Babatunde Lea

"The Babatunde Lea Quintet took us on a compelling musical trip through the African Diaspora, hunkering into the rich shores of jazz right here in Southern California."

– Dee Dee McNeil, Allaboutjazz.com

Babatunde Lea at the Kuumbwa, 2008

"Lea's quartet relied heavily on traditional African rhythms with an influence of Latin origins. The sound quality was top-notch and the fast-paced music had influences of bebop."

  – Peter Hironaka, Spartan Daily

 

"Yearning, uplift, and ancestry permeate this celebration of late vocalist Leon Thomas, a leading figure of post-Coltrane spiritual jazz who combined deep melodicism with a signature yodel-like technique on classics like Pharoah Sanders’s “Creator Has a Master Plan.”

– Stephanie Brown, The Boston Globe

"The deep love Babatunde Lea felt, and obviously still feels, for Leon Thomas and the music they made together comes through on every note of this disc."

– Phil Freeman, All Music Guide

Umbo Weti - A Tribute to Leon Thomas

"For this beautiful tribute to the spirit and music of Thomas, Lea captures the mesmerizing essence of Thomas ...not only a wonderful tribute to a great artist, but a tremendous work in its own right."

– Glenn Daniels, Thejazzpage.com

The Music of Babatunde Lea

Umbo Weti - A Tribute to Leon Thomas

Latest Release:

Umbo Weti: A Tribute To Leon Thomas

For his fourth Motéma release, and his sixth as a leader, Lea has recorded a tribute to one of his most influential mentors, the legendary jazz vocalist and composer Leon Thomas. The idea for the project, titled UMBO WETI after the yodeling singing style of the Twa People of central Africa which influenced Thomas’ signature sound, came to Lea shortly after the singer passed in 1999 and has taken nearly a decade to bring to reality. Lea’s ten- year labor of love reaches powerful fruition on UMBO WETI, which features a stellar and inspired band of improvisers – Dwight Trible (vocals), Ernie Watts (tenor sax), Gary Brown (bass),. Patrice Rushen (piano) – performing the songs of Thomas and others led with passionate fire by Lea on drums and percussion.

To listen and to order the CD, click HERE.

Suite Unseen: Summoner of the Ghost

Suite Unseen - Babatunde Lea

Released: 2005

An african inspired jazz journey "Not since Mingus and Blakey has music bristled with a sense of message like this" -Downbeat magazine "A fiery example of everything that is not dead about jazz..." -The San Francisco Weekly

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Babatunde Lea - Level of Intent

Level of Intent

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Soul Pools

Babatunde Lea - Soul Pools

Broad acceptance and critical acclaim were universal for Babatunde Leas 2003 Motema Music debut Soul Pool. Here's just a sampling:

"Soul Pools is an exceptional, spirited effort by a gifted artist (JazzTimes magazine).

"A sterling disc with tight ensemble work (Philadelphia Daily News).

"A master of trap drums and hand percussion, veteran Bay Area jazz musician Babatunde Lea plunges deep into the musical riches of the African diaspora on Soul Pools" (The San Francisco Bay Guardian).

"Trombonist Ku-umba Frank Lacy and pianist Hilton Ruiz are standouts among percussionist Leas studio octet, but its Leas supple, flowing drum work that is the ongoing focal point." (Down Beat magazine).

What you get is highly disciplined, tightly arranged, Jazz Messengers-influenced soulful post-bop thats propelled, rather than ruled, by its leaders formidable technique (LA Weekly). Soul Pools is a pungent gumbo of familiar, yet fresh musical flavors (The Hartford Courant).

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Represented by

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Motéma, (mo-tay-ma) means 'Heart' in the Language of 'Lingala' ...matters of the essential, authentic, intimate and powerful heart. For booking information, please contact booking@motema.com.

Past recordings that Babatunde Lea has performed on:

1988, Richie Cole, “Signature.” Milestone Records.
1986, Stan Getz, “Voyage.” Black Hawk Records.
1986, Van Morrison, “No Guru, No Method, No Teacher.” Polygram Records
1985, McCoy Tyner, “Just Feelin.” Palo Alto Jazz Records.
1983, Richie Cole, “Yakety Madness.” Palo Alto Jazz Records.
1983, Mickey Hart, Airto, Flora Purim, “Dafos.” Reference Recordings.
1982, Jose Flores, “Pantera.” Roco Productions.
1981, Pharoah Sanders, “Rejoice.” Theresa Records.
1980, Pharoah Sanders, “Journey To The One.” Theresa Records.
1979, Bishop Norman Williams, “One for Bird.” Theresa Records.
1978, Michael White, “The X-Factor.” Elektra Records.
1977, Bobby Lyle, “The Genie.” Capitol Records.
1976, Eddie Henderson, “Runnin’ to Your Love.” Capitol Records.
1976, JUJU, “Space Jungle Luv.” Black Fire.
1975, JUJU, “African Rhythms.” Black Fire.
1974, JUJU, “Nia.” Strata-East Records.
1972, JUJU, “A Message From Mozambique.” Strata-East Records.
1970, Sons & Daughters of Lite, “Let The Sunshine In.” Ubiquity Records.