Leon Thomas – The Creator 1969-1973 – The Best Of The Flying Dutchman Masters CD (BGP)

Leon Thomas became a star on the back of his original cut of ‘The Creator Had A Master Plan’ recorded with Pharaoh Sanders. This success was consolidated with four studio albums and several live sessions recorded for Flying Dutchman. A year as a member of Santana brought him to the attention of an even wider audience. His yodelling style allied with deep blues roots has influenced several generations of jazz singers, most recently the Grammy Award-winning jazz star of 2012, Gregory Porter.

Leon Thomas’ music mixed spiritualism with African influences and became important to the acid jazz scene, where he was sampled by Galliano, while his records became sought after collector’s items. In recent years the soul crowd has pushed up the value of his 45s ‘Love Each Other’ and ‘Just In Time To See The Sun’.

“The Creator..” pieces together the very best tracks from his five years at Flying Dutchman, including his collaborations with the Pharaoh Sanders band on his debut album, ‘The Creator Has A Master Plan’ and ‘Let The Rain Fall On Me’; later more soul-influenced numbers, and the apocalyptic spiritual jazz masterpiece ‘Shape Your Mind To Die’. We have also found a previously unreleased full length version of his live favourite ‘Um Um Um’.

The booklet comes with an extended essay by album compiler Dean Rudland, press clippings and previously unseen photographs by Charles Stewart. –  Ace Records