Jay Thomas
“They are great 👍 I can’t believe how good they work!” - Jay Thomas (soloist, educator, and studio pro)
Jay Thomas, a native of Seattle, is an exciting and highly skilled multi-instrumentalist (trumpet, flugelhorn, alto, tenor, soprano and flutes). His music could be described as lyrical without losing touch with the blues.
Thomas’ talent was recognized early when, as a high school student, he received a Down Beat scholarship for a year of study at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.
Through the mid-seventies Thomas played with top musicians in the Bay Area, including Jessica Williams. Returning to Seattle in 1980 he became a frequent member of the house band at Parnell’s Jazz Club, performing with jazz artists such as George Cables, Charles McPherson, Bill Mays, Ralph Penland, Harold Land, Diane Shurr, Slim Gaillard, Zoot Sims, Sonny Stitt, Sal Nestico, Chet Baker, and on and on.
Thomas has appeared in concert with the bands of Mel Lewis, Clayton-Hamilton, Bill Holman, Red Rodney and Ira Sullivan, Herb Ellis, Jake Hanna and Mel Ryne and Chuck Israels. Vocalists Diane Shurr, Jay Clayton, Jan Stenz, Becca Duran, Greta Metasa and Ernestine Anderson all have used Jay’s talent for finding the perfect note and phrase behind their solos.