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Nucleus with Leon Thomas: Live 1970
ByNostalgia? For those who were therenot necessarily at Montreux, just around the scene in 1970. Puzzlement? For those who weren't there, who might wonder at this strange collusiona 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 playand eventually winthe 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 actsin 1970 Carlos Santana and British blues bands Stone The Crows and Chicken Shack played alongside Bill Evans and Yusef Lateef. Nucleus and Thomas delivered a program that included the spiritual sound of "The Creator Has A Master Plan," the snaking groove of "Echoes" and the classic R&B of "Chains Of Love."
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 onlygiving 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 rockerstrumpeter Ian Carr, drummer John Marshall and oboist Karl Jenkins (now one of the most popular classical composers on Earth)the most emphatic instrumental contribution comes from guitarist Chris Spedding. His rhythm playing on "The Creator Has A Master Plan," which Thomas first recorded with Pharoah Sanders, is subtle and understated, on "Echoes" he's spiky and on "Damn 'Nam (Ain't Going To Viet Nam)" and "Chains Of Love" he lays down raunchy blues lines.
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