Elevation 120
Contemporary Worship Ensemble
An extended ensemble of Atlanta-based musicians, led by guitarist Jim Stallings, blending Americana, jazz, country, blues, rock, and gospel into tight harmonies and insightful original songs. Elevation 120 served as the worship band at Duluth First United Methodist Church, and its catalog and recordings remain part of the GemBeck Music library today.
Biography
Over the years, Elevation 120 brought together a rotating lineup of Atlanta musicians: Jim Stallings on guitar, vocalists Julie Hall, Kathryn Webster, Randy Adams, Dee Ann Wilcox, and Brook Sensanbaugher, Josh Stamm on violin, Bill Swisher and Nick Orvis on drums and percussion, and Don Klayman and Russ Sheldon on bass at different times.
Elevation 120's catalog spans two full releases, each reflecting the group's range across genre and purpose. Common Holy Places is packed with new grooves on songs like "Down to the River to Pray," "Lord Reign in Me," and "How Great Thou Art," moving fluidly between rock, folk, blues, and gospel, built on rich vocal blend and thoughtful arranging. The album also showcases the band's original songwriting on tracks like "This Day," "Evermore," and "Alpha and Omega." Their holiday release, Christmas Solstice, brought fresh Americana, jazz, country, and blues-inflected takes on seasonal favorites, along with the original song "I Don't Know Why."
While Elevation 120 is no longer an active group, the recordings live on — uplifting, encouraging, and made to be sung together.
Listen
Experience Elevation 120's unique blend of composition and improvisation.
Hear all of their music here:
Discography
Christmas Solstice
2021
The ensemble's sophomore release, produced by Jim Stallings. Features original compositions and improvisations exploring the boundaries between acoustic chamber music and electronic soundscapes.
Common Holy Places
2019
The debut album from Elevation 120, produced by Jim Stallings. Introduces the ensemble's distinctive approach to contemporary composition and improvisation with a blend of traditional and electronic instrumentation.