Flying Dutchman was created 1969 by the renowned producer/arranger Bob Thiele. A fascinating mix of forward thinking music; the label combined the sounds of jazz, soul, experimentation, and black politics. Although the label put out some standard jazz albums, their most incredible records were those of unique musicians such as Leon Thomas, Lonnie Liston Smith, Gil Scott-Heron and Angela Davis.

Leon Thomas, as a singer, was completely original; he could not be compared to any one. Incredibly hard to categorize, his singing style was somewhere between scat, jazz and yodeling. He had complete mastery over his voice, often beginning with a simple baritone, moving into crazy scat, and ending up yodeling, creating amazing tremolo effects sounding like soft birds or wild animals. Leon Thomas’ music seamlessly blended traditional jazz with African influences, but his wild sound restricted his album sales. Even though he was critically acclaimed he soon faded into obscurity.

Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes made real music. His music combined sounds, spirits, textures and feelings it was not just chords, notes, melodies and progressions, As Lonnie said, "I want to make my listeners feel at ease and to inspire people to be themselves. Musicians are carefully chosen both for their musicianship and spirit as well as for their capacity to make their instruments into kinetic rainbows." And that he does with five fantastic albums on Flying Dutchmen Records. Lonnie Liston Smith was born into a musical family in Virginia and started playing professionally at the young age of 16. He began playing with the likes of Benny Carter, Dakota Staton, Art Blakey and Roland Kirk who he first composed and recorded with. In 1968 Lonnie began a partnership with Pharaoh Sanders, Leon Thomas and Gato Barbieri where he developed his spiritual sounds on both electric and acoustic piano. He then joined Miles Davis’ band where he got a feel for the electric space and band concepts. He formed the Cosmic Echoes in 1972 with Cecil McBee, Mtume and George Barron.

Gil Scott Heron had a knack for combining poetry, music and black revolutionary politics. His records would make you feel, think and tap your feet. His music is legendary and his Flying Dutchman recordings introduced Gil to the world. As one of the original rappers his 'Revolution Will Not Be Televised' predated so-called message rap by twelve years. Gil Scott-Heron was a firm believer in human rights, equality and peace. He would blend these beliefs into his music backed by Pretty Purdie and the Playboys. He made many albums into the seventies and eighties and is still creating and touring today.

Flying Dutchman Discography:

101 Oliver Nelson & Steve Allen - Soulful Brass

102 Spontaneous Combustion - Come and Stick Your Head In

103 Jon Appleton - Appleton Syntonic Menagerie

104 Bob Thiele - Emergency - Head Start

10105 Stanley Crouch - Ain’t No Ambulances For No Nigguhs Tonight

106106 Tom Scott - Hair to Jazz

10107 Horace Tapscott - The Giant is Awakened

10108 John Carter & Bobby Bradford - Flight For Four