| Unforeseen Blessings | |
| Type: | Studio |
| Artist: | The Leaders |
| Cover: | Unforseen Blessings.jpg |
| Released: | 1989 |
| Recorded: | December 19–20, 1988 |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Length: | 45:10 |
| Label: | Black Saint |
| Prev Title: | Heaven Dance |
| Prev Year: | 1988 |
| Next Title: | Slipping and Sliding |
| Next Year: | 1994 |
Unforeseen Blessings is a jazz album released in 1989. It was the third album by the all-star jazz group The Leaders and the second to be released on the Italian Black Saint label. The album features performances by Lester Bowie, Chico Freeman, Arthur Blythe, Cecil McBee, Kirk Lightsey and Don Moye.[1] [2]
The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album with two stars stating "Other than Lightsey's contributions, this effort is surprisingly forgettable."[3]
The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings called the album "curious," and noted: "The pianist plays unaccompanied on the opening track and two others, and is the most prominent soloist. Bowie only has one extensive feature... and there is precious little from Blythe and Freeman."
Don Snowden of the Los Angeles Times commented: "'Unforeseen Session' is more like it. Only five of the 13 selections sport the Leaders' full sextet line-up -- the remainder are solo piano pieces by Kirk Lightsey, brief percussion interludes and what sound like blueprints for future compositions... Mystifying."