Leron Thomas
Whatever
Leron Thomas ***1/2 
The latest album from Leron Thomas, download only so far, who appears as a guest on ‘Angie La La’ in Billy Eckstine-like vocals mode as well as playing trumpet on singer Zara McFarlane’s soon-to-be released new album http://www.marlbank.net/news/1180-zara-mcfarlane-returns-with-if-you-knew-her.
An appealing post-hard bop tradition-in-transition collection Whatever finds the New York-based Houston jazz trumpeter with a band of pianist Taylor Eigsti (Oracle), bassist Harish Raghavan (who appeared to effect on Ambrose Akinmusire’s When the Heart Emerges Glistening), and alternating drummers Eric Harland of the Charles Lloyd quartet and Justin Brown, plus guitarists Michael Valeanu and Matthew Stevens. Thomas’ communicative Hubbard-esque trumpet personality and highly mellifluous and warm tone is aided by strong original material, ‘As Sheep’ in particular showing Thomas’ range and flair as an improviser. SG
Leron Thomas pictured Photo Poppi Kikos