To thank our dedicated followers in the prog-rock and jazz-rock
communities for their support in these days of cancelled concerts and shuttered
venues, we MANDOKI SOULMATES are reaching out with a live global streaming
event on January 15, 2022 (3pm NYC time; 21:00 Berlin time). Our music-loving
supporters have continued to inspire our creativity through these uncertain
times for musicians and for the world, and we want to express our gratitude by
hosting this event with band members in a live Zoom hang-out, followed by
streaming a never-before-seen sumptuous concert film from our electrifying
open-air Budapest performance in August 2021. Join us for the Zoom meet-up and
video premiere on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DOWVpz0CwtE (times noted
above).
During the band meet-up, we’ll update everyone on what we’ve been doing
musically and personally in these trying times, and preview exciting new and
upcoming releases from band members, such as the new Jethro Tull album from Ian
Anderson. In the first days of real pandemic lockdown in 2020, Ian, Leslie, and
members of the SOULMATES created a song for charity celebrating front-line
workers, “We Say, Thank You” https://youtu.be/l0Y6XFZw7Hk.
In the upcoming streaming event, the two-and-a-half hour concert video
premiere includes the brilliant prog-rock suite “Hungarian Pictures,” and while
the concert was attended by 30,000 people, this high-end concert film brings
you into the music and performances in ways that are only possible in this
audio-visual medium. You won’t want to miss it—it’s free and not available
anywhere else—our way of saying a special thank you to our amazing audience.
The MANDOKI SOULMATES, once described by the late Soulmate Greg Lake
(Emerson, Lake & Palmer) as “one of the best bands in the world”, are based
around singer, drummer and songwriter Leslie Mandoki, who has worked as a
producer for Disney masterpieces and with greats like Lionel Ritchie, Phil
Collins or Chaka Khan, among many others.
The protagonists of MANDOKI SOULMATES are, besides Leslie Mandoki, Ian
Anderson (Jethro Tull), John Helliwell (Supertramp), Chris Thompson (Manfred
Mann’s EB), Bobby Kimball (Toto), Nick van Eede (Cutting Crew), Al Di Meola,
Jesse Siebenberg (Supertramp), Cory Henry, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Bill
Evans, Tony Carey, Richard Bona, Julia Mandoki, Till Brönner, David Clayton
Thomas (Blood Sweat & Tears) and other great musicians, and they have been
writing new original music for 30 years.
Their latest album, "Utopia For Realists," was released
worldwide on Sony's InsideOut Music label on September 24, 2021, and defines
itself as sophisticated and mature new music that combines the intellectual and
artistic essence of British progressive rock with the virtuosic brilliance of
New York's jazz-rock and fusion scene.
But let's let some American music journalists have their say:
Raymond Shasho
„The new Mandoki Soulmates album Utopia for Realists is a modern-day
musical masterpiece. A magnificent production of masterful
compositions.”
Nick Tate – The Prog Report
"One of the most accomplished artists you've probably never heard
of, Leslie Mandoki has worked with a "Who's Who" of British prog and
American jazz-fusion legends.”
The Mistress Carrie Podcast
"Leslie Mandoki is a perfect example of what is possible in
life! He is doing what he was born to do, and loving every minute of it. We
could all use a little bit more of that in this world. Check out the Mandoki
Soulmates, and Utopia for Realists, you'll be glad you did!"
Listen to the new visual album here:
https://mandokisoulmates.lnk.to/UtopiaForRealists-HungarianPictures
Watch the video for latest single ‘The Torch’ here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE2Un-9h5XA
During the Covid-related lockdown in March 2021, the MANDOKI SOULMATES
decided it was time to give back to their audience and joined together for
their first, highly successful online concert from around the world to
celebrate music as the greatest unifier against division. The result, titled
"Music Is The Greatest Unifier!" premiered on Youtube on March 26,
2021 and has since been seen by more than five million people through
broadcasts on ARD, Germany's largest television network, and various other
third party broadcasters including BR, WDR, hr and SWR.
You can watch it here:
MANDOKI SOULMATES online
https://utopiaforrealists.mandoki-soulmates.com