Luther Thomas
Encyclopedia
Luther Thomas was an alto saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist from St. Louis. He is known for his free jazz
playing drawing also on funk
. He was involved with the Black Artists Group
starting in the 1960s, played in the Human Arts Ensemble
with Charles Bobo Shaw in the 1970s, and led a group called Dizzazz in the early 1980s. He has also played saxophone for James Chance and the Contortions
.
In recent years, two Thomas-led sessions from the early 1970s have surfaced on CD, as part of Atavistic Records
' Unheard Music Series
. The titles are Funky Donkey and Banana.
Luther Thomas was born on June 23, 1950, and died on September 8, 2009.
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
playing drawing also on funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
. He was involved with the Black Artists Group
Black Artists Group
The Black Artists Group was a multidisciplinary arts collective that existed in St. Louis, Missouri from 1968 to 1972.Members included saxophonists Julius Hemphill, Oliver Lake, J. D...
starting in the 1960s, played in the Human Arts Ensemble
Human Arts Ensemble
The Human Arts Ensemble was a 1970s musical collective operating in St. Louis, Missouri. Members explored free jazz and loosely associated themselves with the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and the Black Artists' Group collective...
with Charles Bobo Shaw in the 1970s, and led a group called Dizzazz in the early 1980s. He has also played saxophone for James Chance and the Contortions
James Chance and the Contortions
James Chance and the Contortions, led by saxophonist and vocalist James Chance, were one of the original punk jazz groups of the New York No Wave music scene. Their first recording, credited solely as Contortions, was on the 1978 compilation, No New York, produced by Brain Eno...
.
In recent years, two Thomas-led sessions from the early 1970s have surfaced on CD, as part of Atavistic Records
Atavistic Records
Atavistic Records is an American rock and jazz record label based in Chicago, Illinois, known particularly for its No Wave and free jazz recordings. It has released albums by Glenn Branca, Nels Cline, Lydia Lunch, Peter Brötzmann, various Ken Vandermark projects, Pinetop Seven, Swans, Elliott...
' Unheard Music Series
Unheard Music Series
The Unheard Music Series is an imprint of the American record label Atavistic Records. The series, running since 2000, is curated by Chicago writer and producer John Corbett and focuses mainly on free jazz recordings from the 1960s and 1970s...
. The titles are Funky Donkey and Banana.
Luther Thomas was born on June 23, 1950, and died on September 8, 2009.
Discography
- Human Arts Ensemble: Junk Trap (Black Saint, 1978)
- Human Arts Ensemble: : Live, Vol. 1 (Circle Records (Germany)Circle Records (Germany)Circle Records was an Germany based record label specializing in jazz, established in 1976. -Discography:Circle Records was an Germany based record label specializing in jazz, established in 1976. -Discography:...
, 1978) - Saint Louis Creative Ensemble: Live at Moers (Moers Music, 1979)
- Luther Thomas and Dizzaz: Yo' Momma (Moers, 1981)
- Luther Thomas Quintett: Don't Tell! (2007, with Ted Daniel, Charles Eubanks, Wilber MorrisWilber MorrisWilber Morris was an American jazz double bass player and bandleader. He was the brother of the cornetist, composer, and conductor Butch Morris....
, Denis Charles) - BAGin It (CIMP, 1996) with Ted daniel, Wilber Morris, Dennis Charles
- Luther Thomas and John LindbergJohn LindbergJohn Lindberg is an American jazz double-bassist.Lindberg studied at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and moved to New York City in 1977. There he played with the Human Arts Ensemble alongside Joseph Bowie and Bobo Shaw, and he was in ensembles with Anthony Braxton from 1978-1985...
: Spirit of St. Louis (Ayler RecordsAyler RecordsAyler Records is a record label which specializes in free jazz and improvised music recordings.Founded in 2000 in Sweden by Jan Ström and painter Åke Bjurhamn, it has gained recognition among free jazz fans over the years by releasing both archive and contemporary recordings from artists as diverse...
, 2008) - DizzazzDatonezz Gang$tarJazz with Per Løkkegaard and Miloud Sabri (Helicopter Records, 2010)