Vocalist
Joe Lee Wilson, along with
Leon Thomas, had the ability to vocalize with some of the most intense avant-garde jazz musicians:
Wilson with
Archie Shepp, and
Thomas with
Pharoah Sanders. Proof of
Wilson's power is heard on
Shepp's early '70s politically motivated dates on Impulse:
Things Have Got to Change,
The Cry of My People, and
Attica Blues. The power from those dates unfortunately didn't translate into
What Would It Be Without You, an early solo effort originally released on
Rashied Ali's Survival label in 1975 and later reissued in 2000 on Knit Classics. Backing up
Wilson on this session are free jazz stalwarts
Ronnie Boykins on bass,
Rashied Ali on congas,
George Avaloz on drums,
Monty Waters on alto and soprano sax, and
Ryo Kawasaki on guitar. While this lineup creates exciting music, at times it has a tendency to overpower
Wilson, making his delivery especially strained. The most cohesive vehicle between these players is the vocal version of
Coltrane's "Blue Train" in which no one steps on the other, creating a much-needed united performance. Since
Wilson is better suited as a guest than a leader, it's advisable to seek out the above-mentioned
Shepp sessions for some of his best work.