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Gary Thomas

Saxophonist and flutist Gary Thomas established himself in the 1980s as one of the most jarring soloists of his generation, especially against somewhat chaotic backdrops such as the electronic-tinged accompaniment of guitar, keyboards, bass and drums on Seventh Quadrant (1987) and Code Violations (1988). He kept antagonizing the tradition of jazz with By Any Means Necessary (1989), featuring (among others) alto saxophonist Greg Osby, keyboardist Geri Allen, guitarist John Scofield, bassist Anthony Cox and percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, and The Kold Kage (1991), that experimented with synthesizer, turntable and rapping, always displaying a passion for uncharted territories. A member of Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition band and Thomas has worked with John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Jim Hall, Dave Holland, Wayne Shorter, Ravi Coltrane, Cassandra Wilson, Wallace Roney, Miles Davis, Steve Coleman, as well as numerous other premier jazz musicians. He currently serves as Director of Jazz Studies at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore.

Director and Chair of Jazz Studies. Jazz saxophone and flute, jazz improvisation, ensembles. Studies at Howard University, Washington, D.C. Native of Baltimore, MD. Founder of jazz studies degree program at Peabody. First African-American degree program director at the conservatory. Internationally-known tenor saxophonist, flutist, and educator. Has traveled the globe as both a leader and a sideman. Performance and recording credits alongside the likes of Dennis Chambers, Terri Lyne Carrington, Ron Carter, Vinnie Colaiuta, Billy Hart, Wynton Marsalis, David Sanborn, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, Bobby McFerrin, Sam Rivers, Vanessa Williams, Betty Carter, George Benson, McCoy Tyner, Randy Brecker, James Newton, Jeff Watts, Marvin "Smitty"Smith, Patrice Rushen, Kevin Eubanks, John Scofield, Tony Williams, Kenny Garrett, Jimmy Smith, John Patitucci.

In addition to 11 recording dates as a leader, his work on more than 80 recordings as a featured sideman reflects his status as one of the most coveted saxophonists on the jazz scene today. Two of his recordings as a leader, By Any Means Necessary and While the Gate Is Open, were named best recordings of the 1990s by Downbeat Magazine. Has performed as a featured artist at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall, The Kolner Philharmonic, L'auditorium Stravinski, Whitla Hall, Gasteig Philharmonic, Athens Concert Hall, The Hatch Shell, The Chicago Symphony Hall. Clinician at universities throughout the U.S. and Europe including University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan, Towson University, Baltimore, MD, Esberg Musikkonservatorium, Esberg, Denmark Odense Musikkonservatorium, Odense, Demark, Malmo Folkhögskola, Malmo Sweden, Royal Conservatory Of Music, Stockholm, Sweden, National Conservatory Of Music, Paris, France, Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium, Copenhagen, Denmark, Folkwang Hochschule Essen, Essen, Germany, Berklee College Of Music, Boston, MA, Musik Hochschule Jazzabteilung, Graz, Austria, Bruckner Conservatory, Vienna, Austria, Hamburger Konservatorium, Hamburg, Germany, Staatliche Hochschule Fuer Musik, Trossingen, Germany. Has been highlighted in several texts including The New Grove's Dictionary of Jazz, Masters of the Jazz Saxophone: The Story of the Players and Their Music, Jazz: The Rough Guide: The Essential Companion to Artists and Albums, and the Simon and Shuster publication, Miles: The Autobiography.

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11
Album Review

Orrin Evans: The Red Door

Read "The Red Door" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


A most generous craftsman, composer and bandleader, pianist Orrin Evans never fails to bring out the best of whoever he chooses to create with. The Red Door is gratefully, and gracefully, no exception to that rule. Whatever musical setting Evans chooses to practice his sinewy, r'n'b inflected post-bop in--sideman, big band, trio, quartet, duo, whatever--a sweet animation propels his music and buoys the players gathered around him. In this case the two core units feature bass legend Buster Williams, ...

7
Album Review

Orrin Evans: The Red Door

Read "The Red Door" reviewed by Dave Linn


Orrin Evans released his debut album for quintet, “Justin Time," in 1996, at the age of 21. Over the next 25 years, Evans released over 20 albums in all shapes and sizes. From trio to standard ensembles to large bands and big bands, Evans' history included a ten-year stint as a member of the Mingus Big Band, leading to his formation of the Grammy-nominated Captain Black Big Band in 2009. Additionally, when pianist Ethan Iverson (who wrote the liner notes ...

7
Liner Notes

George Colligan: Ultimatum

Read "George Colligan: Ultimatum" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


Unlike classical music, where so much of the performance is based on an authentic interpretation of the material, jazz has always been more about inventiveness and the musician's quest to find an original voice. Additionally, some of the most innovative artists in the genre have been known not only for their instrumental prowess, but also for great bodies of work that have substantially contributed to the jazz annals. Men like Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, and Thad Jones, to name only ...

2
In Pictures

Gary Thomas with the John Toomey Trio at Robin Hixon Theater

Read "Gary Thomas with the John Toomey Trio at Robin Hixon Theater" reviewed by Mark Robbins


Saxophonist Gary Thomas has been called “one the most original saxophone voices of his generation" and not only is he in high demand in jazz but has worked with some of the top rap artists and orchestras performing today. More than just a first-call sideman, Thomas has recorded 11 albums as a leader. Two of these, By Any Means Necessary and While the Gate is Open were named by Downbeat magazine as two of the best recordings of ...

27
Rediscovery

Gary Thomas: Till We Have Faces

Read "Gary Thomas: Till We Have Faces" reviewed by John Kelman


Gary ThomasTill We Have FacesJMT1992 It was sometime in 1992 when I came across today's Rediscovery. I was walking by a record store (remember those?) in my hometown of Ottawa, Canada when I suddenly heard this staggering guitarist playing over what sounded like a standard I thought I knew but couldn't place. His tone was gritty, but his lines sounded familiar as he ran incendiary line after incendiary line, supported by an equally fiery drummer ...

235
Album Review

George Colligan: Ultimatum

Read "Ultimatum" reviewed by AAJ Staff


While there may be some doubt about the vitality of today’s scene versus the storied scenes of the past, one point of consideration may actually live up: in this writer's estimation, the tradition of fine pianist-composer leaders in Jazz is alive and well in jazz and is in fact one of the strongest areas currently. Think Jason Moran, David Berkman, Geri Allen, James Carney, Vijay Iyer, Marc Cary and Jason Lindner. This is only a segment of what is quite ...

432
Album Review

Gary Thomas: Pariah's Pariah

Read "Pariah's Pariah" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


It has been 20 years since Saxophonist’s Gary Thomas and Greg Osby have performed together. On Thomas’ new CD “Pariah’s Pariah, Thomas and Osby echo the same intensity and verve that was a hallmark of their meritorious efforts with the great drummer Jack DeJohnette and his marvelous “Special Edition” band. It is fairly evident that these young master’s have honed individual and uniquely identifiable styles which to a large degree is a high honor considering the Post-Bop resurgence of today’s ...

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Recording

Joel Holmes' New CD, "African Skies," Featuring Gary Thomas

Joel Holmes' New CD, "African Skies," Featuring Gary Thomas

Source: All About Jazz


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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Red Door

Smoke Sessions Records
2023

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Kenny Kirkland: un...

Sunnyside Records
2020

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By Any Means Necessary

Double Moon Records
2003

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Ultimatum

Criss Cross
2002

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Pariah's Pariah

Winter & Winter Records
1999

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Pariah's Pariash

Winter & Winter Records
1999

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Weezy

From: The Red Door
By Gary Thomas

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