Guitarists Al Di Meola and Steve Lukather call Leslie Mandoki the Hungarian Quincy Jones, and Jack Bruce calls him the German Duke Ellington. But drummer, lyricist, songwriter, bandleader, and producer Leslie Mandoki scoffs at those comparisons, and refers to Quincy and Duke as musical Gods. But like Quincy Jones, Leslie Mandoki has had the privilege of being a musical survivor. In his over 40-year career, Leslie has made records with a who’s who of music. His band, Mandoki Soulmates, has included everyone from Jack Bruce and Jon Lord to Ian Anderson, Bobby Kimball, and Mike Stern. Now, to mark the occasion of the band’s 15th release, called A Memory Of Our Future, Leslie is talking with Modern Drummer for the very first time. Photos courtesy of Leslie Mandoki MD: As a musician who is active as a drummer, lyricist, songwriter, bandleader, and producer, what do you consider your primary role […]

October 2024 Issue