Joe Thomas (saxophonist, 1933)

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Joseph Samuel "Joe" Thomas (born May 31, 1933 in Newark (New Jersey) ; † July 26, 2017 ) was an American jazz musician (tenor saxophone, flute, also vocals).

Live and act

In addition to the alto and soprano saxophone, Thomas also learned the instruments trombone, flute and piano by himself. At the age of 15 he began performing professionally in small clubs in his hometown under the guidance of his older brother. There he met James Moody , who helped him get into the New York jazz scene. After a three-year hiatus in which he served in the military, he returned from the Korean War wounded and eventually worked as a mentor for the young organist Rhoda Scott , whose trio he co-founded with Bill Elliott . The group lasted three years and recorded two albums in 1963, Hey, Hey, Hey! and Live! At the Key Club .

Thomas then founded his own band, with which he recorded a total of nine albums, including Plato's Retreat , The Ebony Godfather (1971, with the Chico O'Farrill Orchestra) and the big band productions Masada (1975, including with Marky Markowitz , Lew Soloff , Buddy Morrow , Seldon Powell , Pat Rebillot ), Here I Come (1977, with Randy Brecker , Lew Del Gatto , Eddie Daniels , Marvin Stamm , Jimmy Ponder , Will Lee ) and Make Your Move (1979). With a smaller ensemble he recorded the album Flash in 1979 ( Chiaroscuro Records , with Ernie Royal , Garnett Brown , Seldon Powell, David Spinozza, Jimmy Ponder and Kenny Pollard ), followed by Raw Meat (Uptown, 1979), on which Joe Thomas played Jimmy Rowles , Walter Booker and Akira Tana could be heard.

Thomas also took part in the recordings of Jimmy McGriff ( Stump Juice ), in 1971 he made a guest appearance with Rhoda Scott at the Paris Olympia . Furthermore, he has appeared in numerous jazz clubs in the course of his career, such as the Blue Note , Birdland , Count Basie's, Small's Paradise and on numerous cruise ships. In later years he accompanied the singer Carrie Smith .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b JOE THOMAS, Jazz Legend, Icon, The Ebony Godfather, passes away at age 84 on July 26, 2017. August 1, 2017, accessed on August 10, 2017 (English).
  2. ↑ a b Tom Lord The Jazz Discography (online, accessed August 10, 2017)
personal data
SURNAME Thomas, Joe
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Thomas, Joseph Samuel
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician
DATE OF BIRTH May 31, 1933
PLACE OF BIRTH Newark (New Jersey)
DATE OF DEATH July 26, 2017