Ring in the New Year with your SOULMATES! MANDOKI SOULMATES is hosting a live stream on YouTube, January 15, 2022

Ring in the New Year with your SOULMATES!
MANDOKI SOULMATES is hosting a live stream on YouTube, January 15, 2022.
Hang with the band for their global Zoom meet-up, then watch the premiere of
a magnificent new concert film from the SOULMATES for free.

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 the “Super-Group” musicians surrounding singer, drummer, and songwriter Leslie Mandoki, who has worked as a producer for Disney masterpieces and with greats like Lionel Ritchie, Phil Collins, and Chaka Khan, among many others.

In addition to Leslie, the MANDOKI SOULMATES include: 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, Peter Maffay, Till Brönner, David Clayton Thomas (Blood Sweat & Tears), and Klaus Doldinger.

Playing together in the MANDOKI SOULMATES band, these luminaries have been writing and producing new original music for 30 years. Founding band members include Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Jack Bruce of Cream, and Al Di Meola; collectively they have earned 35 Grammys and sold over 350 million records.

The band’s latest album, “Utopia For Realists,” defines itself as sophisticated and mature new music that combines the intellectual and artistic essence of British prog rock with the virtuosic brilliance of New York's jazz-rock and fusion scene.
But let's hear what some American music journalists are saying:

Raymond Shasho:
“The new Mandoki Soulmates album Utopia for Realists is a modern-day musical masterpiece. A magnificent production of masterful compositions.
The instrumentation is bold and surreal with strong implications of European and perhaps Arabic musical flair. ‘Return to Budapest’ is a 15:27 breathtaking and uplifting song that travels in many musical genre directions. The song's beginnings feature legendary voices: Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) and David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat & Tears). Although the instrumentation is intricate, the message is straightforward... ‘LET THE MUSIC SHOW YOU THE WAY!’ The tracks ‘Return to Budapest’ and ‘The Torch’ could easily be Top 40 hits! ‘The Torch,’ also released as a single, is a beautiful composition about placing our hopes for the future on our young ... ‘be brave, be strong, be hungry - pass on THE TORCH!’
(https://youtu.be/RE2Un-9h5XA)
… all are gorgeous songs written with perfection…
Five Stars for Utopia for Realists by The Mandoki Soulmates...
A brilliantly orchestrated musical performance with a perception of perseverance, tenacity and a greater good for all mankind.”

Nick Tate:
“He’s one of the most accomplished artists you’ve probably never heard of, he’s collaborated with everybody who’s anybody in British prog circles, American jazz-fusion legends, and even world-beat luminaries. Cream’s Jack Bruce compared him to Duke Ellington. Al Di Meola calls him the ‘Hungarian Quincy Jones.’ Greg Lake deemed his band ‘probably the best in the world.’ Ian Anderson says he’s the ‘master chef in the kitchen, mixing all of these exotic spices and mystical musical influences.’
Leslie Mandoki has worked with a ‘Who's Who’ of British prog and American jazz-fusion legends. If you’ve ever wondered what it might sound like with Al Di Meola guesting with Yes, Ian Anderson fronting Return to Forever, or King Crimson scoring Igor Stravinsky for rock orchestra, Mandoki Soulmates music just might be your cup of prog tea.”

Mistress Carrie:
“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

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:
https://youtu.be/gDDpdhuC4Rg

What could be more appropriate than to unite through music in these uncertain times, to stick together, and to repeat the success of “Music Is The Greatest Unifier?”

Looking forward to seeing you all!
Let us bridge the gap around the world!

MANDOKI SOULMATES online
https://utopiaforrealists.mandoki-soulmates.com
https://www.youtube.com/MandokiSoulmates
https://www.facebook.com/mandoki.soulmates
https://www.instagram.com/themandokisoulmates/

Mandoki Soulmates release ‘Utopia For Realists: Hungarian Pictures’; launch video for ‘The Torch’

Leslie Mandoki comments: “It is about generational justice. We will only master the global challenges - pandemic, financial and economic crisis, migration and integration, climate change - if we overcome the divisions across all borders, the old rebels and the young rebels together.”

At the end of August, thousands of enthusiastic fans celebrated the stage return of the Mandoki Soulmates in front of St. Stephen's Basilica in the heart of Budapest, where they performed ‘Utopia For Realists: Hungarian Pictures’ in full, ahead of its release in September. After the pandemic break, this was the legendary band's first performance since their show at the Berlin Concert Hall to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Get a taste of this incredible evening here: https://youtu.be/upwS8kAkxd8

Alongside the original remixed and remastered music, a brand new Blu-ray audio-visual album is part of the package, combining the recording of the concert film of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with an impressive cinematic realization of the individual musical episodes. It also provides exclusive insights behind the scenes of the Soulmates production live and in the studio, a "making of". The album is also available as a standalone Gatefold 2LP+CD+LP-Booklet, and a standard CD jewelcase.

Order now here: https://mandokisoulmates.lnk.to/UtopiaForRealists-HungarianPictures

Watch the recently released video for the track ‘Sessions in the Village’ here: https://youtu.be/KpKwF611WmM

Watch the video for ‘Barbaro’ here: https://youtu.be/xPHHIHbgEEs

On ‘Utopia For Realists: Hungarian Pictures’, Leslie Mandoki plays together with Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Jack Bruce (Cream), Nick van Eede (Cutting Crew), Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann’s Earth Band), Bobby Kimball (Toto), David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat and Tears),
John Helliwell (Supertramp), Al di Meola, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Till Brönner, Bill Evans, Cory Henry, Richard Bona, Tony Carey (Ritchie Blackmores Rainbow), Jesse Siebenberg (Supertramp), Steve Bailey, and Julia Mandoki

Mandoki Soulmates staged a global live stream event earlier this year which has achieved over half a million plays on Youtube and over 700.000 on Germany's leading TV channel ARD since its release.

Watch it in full here: https://youtu.be/gDDpdhuC4Rg

MANDOKI SOULMATES Online:
www.mandoki-soulmates.com/
https://utopiaforrealists.mandoki-soulmates.com
www.facebook.com/mandoki.soulmates www.instagram.com/themandokisoulmates/ www.youtube.com/channel/UCNfanei2WBdqOS_73uua4Xw

INSIDEOUTMUSIC Online:
www.insideoutmusic.com
www.facebook.com/insideoutmusic
www.twitter.com/insideouteu
www.youtube.com/user/InsideOutMusicTV
www.instagram.com/insideoutmusic/

MANDOKI SOULMATES CELEBRATE MUSIC + MEMBERS RECEIVE GRAMMY NOMINATIONS THIS THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving 2021 was certainly a time of celebration for Mandoki Soulmates. Case in point, two of the band members received Grammy nominations - Cory Henry for Album Of The Year and Best Progressive R&B Album and Randy Brecker for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.

In addition to the band recently releasing a video for the song “The Torch” (off their critically acclaimed album, ‘Utopia For Realists: Hungarian Pictures,’ which can be viewed/heard here: https://mandokisoulmates.lnk.to/TheTorch-2021Version), Mandoki Soulmates leader Leslie Mandoki celebrated Thanksgiving this year in New York.

Leslie: “For the traditional Soulmates-Thanksgiving, this time my dear Soulmate, Al di Meola, one of the founding members of the MANDOKI SOULMATES about 30 years ago, invited us to his home in New York, and as always, we played each other’s latest music together. Beside one of the best turkey dinners, we’re celebrating the love of life, music, and three decades of friendship, mutual music and values with Soulmates. Thanksgiving is the right occasion to give thanks for the privileged life of a musician that we can live thanks to the audience that inspires our creativity. It was truly another Soulmates ‘family reunion’ again.”

“We first celebrated with our soulmates at Al's house about 30 years ago, and had another wonderful Soulmates gathering here 15 years ago with my three children. Bringing wonderful changes, Stephanie then gave the house a whole new soul, and it was so beautifully decorated for Thanksgiving. The love, music, and more than 30 years of friendship were in the air and could literally be felt!”

“Yesterday was also time to congratulate our soulmates Cory and Randy on their very well-deserved recent Grammy nominations. When we celebrate family gatherings together with our children today or even at the end of the year, we should realize that they are the future. I am a father of three children, and we should ask ourselves in what condition we hand over our world to the children, the Young Rebels? We can only overcome the divisions in our society together with the Old Rebels and the Young Rebels. So let's wish them strength, courage and the hunger to strive for the right solutions, and let's help them while there's still time to turn the wind and pass the torch.”