Sea Level (group)

Sea Level was a popular 70s jazz/rock (fusion) group.

The group was formed in 1976 by keyboardist Chuck Leavell, bassist Lamar Williams, and drummer Jai Johanny ("Jaimoe") Johanson, after the Allman Brothers broke up at this time (the group's name being derived from band leader Chuck Leavell's name, i.e. "C Leavell"). Guitarist Jimmy Nalls and sax man Randall Bramblett completed the original lineup, and in 1977 they issued their self-titled debut LP on the Capricorn label. The group toured a great deal, experimenting on and refining their sound. In 1978 they released Cats on the Coast, followed later the same year by On the Edge. Johanson later returned to the Allmans, but before disbanding, Sea Level recorded two more albums, Long Walk on a Short Pier (1979) and Ball Room (1980).

Leavell later emerged as a sought-after session player and producer, eventually becoming a "permanent" session man touring with the Rolling Stones; in 1998, he issued his debut solo LP "What's in That Bag?" and more recently released "Forever Blue" (which includes "solo" versions of two classic Sea Level compositions, "Whole Lotta Colada" and "Song for Amy"), and "Southscape," an album of Southern anthems that hearkens back to his Southern roots.