Customer Reviews

Spirits Known & Unknown

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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This is Leon's best album. I cannot believe it took someone so long to re-issue this album. I owned it years ago and someone ripped it off. I have been searching for the LP for quite awhile. The album starts with "The Creator has a Master Plan" which mellows you out and settles you down. The next Track (if I remember) is "One" which shows Leons vocal powers like never before. "Damn Nam" is a blusey track about Viet Nam. Pay particlar interest to the drummer, who uses only a snare and kick drum, he beats the side of the snare at times and really works magic. Of most of the jazz buffs i know, this album is the most sought after, I will throw a party the day I receive it.

To me, Leon Thomas ranks with Ella Fitzgerald (different styles, but both personally move me). This reissue provides quality sound for his spiritually inspired jazz plus an intriguing sampler of some early swing/blues material. Now, where are his other recordings from this period?

/s/ Marty
Martin Z. Kasdan Jr.
Jazz Columnist, Louisville Music News
[...]

Leon Thomas's musical interpretations are definitely worth a listen. I first head of Thomas's mysterious vocal arrangements on Georgia Public Broadcasting's jazz night with Masani. His voice is very unusual and rooted.