THE BEAST

“We all thank the brave, hardworking front-line medics and care workers around the world. Leslie managed to put into the lyrics references to the police, grocery clerks, supermarket workers too. I would like to add those essential worker folks who it was impossible to squeeze into a three-miute song.

To all, we say, thank you.”

--Ian Anderson on singing and playing flute on Leslie Mandoki’s “#WeSayThankYou."

Los Angeles, CA - As the world continues to be consumed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson sings and plays flute with Mandoki Soulmates leader Leslie Mandoki. Mandoki has found inspiration and a new spark of hope amidst the chaos. He has penned a powerful new song in appreciation for the heroes who have emerged in this global crisis, the nurses, doctors, and other health care providers as well as the grocery store clerks and food delivery personnel who have stepped up to serve their communities. The new song, entitled simply “#WeSayThankYou,” expresses so clearly the feelings of gratitude many of us have felt in these troubled times

Mandoki explains, “As an artist, I feel it is my duty to contemplate ideas for a better world. Now, like so many of us, I suddenly have the time. Let us grab this uncommon moment of pause together and take a new approach to the problems of the world. And let’s take a hard look at who this crisis is casting in a heroic light, and who comes out the villain.”

The duet is being released as an EP on Thursday, May 7, 2020, through the Purple Pyramid imprint of indie giant Cleopatra Records, Inc. and is Mandoki Soulmate’s first release in the recently inked partnership with the L.A.-based label. Additional Mandoki releases are set to follow later this yea

There are three different versions of the song on the EP:
 
1. Duet with Ian Anderson.
2. New Version with Ian Anderson and Leslie Mandoki featuring Soulmates: Supertramp saxophonist John Helliwell, multi Grammy Winner Randy Brecker (on trumpet), Chair of Berklee´s Bass Department Steve Bailey, Simon Phillips (drums, along with Leslie),and backup singers: Bobby Kimball (Toto) and Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann´s Earth Band).  
3. Unplugged, Acoustic, Living-Room-Concert, with Ian & Leslie, Randy, Steve, John.
 
Leslie will be donating the royalties from the sales, syncs, and airplay of “#WeSayThankYou” to a To-Be-Announced Charity.
 
“#WeSayThankYou” was written in the context of Leslie’s own isolation in Germany, where his doctor wife, Eva, is a first contact physician.
 
Ian and Leslie have worked together for over 25 years on various collaborations with his jazz-rock band Soulmates featuring the good and great of classic rock and jazz. Mandoki’s Soulmates toured North America in 2018.

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Videos

Ian Anderson & Leslie Mandoki #WeSayThankYou

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Y6XFZw7Hk 

https://vimeo.com/411003930/33f2967ae8

Interviews with the Mandoki Soulmates: Leslie, Ian, Randy, Al DiMeola, Bill Evans, Jesse Siebenberg, Nick Van Eede, Steve, John, Simon, Chris talking about the “#WeSayThankYou”’ mission. 

https://vimeo.com/411004205/6a25257d7f

Mandoki Soulmates – Album & Concerts

Landing Page with Advance Music and Digital Media Links          

https://orcd.co/mandoki-soulmates-with-ian-anderson

Social Media, including Hashtags

#WeSayThankYou #TogetherAtHome  

http://www.twitter.com/lesliemandoki

https://www.mandoki-soulmates.com

https://www.instagram.com/themandokisoulmates/

https://www.facebook.com/mandoki.soulmates

Photos of Leslie, and Leslie & Ian mid-page at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8320698@N05/albums/72157611847817960