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

Babatunde Lea Photo Galleries