Home » Jazz Musicians » Dave Thomas

Dave Thomas

The music of David Bennett Thomas has been called "immediately engaging ...meticulously structured ... playful, soulful, technically dazzling, and acutely communicative" (Philadelphia Music Makers); "convincing on both structural and emotional levels ... music that speaks with no pretension" (The Classical Source); and "concise and comprehensible, though he doesn't talk down to the listener or subscribe to any isms ... this is a composer with an individual voice" (American Record Guide). He has written in many genres, including works for chorus, solo voice, orchestra, chamber groups, piano, and jazz ensembles.

In recent years, Thomas' works have been performed throughout America as well as in Europe, Israel, South America, and China by groups such as The Gregg Smith Singers, The Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia, rarescale, The New York Treble Singers, Relache, Naked Voices, SCAW, Melomanie, Salt Lake City Choral Artists, Essex Chamber Music Players, The Mark Morris Dance Group Music Ensemble, Chicago Choral Artists, Dolce Suono, The Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, and Singing City. Soloists who have performed his works include pianists Charles Abramovic, Matthew Bengtson, and Carl Cranmer, flutists Mimi Stillman and Carla Rees, violinist Laura Frautschi, soprano Rosalind Rees, cellist Jeffrey Solow, saxophonist Marshall Taylor, organist Donald Sutherland, and many others. His music has been featured at several festivals, including The Festival of the Hamptons, The Bethlehem Guitar Festival, and by programs sponsored by The New York Flute Club. Mr. Thomas has served as composer in residence at The Adirondack Festival of American Music.

Thomas has received grants from The American Composers Forum (Subito, Community Partners), The University of the Arts, and The Peabody Conservatory to support the recording of several of his compositions, which have been released on Innova Recordings, Capstone Records, Vectordisc, Arizona University Recordings, rarescale records, as well several independent releases. Thomas' music has been featured on NPR, WWFM's 'Divertimento' program, WVUD's 'Fine Tunings' program, WRTI's "Now Is The Time", as well as many jazz and NPR stations across the US. His music has been published by Shawnee Press, and Tetractys Publications.

Recent commissions have come from The New York Treble Singers, The Brandywine Valley Chorale, The Chester County Pops Orchestra, The Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, The Gregg Smith Singers, The Chester County Choral Society, funded by The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, rarescale, SCAW, Dolce Suono, Naked Voices chorus (Israel) and The American Composers Forum "Community Partners" program.

Thomas won the Philadelphia Young Composers competition hosted by The Philadelphia Orchestral Society, and the Morawetz Award in Composition. He is the author of "A Conversation with Lukas Foss", which was published in 'The Journal of the Conductors Guild,' and subsequently published by Carl Fischer.

Read more

Tags

Thomas writes in harmonically and rhythmically complex styles, requiring a high level of virtuosity. He tailors each work to the idiom of the medium for which it is written. His music is intense, yet ingratiating. An overview of his works reveals stylistic and artistic integrity. The artists, all highly successful in their respective fields, perform with passion, commitment, and great skill. Thomas has a distinct, effective musical voice that deserves to be heard.

American Organist Magazine

His music is concise and comprehensible, though he doesn‘t talk down to the listener or subscribe to any particular isms. This is a composer with an individual voice.

Read more

Concerts

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.