Ian Anderson and his longtime friend/collaborator Leslie Mandoki have recorded the song “We Say Thank You,” as a dedication to everyone on the frontline, from the doctors to grocery store workers, in the unbelievable Coronavirus battle. The hashtag to use is “#WeSayThankYou”
Written by the Hungarian-born/German producer/songwriter/bandleader of Soulmates (which has featured Ian through the years), “#WeSayThankYou” was written in the context of Leslie’s own isolation in Germany, where his doctor wife, Eva, is a first contact physician.
Using social distancing as the foundation for their collaboration, Leslie emailed tracks to England for Ian to sing and play flute on between April 7 and 8. Hear the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Y6XFZw7Hk.
Ian and Leslie have worked together for over 20 years on various collaborations with his jazz-rock band Soulmates featuring the good and great of classic rock and jazz. Artists in Soulmates (through the years) have included— David Clayton-Thomas, Bobby Kimball, Tony Carey, Jack Bruce, Chaka Khan, Chris Thompson, Steve Lukather, Eric Burdon, Nik Kershaw, Greg Lake, Al di Meola, Randy and Michael Brecker, , Bill Evans, Mike Stern , Paul Carrack, Peter Frampton, and Jon Lord.
Mandoki’s Soulmates toured North America in 2018.
In addition to the brave, hardworking front-line medics and care workers the lyrics reference the police, grocery clerks, supermarket workers too. Ian adds the dark reference to the speculators making a killing from the current crisis. Ian says, “They know who they are.”
“To all, we say, thank you,” Says Ian Anderson and Leslie Mandoki