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Media Information
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Jay Thomas, a native of Seattle, is a versatile multi-instrumentalist (trumpet, flugelhorn, alto, tenor, soprano and flutes). His music could be described as lyrical without losing touch with the blues.
Jay’s musical journey took him to Boston while still in high school on a downbeat scholarship to the Berklee School of Music in Boston. From Boston Jay moved to New York where he worked and studied for several years. Highlights include working a summer with Machito’s Latin band and recording for James Moody on the Perception label. Three years later he had added flute and tenor to his repertoire. Through the mid-seventies Jay lived in the Bay Area. The Bay Area at that time included many fine musicians. When Jay moved back to Seattle he became a frequent member of the house band at Parnell’s Jazz Club working engagements with jazz artists George Cables, Charles McPherson, Bill Mays, Ralph Penland, Harold Land, Diane Schuur and Slim Gaillard and playing with many greats as they traveled thru Seattle. This was a “real life “jazz education.
Jay can be heard on over 60 LPs and CDs. Jay’s first two CDs, Easy Does It on Discovery Records and Blues For McVouty on Stash Records featured Cedar Walton and Billy Higgins. 360 Degrees on Hep Records and Rapture on Jazz Focus continued to establish Jay as one of the foremost players on the scene. Jay’s previous CDs from McVouty Records titled Live at Tula’s, Volume 1 and Volume 2 and 12th and Jackson Blues were live performances and have the feel of the after hours club where Jay was first baptized into the world of jazz. Both gained high marks from audiences from Japan to Europe. Jay recorded with Herb Ellis on Roll Call, with Bud Shank , On the Trail. This was the last recording by Conte Condoli and Jay is playing tenor and soprano sax in a sextet setting with Bill Mays piano Joe LaBarbera drums and Bob Magnuson bass and of course Bud on alto. Two recent recordings have Jay teamed up with jazz greats, Ray Brown (Blues for Dexter, Wolfetones Records) and Elvin Jones (Jones for Elvin, Hip City Records).
Jay has appeared in concert with the bands of Mel Lewis, Maria Schneider, Bill Holman, and Frank Wess. He has played festivals at Wolf Trap with Red Rodney and Ira Sullivan, the Aspen Jazz Festival with Herb Ellis, Jake Hanna and Mel Ryne (recorded with them on Roll Call), the duMaurier Jazz Festival with Chuck Israels Trio and with the Jay Thomas Quartet.
Jay toured Great Britain with jazz legend Slim Gaillard recording there with Slim, Jay McShann and Buddy Tate. In the summer of 2002, Jay again traveled to Europe, this time with the Bud Shank Sextet featuring Plas Johnson. Jay is a member of one of Japan’s leading big bands where he records and performs several times a year.
Jay’s has a sound, characterized by warmth, lyricism and rhythmic drive. Hear him when you can, you won’t be disappointed! jaythomasjazz@aol.com
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jaythomasjazz@aol.com