Jackie Leven: Ο τραγουδοποιός που έζησε σε Αστυπάλαια και Παξούς

Long essay by the Greek music critic Fontas Troussas introducing Leven to Greek readers by two routes: music and literature. First the connection with Ian Rankin (shared origin in Fife; Rankin discovered Leven through a record review, “Shining Brother Shining Sister” impressed him), the Crossing Border evening in The Hague in November 2003 and “Jackie Leven Said”; Troussas traces Rebus novel titles back to Leven songs (“Standing in Another Man's Grave” to “Another Man's Rain”, “Saints of the Shadow Bible” to “One Man One Guitar”, “A Heart Full of Headstones” to “Single Father”).

Greece is central: Leven lived on Astypalea in May and September of each year from 1991 to 1997 (about 14 months in all); Troussas translates Leven's booklet text for “Greek Notebook” (Haunted Valley, 1999; 33 pieces, 52:29) at length, including a cave-like house on a mountain top and about 40 hours of Walkman recordings. Later Leven described himself as a resident of Paxos; according to posts by Paxiots he loved Loggos, spent months there and sat on an old iron bench by the sea. After his death Deborah Greenwood had a memorial bench (backrest with a guitar body and strings, plaque) made by a local carpenter and placed at the entrance to the old customs house; in 2021 unknown persons threw it into the sea, it was fished out, repaired and put back. On 23 June 2022 a memorial concert took place in the old school of Loggos, with Greenwood, Jinder, Michael Weston King and the Paxiots Ilias Dendias and Spyros Kavvadas.

A personal section describes how Troussas knew “Control” as a Spanish Movieplay rarity and only learned from the Korean vinyl reissue of 2002 (Merry-Go-Round/Beatball, 500 copies, four-page liner notes) that John St. Field was Leven; he translates Leven's liner note (LSD phase 1971, pseudonym because of problems with the police). Finally, short reviews of “The Haunted Year / Spring” (2009) and “Lovers At The Gun Club” (2008), which he says he had earlier reviewed for the magazine “Jazz & Τζαζ”. Tone: knowledgeable, warm appreciation.