Gary Thomas

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Gary Thomas in Munich (2002)

Gary Thomas (born June 6, 1961 in Baltimore , Maryland ) is an American jazz musician ( tenor and soprano saxophone , flute , composition ) and music teacher .

Live and act

Thomas had piano lessons as a child and began to play woodwind instruments in addition to guitar and organ - first oboe and flute, then also clarinet, through which he found jazz at the age of 17. His training at the local Peabody Conservatory was followed by a year of study at Howard University . During his studies he played with fellow students like Greg Osby and Geri Allen . In 1985 Jack DeJohnette brought him into his Special Edition , of which he was a permanent member until 1993 (with which he also recorded later). In 1986 and 1987 he was also part of Miles Davis' band and also played with Cecil Brooks III , Wallace Roney and Tony Reedus, among others .

From 1987 he led his own group The Seventh Quadrant , which at times included Kevin Eubanks , Anthony Cox and Dave Holland and drummers such as Dennis Chambers and Jeff Watts . In 1994 Thomas dealt with hip-hop in his Overkill project . As a companion, he was involved recordings of Gabrielle Goodman , Cassandra Wilson , Michele Rosewoman , Uri Caine , Christy Doran , the WDR - Bigband or Peter Herborn with (all artists who were also at JMT under contract). Between 1997 and 1999 he was part of John McLaughlin's group . In 2001 he was involved in Terri Lyne Carrington's album Jazz Is a Spirit ; since 2002 he has been a member of Herbie Hancock's quartet .

Thomas heads the jazz department at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. According to Martin Kunzler , he is next to Steve Coleman as “the most independent voice that tills the broad field between bebop tradition, M-Base achievements and the successful grooves of funky music ”, especially on the tenor saxophone he airy, but very individual with a hard contour, while he remains a successor to Rahsaan Roland Kirk on the flute .

Gary Thomas (left) with John B. Arnold (2014)

Discography (selection)

literature

  • Martin Kunzler : Jazz Lexicon. Volume 2: M – Z (= rororo-Sachbuch. Vol. 16513). 2nd Edition. Rowohlt, Reinbek bei Hamburg 2004, ISBN 3-499-16513-9 (keyword Gary Thomas ).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ In contrast to Kunzler, June 10, 1961 can be found at Gary Thomas on Allmusic (English)