEN - acoustic guitar / E. guitar and slide / JIM PUGH - Hammond B3 / DENNIS GEYER - E. guitar / HERSHEL YATOVITZ - E. guitar / E.12-string /BRUCE KAPHAN - pedal steel, lap steel, E. 12 string, E. and acoustic guitars / JIM NICHOLS - E. guitar / GARY POTTERTON - acoustic and high-strung / JOHN SALZ - E. guitar / CHOJO JACQUES - fiddle and mandolin / HENRY SALVIA - accordian / KEVIN WELLS - vocals / ANDY STURMER - vocals / LORALEE CHRISTENSEN- vocals / MATT BRUBECK - cello / ROB SUDDUTH - baritone sax / JOSH SHNECK - trumpet / JULES BROUSSARD - tenor sax / KEITH CROSSAN - tenor sax / LISA KINDRED - vocals / JOHN LEE SANDERS - alto sax and vocals / DAVID PETERSON - oboe / JOYCE LEE - 1st violin / WANGCHEN LONG - 2nd violin / MEGHAN HEATHER - viola / SEMYON KOBIALKA - cello

Recorded and produced by BRUCE KAPHAN

Some basics recorded at The Banquet, Santa Rosa, Ca.

Listen to some samples from the CD.

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