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Nucleus with Leon Thomas: Live 1970
Leon Thomas
vocals1937 - 1999
Nostalgia? For those who were there—not necessarily at Montreux, just around the scene in 1970. Puzzlement? For those who weren't there, who might wonder at this strange collusion—a vocalist who mixed spirituality and a strident anti-Vietnam War stance with a propensity to yodel in a "Frank Ifield meets Tommy Cooper" style, backed by a bunch of up-and-coming jazz-rockers.
This was not a long-term relationship. Thomas played at London's Ronnie Scott's Club in early June and Nucleus worked as his backing band. Nucleus was at Montreux to play—and eventually win—the international jazz band contest. So Thomas and the band joined forces once more, just a few days after Ronnie's.
The Montreux Jazz Festival wasn't limited to jazz acts—in 1970
Carlos Santana
guitarb.1947
Bill Evans
piano1929 - 1980
Yusef Lateef
woodwinds1920 - 2013
This album gives Nucleus top billing, but only Thomas' name appeared on the festival's poster. On "The Journey" he introduces "The Nucleus" using their first names only—giving the distinct impression that he was The Boss. Thomas seems to have kept things under control musically. The musicians get space to open out and solo, but without the self-indulgence that could overtake them at times on Nucleus' own albums.
Although Nucleus included key British jazzers and jazz rockers—trumpeter
Ian Carr
trumpet1933 - 2009
John Marshall
drumsb.1952
Karl Jenkins
keyboardsb.1944
Pharoah Sanders
saxophone, tenor1940 - 2022
Thomas is an engaging singer, with a slight rawness to his voice that's especially effective on the bluesier tracks. His vocal on "Damn 'Nam (Ain't Going To Viet Nam)" is impassioned and honest, the lyrics direct. These blues tunes are rhythmically strong, thanks mainly to Marshall. Thomas' yodelling hasn't aged so well, coming across as something of a caricature, especially on the lengthy and lyric-free "The Journey." Despite this, Live 1970 is enjoyable: a glimpse into a collaboration that seems odd on paper, but made a certain kind of sense on stage. ">
Track Listing
The Creator Has a Master Plan; Echoes; Damn ‘Nam (Ain’t Going to Viet Nam); One; Chains of Love; The Journey
Personnel
Leon Thomas: vocals; Ian Carr: trumpet, flugelhorn; Karl Jenkins: oboe, piano; Brian Smith: soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute; Chris Spedding: guitar; Jeff Clyne: bass; John Marshall: drums
Album information
Title: Live 1970 | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Gearbox Records
Tags
Nucleus with Leon Thomas
CD/LP/Track Review
Nucleus
Bruce Lindsay
Gearbox Records
United Kingdom
London
Leon Thomas
Carlos Santana
Bill Evans
Yusef Lateef
Ian Carr
John Marshall
Karl Jenkins
Pharoah Sanders
Live 1970
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