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stumbled across the Mama Stones label.
So on phoning them, Jonathan was on
the other end of the phone, with this
American voice, you know. So he says, it
just so happens that I’m playing with a
trio next week in St Ives, Cornwall.”
This amazing encounter with his
future producer-to-be led Leigh to enter
the venue just as Jonathan was finishing
his second set. “It blew me away. His
playing was ridiculous, I was so scared
that I had second thoughts, like am I
worthy? So we got talking and from
there I was invited down to sing.
Jonathan helped me understand the
music; he’s the real deal coming
from a gospel background in
Miami, along with BettyWright.
Those guys just ooze it. I
just absorbed, completely
absorbed,
everything.”
Leaning back in his seat and
looking away for a moment
as if capturing a cherished
memory, he adds: “The
authenticity of it all, for
me was natural but I had
to study. But those guys,
man, it’s just there! (He
chuckles) I was stoked
that they can even see
it in me, and give me
the time of day to
develop me, and I continue to grow.”
Leigh Coleman who has supported
Joss Stone during her Soul Sessions 2
Tour and Solomon Burke in February
2011, and more recently performed
with legendary Sandie Shaw and Beverly
Knight at London’s Global Angles Award,
recently guest-appeared at Ronnie Scots
with talented soul singer NatalieWoods
and her band, Soul Family in March and
also at Boisdale in Canary Wharf in
April. This year, he will be playing at the
Birmingham Jazz Festival in July.
www.mamastones.com/leigh-colemanbite
music
