Tom Lellis
AND IN THIS CORNER
1981

"And In This Corner"...Tom Lellis, has just cleared my turntable and the triumphal issuence of his debut, heavyweight album is cause to celebrate. Lellis sings and thinks about jazz pianistically, stemming from his transformtion of McCoy Tyner's "Man From Tanganyika" into vocal jazz profundity. Like Jon Hendricks, Lellis writes lyrics to most of the new jazz he gives voice to: "Tanganyika" was his touchstone, while Wayne Shorters "ESP", KeithJarrett's "Lucky Southern" and Lellis' own lines are on the album.

More than just lending his smooth baritone to the music, Tom Lellis to be congradulated for vocalizing on newer jazz, modal hard bop, fusion and jazz rock. Lellis has picked up the gauntlet of providing vocal versions of jazz classics, and it looks like the post-bop period will have champions in efforts like the Lellis album.

It is obvious that he has paid his dues and gone to school on the great jazz vocalists, both modern and post bop. Dating from this album forward, it looks like those who would give voice to jazz will now have to go to school on Tom Lellis along with Ella, Joe, Sassy and the rest.
- Chris Columbi Jr., Cleveland Plain Dealer

Tom Lellis has made a recording at once warm, soothing and intimate while wonderously adventurous, subtle and complex.
- Gene Kalbacher, Aquarian National

The young male jazz vocalist is a rare commodity in comtemporary music. With that in mind, the arrival of Tom Lellis becomes that much more a reason for rejoicing. Not only does Lellis have a strong deterous voice, he also writes his own tunes and sets lyrics to some of the jazz world's most adventerous songwriters.
This debut captures the full spectrum of his talents and makes no concessions to current pop-jazz trernds. "And In This Corner" is pure jazz. Lellis voice and piano woven between the Eddie Gomez / Jack Dejohnette rhythm section and the airy flute/ vibe colorings of Jeremy Steig and Ron Busch. The effect is ear catching, with Lellis revealing an absorbing, totally natural inprovisational style. As a melodist, he shows great versatility and potential. But his lyric approach is even more striking, frequently exploring some rather unusual territory. Lellis' lyric adaptations to the somewhat unconventional, at time jagged, music of McCoy Tyner, Keith Jarrett and Miles Davis are especially captivating.
- Jack Frieden, syndicated columnist

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