Leon Thomas

Capsule info: The version of "The Creator Has A Masterplan" is more vocally and lyrically developed (and much shorter) than the version sung with Pharoah Sanders, and much more mellow. Pharoah, credited here as "Little Rock" is featured on several cuts.

Leon Thomas: THE LEON THOMAS ALBUM
Flying Dutchman 1970. Produced by Bob Thiele.
Track list Come Along I Am Bag's Groove Um, Um, Um Pharoah's Tune (The Journey) Musicians Leon Thomas, vocal, percussion, flutes Billy Cobham, drums Billy Harper, tenor sax Howard Johnson, baritone sax Jerome Richardson, alto sax Richie Pablo Landrum, congas Sonny Morgan, bongos, African oboe Ernie Royal, trumpet Donald Smith, flute Arthur Sterling, piano John Williams, Jr. el bass Gene Golden, bongo Bob Cunningham, bass

Capsule info: Diverse as always Leon Thomas adds a soul-jazz vein to his Africanisms and consciousness jazz. More horn harmonies than on other of his albums. "Um Um Um" has a political rap not unlike Gil Scott-Heron. ("Um Um Um" was also recorded by Carlos Santana and Buddy Miles on their LIVE album as "Freeform Funkafide Filth"). "The Journey" cowritten by but not featuring Pharoah Sanders, is a side-long extended workout.

H. Rap Brown and Leon Thomas: SNCC's RAP
Flying Dutchman 1970. Produced by SNCC and Eddie Kramer.
Track list Damn Nam (Ain't Going To Viet Nam) Um, Um, Um H. Rap Brown Other Cuts Not Featuring Leon Thomas. Musicians Leon Thomas, vocals Harold "Jazzbo" Alexander, soprano sax, flute Lonnie L(iston) Smith, Jr., piano Jimmy Phillips, bass Alvin Queen, drums Richard "Pablo" Landrum, conga Sonny Morgan, bongos others

Capsule Info: This must sound awesome: political rap (before there was such a thing) music from a singer and an activist. Leon Thomas' portion of this album was recorded live at the Fillmore East in 1970. (incomplete info; I haven't seen this).

Various Artists: SUPER BLACK BLUES Vol. II
Bluestime BTS-9009 1970. Produced by Bob Thiele.
Track list Welcome To New York Disillusion Blues Damn Nam (Ain't Goin' To Vietnam) Other Cuts Not Featuring Leon Thomas. Musicians Leon Thomas, vocal Earl Creque, piano James Phillips, bass Pablo Landrum, conga Sonny Morgan, bongos Sherman Ferguson, drums

Capsule Info: Recorded live at Carnegie Hall, May 1970. I haven't heard this.

Leon Thomas: IN BERLIN WITH OLIVER NELSON: Recorded Live At Berlin Philaharmonic Hall
Flying Dutchman 1971. Produced by Bob Thiele.
Track list Straight No Chaser Pharoah's Tune (The Journey) Echoes Umbo Weti The Creator Has A Master Plan (Peace) Oo-Wheeee!! Hindewe Musicians Leon Thomas, vocal, percussion, flutes Oliver Nelson, alto sax Arthur Sterling, piano Guenter Lenz, bass Sonny Morgan, conga Lex Humphries, drums

Capsule info: With sax legend Oliver Nelson as a featured soloist, Leon gives an exuberant display of his powers in a concert program featuring some of his best-known songs, and runs from the straight ahead "Straight No Chaser" to his wonderful "Umbo Weti," joyously full of percussion and vocal magic.

Leon Thomas: GOLD SUNRISE ON MAGIC MOUNTAIN
Mega/Flying Dutchman 1971. Produced by Bob Thiele.
Track list The Honey Man Chains Of Love Cousin Mary Na Na Umbo Weti Musicians Leon Thomas, vocal, percussion Nana (Vasconcelos), percussion, berimbau Neal Creque, piano Cornell Dupree, guitar Victor Gaskin, bass Oliver Nelson, alto sax Sonny Morgan, conga David Lee, Jr., drums

Capsule Info: Recorded live at Montreux in 1971, at the same concert of Gato Barbieri's EL PAMPERO. Side one is Leon Thomas shouting the blues and a Coltrane tune; side two is a joyous exploration of rhythm and Thomas's awesome vocal pyrotechnics: a yodelfest to African and Brazilian percussion.

Leon Thomas: BLUES AND THE SOULFUL TRUTH
Flying Dutchman 1973. Produced by Bob Thiele.
Track list Let's Go Down To Lucy's L-O-V-E Gypsy Queen Love Each Other Shape Your Mind To Die Boom-Boom-Boom China Doll C.C. Rider Musicians Leon Thomas, vocal, percussion Neal Creque, keyboards Gordon Edwards, el bass Cornell Dupree, el guitar Pretty Purdie, drums John Eckert, trumpet Dick Griffin, trombone Pee Wee Ellis, tenor sax Cecil Payne, bar sax Tasha Thomas, vocals Lani Groves, vocals Carl Hall, vocals Hilda Harris, vocals Albertine Robinson, vocals Stanley Clarke, bass Donald Pate, bass John Blair, vitar Baba Feme, congas Jesse "Cheese" Kilpatrick, drums Larry Coryell, guitar

Capsule info: Fine Thomas album heavy on blues and veering to pop a bit, but the 10-minute plus cover of Gabor Szabo's "Gypsy Queen" is incredible and worth tracking down.

Leon Thomas: FULL CIRCLE
Flying Dutchman 1973. Produced by Bob Thiele.
Track list Sweet Little Angel Just In Time To See The Sun It's My Life I'm Fighting For Never Let Me Go I Wanna Be Where You Are Got To Be There Balance Of Life (Peace Of Mind) You Are The Sunshine Of My Life What Are We Gonna Do? Musicians Leon Thomas, vocals Neal Creque, keyboards Richard Davis, electric bass Joe Beck, electric guitar Lloyd Davis, electric guitar Pretty Purdie, drums Jimmy Owens, trumpet Pee Wee Ellis, soprano sax Sonny Morgan, percussion Joe Farrell, flute Richard 'Pablo' Landrum, percussion Herbie Lovelle, drums Tasha Thomas, vocal Carl Hall, vocal plus strings

Capsule Info: In covering some then-contemporary soul tunes and a Santana song, Thomas attempts a wider audience. The standout cuts on this varied album are the 10-minute "It's My Life I'm Fighting For" and 7-minute "Balance Of Life (Peace Of Mind)". The string-backed tunes are a bit sweet for my taste, but on these two extended numbers he is awesome.

Leon Thomas: FACETS: THE LEGEND OF LEON THOMAS, AN ANTHOLOGY
Flying Dutchman 1973. Produced by Bob Thiele.
Track list The Creator Has A Master Plan (Peace) Welcome To New York China Doll Duke's Place L-o-v-e Disillusion Blues Song For My Father Boom-boom-boom Let The Rain Fall On Me Musicians Leon Thomas, vocal, percussion see individual albums for listings

Capsule Info: A best-of featuring Leon Thomas' Flying Dutchman label work. Par for the course the material is split between his avant-garde yodelling and percussion, smooth singing, and straight-forward swinging blues. The album is an interesting slice of early 1970s consciousness, including the mystical-optimistic ("Creator"), period politics (defending rent control in "Welcome To New York"), shocking racial stereotyping oddly combined with a peace-and-love vibe ("China Doll") and more. Somebody really should put all his Flying Dutchman label albums out on CD. (Some of the blues cuts are or were, anyway) included on the Oliver Nelson CD anthology cited above).

v/a: ANN ARBOR BLUES & JAZZ FESTIVAL VOL. 3 & 4
P-Vine 1973/1996. Produced by John Sinclair for Big Chief Productions.
Track list Love Each Other LT not featured on other tracks Musicians Leon Thomas, vocals, flute, perc on one cut Neal Creeque, piano unidentified bassist Steve Ellington, drums Sonny Morgan, perc

Capsule Info: Recorded live in September 1973, Leon gives a spirited rendering of "Love Each Other" with a suitable peace/love vibe for the same early 70s festival that also features Sun Ra, the Revolutionary Ensemble, Infinite Sound, and a host of blues luminaries.

Leone Thomas: THANK YOU BABY
1975 Don King/New Sounds Records. Produced by Leone Thomas and Jesse Baseman.
Track list Thank You Baby, parts 1 & 2 Musicians Neal Creque, piano Leon Thomas, vocal others not credited

Capsule Info: A 7-inch single, I've only heard about this. Anybody have a copy? Was it part of an album? Does that exist?.

Leon Thomas featuring Freddie Hubbard: A PIECE OF CAKE
Palcoscenico 1979/80?. Produced by Augusto Brivic.
Track list Sunflower Let The Rain Fall On Me Boom! Boom! Boom! Yo-Yo Blues Night In Tunisia Cousin Mary Musicians Leon Thomas, vocals, perc Freddie Hubbard, trumpet, flugelhorn Hadley Caliman, tenor sax Billy Childs, keyboards Lawrence Allen Larry Klein, bass, electric bass Carl Burnett, drums

Capsule Info: Recorded live in Nov. 1979. (incomplete info; I haven't seen this).

Leon Thomas Blues Band: THE LEON THOMAS BLUES BAND
Sony/Portrait 1988. Produced by Bob Thiele.
Track list Shake, Rattle And Roll School Girl Blues Flip Flop And Fly Everyday I Have The Blues Every Year I Have The Blues Next Time You See Me Blues Is The Blues, Is The Blues Duke's Place Musicians Leon Thomas, vocals Donald Smith, vocals Ernie Hayes, piano Houston Person, tenor sax Bernard Purdie, drums Gordon Edwards, bass Babe Clark, baritone sax Hugh McKracken, guitar & harmonica Melvin Sparks, guitar

Capsule Info: Very straight ahead blues session; a bit bouncy for my taste. Leon only sings on three tracks.

Gary Bartz & Leon Thomas: PRECIOUS ENERGY
Mapleshade 1993. Produced by Pierre M. Sprey.
Track list Precious Energy You Treat Me Like A Yo-Yo Sunflowers Cousin Mary Woman Close Your Eyes Boom, Boom, Boom Musicians Gary Bartz, alto sax Leon Thomas, vocals Eddie Henderson, trumpet Rob Butta, piano Geoff Harper, bass Steve Johns, drums

Capsule Info: Recorded live at Ethell's, in Baltimore, March 1987. They've all sounded better, but still a great record. Leon Thomas stretches out "Precious Energy" (recorded as "Sun Song" on a Pharoah Sanders album) to almost 13 minutes.

Leon Thomas: U-TURN
Produced by Pierre M. Sprey. yet unreleased.
Track list Psalms Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child/Oo-whee Hindewhe Willow Weep For Me U-Turn others Musicians Leon Thomas, vocals, perc sax piano African drummers bass

Capsule Info: Recorded in the mid-1990s this album has yet to be released. It is, however, a deeply spiritual masterpiece. The extended arrangement of "Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child/Oo-whee Hindewhe" soars, the old black spiritual weaving in and out of a fierce rhythm of pounding congas and Leon's transcendent vocal summoning of ancestral presence. The recitation of psalms and spoken meditations on life's journeys complete the picture. This album deserves to be released and take its place among the classics.

Leon Thomas: ANTHOLOGY
Soul Brother Records/Passion Jazz, 1998. Compilation producer not listed.
Track list Prince Of Peace* The Creator Has A Master Plan (Peace) Song For My Father Bag's Groove C.C. Rider China Doll Just In Time To See The Sun Shape Your Mind To Die It's My Life I'm Fighting For Balance Of Life (Peace Of Mind) Little Sunflower+ Sun Song# Musicians Leon Thomas, vocals, perc see original albums

Capsule Info: A welcomed and highly-recommended CD compilation of Leon Thomas' recordings from 1969 to 1985. It features material from his Flying Dutchman solo albums, and from Pharoah Sanders' IZIPHO ZAM*, Louis Hayes' VARIETY IS THE SPICE+ and Pharoah's SHUKURU# albums as well. Thank the folks at Soul Brother Records for finally bring Leon's work into the digital age.

Recordings As A Supporting Artist

Capsule Info: Recorded in Nov. 1964. (incomplete info; I haven't heard this).

Count Basie: BASIE PICKS THE WINNERS
Verve 1965. Produced by ?
Track list Nobody Knows When You're Down And Out Musicians Leon Thomas, vocals on one cut others

Capsule Info: Recorded in Jan. 1965. (incomplete info; I haven't seen this).

Roland Kirk & Al Hibbler: A MEETING OF THE TIMES
Atlantic 1966/1972. Produced by ?
Track list Dream Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me Daybreak Lover Come Back to Me Don't Get Around Much Anymore This Love of Mine Carney and Bigard Place I Didn't Know About You Something 'Bout Believing Musicians Leon Thomas, vocals on one cut Rahsaan Roland Kirk, woodwinds Lonnie Smith, piano Major Holley, bass Charles Crosby, drums plus others on other cuts

Capsule Info: Recorded in 1966 but released several years later; Leon Thomas is featured on one cut. I've never heard this and don't know if that's Lonnie Liston or Non-Liston Smith on keys.

Pharoah Sanders: IZIPHO ZAM (MY GIFTS)
Strata East 1973/Bellaphon 1993/Charly 1998. Produced by Clifford Jordan, Jr.
Track list Prince Of Peace Balance Izipho Zam Musicians Pharoah Sanders, sax, percussion Leon Thomas, vocal and percussion Lonnie Liston Smith, piano Cecil McBee, bass Sirone, bass Billy Hart, drums Howard Johnson, tuba Nate Bettis, percussion Sonny Fortune, sax Chief Bey, African drums Majid Shabazz, drums Tony Wylie, percussion Sonny Sharrock, guitar

Capsule Info: Recorded in 1969 and released by groundbreaking black jazz label Strata East. The classic "Prince Of Peace" makes its debut here, and the whole album is joyous.

Pharoah Sanders: KARMA
Impulse! Records 1969/MCA 1995. AS-9181. Produced by Bob Thiele.
Track list The Creator Has A Masterplan Colors Musicians Pharoah Sanders, tenor sax Leon Thomas, vocal and percussion Lonnie Liston Smith, piano Richard Davis, bass Julius Watkins, french horn Billy Hart, drums Reggie Workman, bass Nate Bettis, percussion Ron Carter, bass Freddie Waits, drums

Capsule Info: Leon Thomas and Pharoah Sanders wrote their chapter in history with "The Creator Has A Masterplan", probably the best-known song for each of them. Thomas' voice is not only lyrical but a competitive instrument for Pharoah's squealing sax.

Archie Shepp: FOR LOSERS
Impulse! Records 1970. AS-9188. Produced by Ed Michel.
Track list Stick 'Em Up features Thomas Musicians Archie Shepp, saxophones Leon Thomas, vocal Martin Banks, trumpet, flugelhorn Grachan Moncur, trombone Martin Kenyatta, alto sax Andrew Bey, piano Albert Winston, fender bass Bert Payne, guitar Beaver Harris, drums Mel Brown, organ, guitar Wilton Felder, fender bass Doris Troy, background vocal Tasha Thomas, background vocal

Capsule Info: I've only seen this album briefly. Recorded in 1968.

Pharoah Sanders: JEWELS OF THOUGHT
Impulse! Records 1970. AS-9190. Produced by Ed Michel.
Track list Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum Allah Sun In Aquarius, Part 1 Sun In Aquarius, Part 2 Musicians Pharoah Sanders, sax, perc, flute Leon Thomas, percussion, vocals Lonnie Liston Smith, piano, flute, percussion Richard Davis, bass, percussion Cecil McBee, bass, percussion Idris Muhammad, drums & percussion Roy Haynes, drums

Capsule Info: Leon Thomas here revisits "Prince Of Peace" from the IZIPHO ZAM album, a wonderful kind of sequel to "The Creator Has A Masterplan." Finally reissued on CD with 20-bit mastering in 1998.

Louis Armstrong: LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND HIS FRIENDS
Flying Dutchman 1970. Produced by Bob Thiele.
Track list The Creator Has A Master Plan (Peace) other cuts not featuring Leon Thomas Musicians Leon Thomas, vocal, percussion Louis Armstrong, vocal Gene Golden, congas Richard Davis, bass George Duvivier, bass James Spaulding, flute Frank Owens, piano Pretty Purdie, drums Sam Brown, guitar Kenny Burrell, guitar plus strings

Capsule info: When Larry Nai told me about this album I thought one of us was hallucinating. But there he is, Satchmo, singing in duet Leon Thomas' transcendental lyrics to "The Creator Has A Master Plan". And then as he starts growling those throaty mucousy noises he makes, Leon Thomas starts to yodel. Sheer, divine madness. It's actually very very beautiful, from one of Louis Armstrong's last albums. Bob Thiele and Oliver Nelson must have had an amazing laugh when they figured out they could do this. (On CD available as RCA/Bluebird CD WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD, 1970/1988.

Johnny Hodges featuring Oliver Nelson and Leon Thomas: THREE SHADES OF BLUE
Flying Dutchman 1970/BMG France 1998. Produced by Bob Thiele.
Track list Duke's Place Disillusion Blues Welcome To New York Three Shades Of Blue Musicians Leon Thomas, vocals Johnny Hodges, alto sax Ernie Royal, trumpet Snooky Young, trumpet Marvin Stamm, trumpet Randy Brecker, trumpet Al Grey, trombone Quentin Jackson, trombone Garnett Brown, trombone Thomas Mitchell, trombone Bob Ashton, reeds Jerome Richardson, reeds Frank Wess, reeds Danny Bank, reed Jerry Dodgion, reeds Joe Farrell, reeds Hank Jones, piano Ron Carter, bass David Spinozza, guitar Grady Tate, drums

Capsule Info: Recorded in March 1970. Are these same versions of blues songs as on Oliver Nelson's BLACK BROWN AND BLUE and Thomas's FACETS?. (incomplete info; I haven't seen this).

Oliver Nelson: BLACK, BROWN, AND BEAUTIFUL
Flying Dutchman 1970/Bluebird BMG 1989. Produced by Bob Thiele.
Track list Duke's Place Welcome To New York Disillusion Blues and other cuts not featuring Leon Thomas Musicians Leon Thomas, vocal Oliver Nelson, arranger David Spinozza, guitar Ron Carter, bass Grady Tate, drums plus full horn section

Capsule Info: A big-band blues outing for Nelson; some singing by Leon Thomas. From what I know Oliver Nelson never quite did anything as beautiful after "Stolen Moments", but this is nice material nevertheless.

Ornette Coleman: FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
Flying Dutchman 1970/BMG France 1990s. Produced by Bob Thiele?
Track list Friends And Neighbors Musicians Leon Thomas, vocals on one cut others

Capsule Info: (incomplete info; I haven't seen this).

Theresa Brewer: SINGIN' A DOO DAH SONG
Flying Dutchman 1972. Produced by Bob Thiele.
Track list Guantanamera other cuts not featuring Thomas Musicians Teresa Brewer, vocal Frank Owens, piano Bucky Pizzarelli, banjo, guitar Joe Beck, guitar Richard Davis, bass Ted Sommer, drums Moulay Ali Hafid, dumbeg Airto Moreira, percussion Tasha Thomas, voice Marilyn Jackson, voice Carl Hall, voice Leon Thomas, percussion

Capsule info: I guess if you're married to Flying Dutchman president Bob Thiele, as Brewer was, you can get whoever the heck you want on your record! The liner notes suggest Thomas is also featured as percussionist on a second song including Gato Barbieri as soloist.

Santana: WELCOME
Columbia Records/ Sony 1973. Producer not listed.
Track list Going Home Love, Devotion & Surrender Samba De Sausalito When I Look Into Your Eyes Yours Is The Light Mother Africa Light Of Life Flame Sky Welcome Musicians Carlos Santana, guitars, perc Armando Peraza, congas Wendy Haas, vocals Leon Thomas, vocals Flora Purim, vocals Maitreya Michael Shrieve, drums Jose Chepito Areas, timbales Doug Rauch, bass Tom Coster, keyboards Richard Kermode, keyboards Airto Moreira, perc Jules Broussard, Soprano saxophone Bob Yance, Flute Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, Guitar Tony Smith, Drums

Capsule Info: My favorite Santana album. The group performs "Going Home" with the Alice Coltrane arrangement from her LORD OF LORDS album, and John Coltrane's "Welcome". In an inspired match, Leon Thomas had joined the band during as the group's lyrical content became more and more spiritual.

Santana: LOTUS
Columbia Records/ Sony 1974. Produced by The New Santana Band.
Track list Going Home A-1 Funk Every Step Of The Way Yours Is The Light Xibaba Stone Flower Free Angela Mantra Kyoto Incident At Neshabur Toussaint L'Ouverture more Musicians Carlos Santana, guitars, perc Leon Thomas, vocals, perc Tom Coster, organ Doug Rauch, bass Michael Shrieve, drums Armando Peraza, congas, perc Jose Chepito Areas, perc Richard Kermode, keyboards

Capsule Info: Recorded live in Japan in 1973, during Santana's more religious period. The multi-panel cover art is full of religious icons combined with trippy space imagery. Leon Thomas is the vocalist, and the group performs "Going Home" with the Alice Coltrane arrangement from her LORD OF LORDS album. Unfortunately most of the Leon Thomas signature tunes performed by Santana on that tour-- "The Creator Has A Masterplan", "Japan", "One," "Um Um Um", etc.--didn't make it to disc and only survive on bootleg tapes.

Archie Shepp: KWANZA
1974(?) Impulse AS-9262. Produced by Ed Michel.
Track list Spoo Pee Doo and other songs not featuring Thomas Musicians Archie Shepp, saxophones and vocal Leon Thomas, vocal Jimmy Owens, trumpet Grachan Moncur III, trombone Walter Booker, bass Beaver Harris, drums Cedar Walton, piano Dave Burrell, organ Wally Richardson, guitar Robin Kenyatta, flute Andy Bey, piano Pretty Purdie, drums Woody Shaw, trumpet Doris Troy and Tasha Thomas, vocals others

Capsule Info: Recorded in 1968 and 1969, this is kind of an African-diasporic music sampler, covering blues, funk, avant garde jazz and all manner of rhythms; dedicated to the newly created African-American holiday of Kwanza. An all-star cast; a great CD reissue package. Leon Thomas appears on one cut.

David Liebman: LIGHT'N UP, PLEASE
Horizon/A&M 1976. Produced by David Liebman, Pee Wee Ellis and John Snyder.
Track list Children Of The Ghetto Got To Work Slow Dance On The Killing Ground other cuts not featuring Thomas Musicians Leon Thomas, vocals David Liebman, tenor & soprano sax, el piano, perc, vocal Pee Wee Ellis, el piano, vocal Link Chamberland, el guitar Tony Saunders, el bass Chris Hayes, el guitar Jimmy Strasbourg, drums, perc Jumma Santos, congas Sonny Brown, perc Al Foster, drums Jeff Berlin, el bass Harold Williams, keyboards

Capsule Info: Mediocre blues-flavored jazzfunk with a heavy pop-disco sheen. Hey, it was 1976. Featuring longtime collaborator PeeWee Ellis.

Pee Wee Ellis: HOME IN THE COUNTRY
Savoy/Arista 1977. Produced by Bob Porter and Pee Wee Ellis.
Track list Big Daddy This Is Just A Warning! Other Cuts Not Featuring Leon Thomas Musicians Pee Wee Ellis, tenor sax, clavinet John Gatchell, trumpet Barry Rogers, trombone Ernie Hayes, electric piano Cornell Dupree, guitar Eric Gale, guitar Jeff Berlin, bass Bernard Purdie, drums Jimmy Strassburg, drums Jumma Santos, conga Ray Mantilla, shaker Charlotte Crossley, vocals Lonnie Groves, background vocal Lillian "Tang" Tynes, background vocal Leon Thomas, lead & bg vocal Waymon Reed, trumpet Roland Hanna, electric piano Jon Scholle, guitar Idris Muhammad, drums Dwain Jones, vocal Melanie Jordin, vocal

Capsule Info: Very much in the vein of the above David Liebman album.

The Louis Hayes Group: VARIETY IS THE SPICE
Gryphon Productions/Lewis Entertainment. Produced by Norman Schwartz.
Track list Little Sunflower Nisha Other Cuts Not Featuring LT Musicians Louis Hayes, drums Frank Strozier, alto sax, flute Harold Mabern, keys Cecil McBee, bass Portinho, perc Titos Sompa, congas Leon Thomas, vocals

Capsule Info: Leon sings two ballads, including lyrics he wrote for Freddie Hubbard's classic "Little Sunflower". From the liner notes: "By reason of habit and ignorance, Leon Thomas is still being labeled a singer. I certainly don't mean to suggest that he is not, it's just that there is so much more to the story. His is the original instrument (the human voice) and by virtue of its natural grace it is one of the finest you'll hear. What he can do with it is truly the love between him and God. To hear him use it flat out is startling." This recording is not fiery or out at all, but Leon's voice shows great warmth and sensitivity. "Little Sunflower" is anthologized on his ANTHOLOGY CD.

Pharoah Sanders: SHUKURU
Theresa Records, 1981 (and later Evidence). Produced by Pharoah Sanders and Allen Pittman.
Track list Shukuru Body And Soul Mas In Brooklyn Sun Song Too Young To Go Steady Jitu For Big George Musicians Pharoah Sanders, tenor sax, voice Leon Thomas, voice Idris Muhammad, drums Ray Drummond, bass William Henderson, synthesizer

Capsule Info: Wiliam Henderson's early '80s novelty synthesized strings and voices are weird and dated, but it's great to hear Leon Thomas yodelling again.

Malachi Thompson: SPIRIT
Delmark 1984. Produced by ?
Track list No More Hard Times Musicians Leon Thomas, vocals on one cut others

Capsule Info: (incomplete info; I haven't seen this).

Wendell Harrison: REAWAKENING
Rebirth 1985?. Produced by Wendell Harrison and Billy Walden.
Track list Love Dream Where Am I Other Cuts Not Featuring LT Musicians Wendell Harrison, tenor sax, flute, clarinet Pamela Wise, piano George Davidson, drums Kurt Krahnke, bass Andrew Gibson, marimbas Larry Fratangelo, percussion David Miles, guitar Pamela Wise, Miche Braden and Angie Peterson, background vocals Leon Thomas, lead vocal W. T. Williams, drums

Capsule Info: I haven't heard this.

Hank Crawford: MR. CHIPS
Milestone 1986/1991. Produced by Bob Porter.
Track list You Send Me other tracks not featuring LT Musicians Hank Crawford, alto sax Cornell Dupree, guitar Richard Tee, keyboards Wilbur Bascomb, bass Bernard Purdie, drums Howard Johnson, sax (Baritone) Randy Brecker, trumpet Alan Rubin, trumpet Leon Thomas, vocals David "Fathead" Newman, tenor sax, flute

Capsule Info: I haven't heard this.

Jamaaladeen Tacuma: MUSIC WORLD
Gramavision 1986. Produced by Jamaaladeen Tacuma.
Track list The Creator Has A Master Plan and other cuts not featuring LT Musicians Jamaaladeen Tacuma, bass, Yamaha rxii, programming Leon Thomas, vocals Dennis Alston, drums, programming Ron Howerton, percussion Odean Pope, oboe James Watkins, alto sax Harry Dixon, DX7 synthesizer

Capsule Info: Well it was the mid-1980s and this album frankly suffers from that era's fascination with sequencers and drum machines, but Tacuma brings in Leon Thomas to sing a mellow, gently sunny, 9-minute version of his classic and that's worth the price of admission.

Pharoah Sanders: OH LORD, LET ME DO NO WRONG
Signature/CBS Special Products 1989. Produced by Bob Thiele.
Track list Oh Lord, Let Me Do No Wrong If It Wasn't For A Woman Next Time You See Me plus more Musicians Pharoah Sanders, tenor saxophone Donald Smith, electric piano William Henderson, piano Tarik Shah, bass Leon Thomas, vocal Greg Banoy, drums

Capsule Info: Again Pharoah is astoundingly eclectic: taking on reggae, Coltrane and the blues, with old partner Leon Thomas along for the ride.

Jeri Brown With Special Guest Leon Thomas: ZAIUS
Justin Time Records 1998. Produced by Jeri Brown and Jim West.
Track list Oo-Shoo-Be-Doo-Be The Creator Has A Master Plan Be Natural Sun Song Uncle From Ghana Be Mine Zaius Blue Skies (medley) Musicians Jeri Brown, voice Leon Thomas, voice Avery Sharp, bass Curtis Lundy, bass John Hicks, piano Sangoma Everett, drums Don Braden, tenor sax David Murray, tenor sax

Capsule Info: After a long hiatus from records, Leon Thomas appears on a co-starring spot on Canada-based singer Jeri Brown's sixth album. The two duet on tunes ranging from bebop-ish straightahead scat to covers of Thomas standards "The Creator Has A Master Plan" and "Sun Song." The combination of Brown's high feminine airiness to Thomas's deep masculine foundation is engaging. With David Murray or Don Braden sitting in for the Pharoah parts on "The Creator" it clocks a nice 8:26. Leon yodels, Jeri soars. A welcome return to the CD bins.

Special thanks to Tetsuro Kubo for so much discographical information.

A Jazz Supreme