Jazz Articles about Luther Thomas

Luther Thomas: In Denmark

by Jakob Baekgaard
June 10, 2015

Denmark has a long tradition of jazz immigration and in the land where the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen was born, it is truly a musical fairy tale that such great artists as saxophonists Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon and Stan Getz have lived and worked in the country, along with pianists like Kenny Drew and Horace Parlan, trumpeter and arranger Thad Jones, and drummer Ed Thigpen. It is a musical legacy to be immensely proud of, and its story has ...

Luther Thomas Quartet: Leave it to Luther

by Rex Butters
March 5, 2004

Leave it to Luther continues veteran alto saxophonist Luther Thomas’ fruitful association with CIMP. The label’s trademark living presence sound accentuates the tart and sweet sounds of Thomas and guitarist Ethan Mann, respectively, and catches every breath of Cliff Barbaro’s quicksilver cymbal work. Brian Smith’s basslines lurk and lead. As the band veers from free to swing and back, Smith’s playing defines the changes.

On the title track, Barbaro plays an uncannily melodic percussion intro before the ...

Luther Thomas: Leave it to Luther

by Derek Taylor
October 23, 2003

One of the most appealing attributes of jazz is its diversity. Stripes and colors in the music rival the vistas of twirling domed canopies in that classic French musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. But with individuality comes an accompanying spectrum of method and quality. Certain players impress with their studied and accomplished techniques. Others emphasize emotional import over superlative prowess. Alto saxophonist Luther Thomas sits comfortably in the latter camp. He’s an energetic player whose enthusiasm occasionally eclipses the scope ...

Luther Thomas and the Human Arts Ensemble: Funky Donkey, Vols. I & II

by AAJ Staff
May 1, 2001

I’m glad I gave Funky Donkey a second and third try, even though my final impressions remain mixed. This ensemble, affiliated with the St. Louis BAG (Black Artists Group), has released recordings under the aegis of both Thomas and Charles Bobo Shaw. My first encounter, on an Arista Freedom LP, was unfortunately negative despite my best efforts to dig the music.

Funky Donkey was recorded in 1973 and originally released on Creative Consciousness (CC1001T) in 1977. Circle Records subsequently reissued ...

Luther Thomas Human Arts Ensemble: Funky Donkey

by Derek Taylor
April 1, 2001

Luther Thomas was one of the early pioneers in the struggle to mesh free jazz-based improvisation with the visceral rhythms of funk and Rhythm and Blues. Working with colleagues in the Black Artist’s Guild, an AACM-styled musician’s collective based in St. Louis, Missouri, in the early 1970s he hatched a handful of recorded experiments that traced his investigations, all of which quickly fell out of circulation. Thanks to John Corbett’s Unheard imprint one of those seminal sessions has been resurrected ...

Luther Thomas Quintet: Realities: Old & New

by Derek Taylor
September 1, 2000

Luther Thomas plays and speaks from the gut and his unequivocal artistic integrity becomes immediately apparent whether it’s projected through his horn or by way of written word. Add to this that he’s managed to balance a reverence for jazz tradition with freer proclivities and an indication of what’s in store on this disc should begin to materialize. The group assembled is somewhat coarse around the edges, but blemish-free music breeds boredom and Thomas is all about keeping things fresh ...