Gary Thomas (born June 10, 1961) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

saxophonist The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to pr ...

and

flautist The flute is a family of classical music instrument in the woodwind group. Like all woodwinds, flutes are aerophones, meaning they make sound by vibrating a column of air. However, unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is a reedless ...

, born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a member of

Jack DeJohnette Jack DeJohnette (born August 9, 1942) is an American jazz drummer, pianist, and composer. Known for his extensive work as leader and sideman for musicians including Charles Lloyd, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, John Abercrombie, ...

's Special Edition band and has worked with

John McLaughlin John or Jon McLaughlin may refer to: Arts and entertainment * John McLaughlin (musician) (born 1942), English jazz fusion guitarist, member of Mahavishnu Orchestra * Jon McLaughlin (musician) (born 1982), American singer-songwriter * John McLaug ...

Herbie Hancock Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, and composer. Hancock started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. He shortly thereafter joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he help ...

Pat Metheny Patrick Bruce Metheny ( ; born August 12, 1954) is an American jazz guitarist and composer. He is the leader of the Pat Metheny Group and is also involved in duets, solo works, and other side projects. His style incorporates elements of progre ...

John Scofield John Scofield (born December 26, 1951), sometimes referred to as "Sco", is an American guitarist and composer whose music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention in the ...

, Jim Hall,

Dave Holland David “Dave” Holland (born 1 October 1946) is an English jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader who has been performing and recording for five decades. He has lived in the United States for over 40 years. His extensive discography r ...

Greg Osby Greg Osby (born August 3, 1960) is an American saxophonist and composer. Biography Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Osby studied at Howard University, then at the Berklee College of Music. He moved to New York City in 1982, where he played with Jaki ...

Wayne Shorter Wayne Shorter (born August 25, 1933) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Shorter came to prominence in the late 1950s as a member of, and eventually primary composer for, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In the 1960s, he joined Miles Davi ...

Ravi Coltrane Ravi Coltrane (born August 6, 1965) is an American jazz saxophonist. Co-owner of the record label RKM Music, he has produced pianist Luis Perdomo, guitarist David Gilmore, and trumpeter Ralph Alessi. Biography Ravi Coltrane is the son of sa ...

Cassandra Wilson Cassandra Wilson (born December 4, 1955) is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and producer from Jackson, Mississippi. She is one of the most successful female Jazz singers and has been described by critic Gary Giddins as "a singer blessed wi ...

Wallace Roney Wallace Roney (May 25, 1960 – March 31, 2020) was an American jazz (hard bop and post-bop) trumpeter. He has won 1 Grammy award and has two nominations. Roney took lessons from Clark Terry and Dizzy Gillespie and studied with Miles Davis from ...

Steve Coleman Steve Coleman (born September 20, 1956) is an American saxophonist, composer, bandleader and music theorist. In 2014, he was named a MacArthur Fellow. Early life Steve Coleman was born and grew up in South Side, Chicago. He started playing al ...

, and

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of music ...

. Thomas was the Director and Chair of Jazz Studies at

Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins is the oldest research university in the United States and in the western hem ...

in Baltimore.

Discography

As leader

* ''The Seventh Quadrant'' (

Enja Enja Records is a German jazz record company and label based in Munich which was founded by jazz enthusiasts Matthias Winckelmann and Horst Weber in 1971. The label's first release was by Mal Waldron, and early releases included European and Ja ...

,1987) * ''Code Violations'' (Enja, 1988) * '' By Any Means Necessary'' ( JMT, 1989) * ''

While the Gate Is Open ''While the Gate Is Open'' is the fourth album by saxophonist Gary Thomas which was recorded in 1990 and released on the JMT label.Shimada, T.JMT label discography accessed November 14, 2014 It features Thomas' interpretations of eight jazz stan ...

'' (JMT, 1990) * ''

The Kold Kage ''The Kold Kage'' is the fifth album by saxophonist Gary Thomas recorded in 1991 and released on the JMT label.Shimada, T.JMT label discography accessed September 26, 2014 Reception The AllMusic review by Thom Jurek states, "Far from academic, ...

'' (JMT, 1991) * ''Corporate Art'' (JMT, 1991) * ''

Till We Have Faces ''Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold'' is a 1956 novel by C. S. Lewis. It is a retelling of Cupid and Psyche, based on its telling in a chapter of ''The Golden Ass'' of Apuleius. This story had haunted Lewis all his life, because he realized th ...

'' (JMT, 1992) * '' Exile's Gate'' (JMT, 1993) * '' Overkill'' (JMT, 1995) * ''

Found on Sordid Streets ''Found on Sodid Streets'' is the ninth album by saxophonist Gary Thomas recorded in 1996 and released on the Winter & Winter label.Winter & Winter Winter & Winter is a record label in Munich, Germany that specializes in jazz, classical and improvised music. It was founded by Stefan Winter following the demise of his JMT Records label. Since 1997 Winter & Winter has released records by Da ...

, 1997) * '' Pariah's Pariah'' (Winter & Winter, 1998)

As sideman

With

Cecil Brooks III Cecil Brooks III (born 1959) is an American jazz drummer and record producer who has worked with Arthur Blythe, Russell Gunn, John Hicks, Andrew Hill, Etta Jones, Roseanna Vitro, Marvin Peterson, and Jimmy Ponder. A native of the Homewood n ...

*'' The Collective'' (Muse, 1989) With

Uri Caine Uri Caine (born June 8, 1956, Philadelphia, United States) is an American classical and jazz pianist and composer. Biography Early years The son of Burton Caine, a professor at Temple Law School, and poet Shulamith Wechter Caine, Caine began ...

*'' Sphere Music'' (JMT, 1993) *''

Toys A toy or plaything is an object that is used primarily to provide entertainment. Simple examples include toy blocks, board games, and dolls. Toys are often designed for use by children, although many are designed specifically for adults and pet ...

'' (JMT, 1996) With

George Colligan George Colligan (born December 29, 1969) is an American jazz pianist, organist, drummer, trumpeter, educator, composer, and bandleader. Early life and education Colligan was born in New Jersey and raised in Columbia, Maryland. He attended the P ...

*''Ultimatum'' ( Criss Cross, 2002) *''Mad Science'' (Sunny Sky, 2003) With Corpulent (Joel Grip & Devin Gray) *''Wolfwalk'' (Umlaut, 2005) With

*'' Irresistible Forces'' (

Impulse! Impulse! Records (occasionally styled as "¡mpulse! Records" and "¡!") is an American jazz record company and label established by Creed Taylor in 1960. John Coltrane was among Impulse!'s earliest signings. Thanks to consistent sales and positiv ...

/ MCA, 1987) *'' Audio-Visualscapes'' (Impulse!/MCA, 1988) *'' Earthwalk'' (

Blue Note In jazz and blues, a blue note is a note that—for expressive purposes—is sung or played at a slightly different pitch from standard. Typically the alteration is between a quartertone and a semitone, but this varies depending on the musical co ...

, 1991) *'' Extra Special Edition'' (

, 1994) With

and

*''Carnegie Hall Salutes The Jazz Masters'' compilation (Verve, 1994) (Thomas appears on the track ''It's About That Time'') With

*'' Verses'' (

Muse In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the ...

, 1987) *''

Intuition Intuition is the ability to acquire knowledge without recourse to conscious reasoning. Different fields use the word "intuition" in very different ways, including but not limited to: direct access to unconscious knowledge; unconscious cognition; ...

'' (Muse, 1988) *''

The Standard Bearer The Standard Bearer may refer to: * ''The Standard Bearer'' (album), 1989 album by Wallace Roney * ''The Standard Bearer'' (Rembrandt, 1636) * ''The Standard Bearer'' (Lanzinger painting), portrait of Adolf Hitler * ''The Standard Bearer'' (ma ...

'' (Muse, 1989) *'' Obsession'' (Muse, 1990) *''No Job Too Big Or Small'' (Savoy Jazz, 1999) With

Tony Reedus Tony Reedus (22 September 1959 – 16 November 2008) was an American jazz drummer. Reedus first gained attention performing in Woody Shaw's band during the 1980s. He played with Dave Stryker, Mulgrew Miller, Art Blakey, Mike Nock, Kenny Garre ...

*''Incognito'' (Enja, 1989) With Paul Bollenback *''Brightness of Being'' (Elefant Dreams, 2006) With

Jacek Kochan Jacek Kochan (born 1955) is a Polish-born drummer, composer, arranger and music producer. After having started his adventures in music in Poland in the seventies, he moved in the early eighties first to New York City and then to Canada. There he ...

*''Man of No Words'' (Gowi, 2008) With John B. Arnold *''Logorhythms'' (La Frontiera, 2004) With

*''

Jumpworld ''Jumpworld'' is the fourth studio album by American jazz singer Cassandra Wilson. It was released in 1990 by JMT label. Track listing # "Woman on the Edge" (Cassandra Wilson) – 5:02 # "Domination Switch" ( Steve Coleman, Wilson) � ...

'' (JMT, 1990) With Christy Doran,

Mark Helias Mark Helias (born October 1, 1950) is an American double bass player and composer born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He started playing the double bass at the age of 20, and studied with Homer Mensch at Rutgers University from 1971 to 1974, then ...

and

Bobby Previte Bobby Previte (born July 16, 1951 in Niagara Falls, New York) is a drummer, composer, and bandleader. He earned a degree in economics from the University at Buffalo, where he also studied percussion. He moved to New York City in 1979 and began ...

*''Corporate Art'' (JMT, 1991) With Peter Herborn *''Traces of Trane'' (JMT, 1992) *''Large One'' (1997) *''Large Two'' (2002) With

Gabrielle Goodman Gabrielle Goodman (born 1964 in Baltimore, Maryland) is an American jazz singer, composer, author, and associate professor of voice at Berklee College of Music.Symkus, Ed. (August 1, 2007)Goodman will jazz up the Fort ''Roslindale Transcript''. ...

*''Travelin' Light'' (JMT, 1993) *''Until We Love'' (JMT, 1994) With Sam Rivers' Rivbea All-star Orchestra *''Inspiration'' ( BMG France, 1999) *'' Culmination'' (BMG France, 1999) With

*''The Invisible Hand'' (Blue Note, 1999) With

Stefon Harris Stefon DeLeon Harris (born March 23, 1973) is an American jazz vibraphonist. Biography A native of Albany, New York, Harris intended to work for the New York Philharmonic until he heard the music of Charlie Parker. During the 1990s he recorded ...

*''Black Action Figure'' (Blue Note, 1999) With Peter Herborn *''Large 2'' (Jazzline, 2002) With

Ingrid Jensen Ingrid Jensen (born January 12, 1966) is a Canadian jazz trumpeter. Music career Jensen was born in North Vancouver and grew up in Nanaimo. She received a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After graduating from Berklee, she ...

*''Higher Grounds'' (Enja, 1999) With

Terri Lyne Carrington Terri Lyne Carrington (born August 4, 1965) is an American jazz drummer, composer, producer, and educator. She has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Clark Terry, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Joe Sample, Al Jarreau, Yellowjackets, and ma ...

*'' Jazz Is a Spirit'' (ACT, 2002) With

Lonnie Plaxico Lonnie Plaxico (born September 4, 1960) is an American jazz double bassist. Biography Plaxico was born in Chicago, Illinois, into a musical family, and started playing the bass at the age of twelve, turning professional at fourteen (playing both ...

*''So Alive'' (Eighty-Eight's, 2004) *''West Side Stories'' (Plaxmusic, 2006) With

*'' The Heart of Things'' (Verve, 1997) *'' The Heart of Things: Live in Paris'' (Verve, 2000) With

*''Sine Die'' (Pangaea, 1988) With Tom Williams *''Introducing Tom Williams'' (Criss Cross, 1991) With

Adam Pierończyk Adam Pierończyk (born 24 January 1970) is a Polish jazz saxophonist and composer. He plays tenor and soprano saxophones, as well as the zoucra. Early life Pierończyk was born in Elblag, Poland, on 24 January 1970. He learned the piano for thre ...

*''Digivooco'' (PAO, 2001) With Andrzej Cudzich * ''Able To Listen'' (Polonia, 1996)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Gary 1960 births American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists African-American saxophonists African-American jazz musicians Avant-garde jazz saxophonists Post-bop saxophonists Enja Records artists Free funk saxophonists Johns Hopkins University faculty Living people Jazz saxophonists Miles Davis Musicians from Baltimore 21st-century saxophonists Jazz musicians from Maryland American male jazz musicians Winter & Winter Records artists JMT Records artists