St. Thomas (song)
Encyclopedia
"St. Thomas" is perhaps the most recognizable instrumental in the repertoire of American
jazz
tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins
, who is usually credited as its composer. However, it is actually based on a traditional nursery song from the Virgin Islands
, which Rollins' mother sang to him when he was a child. As such, it has a distinct Caribbean vibe
to it.
"St. Thomas" became popular when it was released on Rollins' 1956 album Saxophone Colossus
, though it had previously been recorded by Randy Weston
in 1955 under the title "Fire Down There", on his Get Happy album. The tune is now considered to be a jazz standard
and has been recorded by dozens of artists.
"St. Thomas" was also featured as a track on the JNR 108.5 Radio Station in the videogame Grand Theft Auto IV
. It also appears on the soundtrack to the 1988 film Working Girl
.
The Skatalites
, pioneers of jamaican ska
, were jazz musicians. They recorded this song, which they originally heard as calypso music
, in 1964 with the title "Musical Comunion". It appears on 1964 Don Drummond
's Jazz Ska Attack album.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins
Sonny Rollins
Theodore Walter "Sonny" Rollins is a Grammy-winning American jazz tenor saxophonist. Rollins is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. A number of his compositions, including "St...
, who is usually credited as its composer. However, it is actually based on a traditional nursery song from the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
, which Rollins' mother sang to him when he was a child. As such, it has a distinct Caribbean vibe
Caribbean music
The music of the Caribbean is a diverse grouping of musical genres. They are each syntheses of African, European, Indian and native influences, largely created by descendants of African slaves...
to it.
"St. Thomas" became popular when it was released on Rollins' 1956 album Saxophone Colossus
Saxophone Colossus
Saxophone Colossus is one of Sonny Rollins' most acclaimed albums. Recorded and released in 1956, it has been awarded a rare Crown by The Penguin Guide to Jazz, and is widely considered the masterpiece of his mid-1950s series of recordings for Prestige Records and one of the greatest albums ever...
, though it had previously been recorded by Randy Weston
Randy Weston
Randy Weston , is an American jazz pianist and composer, of Jamaican parentage.-Biography:Weston studied classical piano as a child. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he ran a restaurant that was frequented by many of the leading bebop musicians...
in 1955 under the title "Fire Down There", on his Get Happy album. The tune is now considered to be a jazz standard
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
and has been recorded by dozens of artists.
"St. Thomas" was also featured as a track on the JNR 108.5 Radio Station in the videogame Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
. It also appears on the soundtrack to the 1988 film Working Girl
Working Girl
Working Girl is a 1988 romantic comedy film written by Kevin Wade and directed by Mike Nichols. It tells the inspiring story of a Staten Island-raised secretary, Tess McGill , working in the mergers and acquisitions department of a Wall Street investment bank...
.
The Skatalites
The Skatalites
The Skatalites are a ska band from Jamaica. They played initially between 1963 and 1965, and recorded many of their best known songs in the period, including "Guns of Navarone". They also played on records by Prince Buster and backed many other Jamaican artists who recorded during that period...
, pioneers of jamaican ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
, were jazz musicians. They recorded this song, which they originally heard as calypso music
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
, in 1964 with the title "Musical Comunion". It appears on 1964 Don Drummond
Don Drummond
Don Drummond was a Jamaican ska trombonist and composer. He was one of the original members of The Skatalites, and composed many of their tunes....
's Jazz Ska Attack album.
Selected discography
- 2009 — Album: Where There's Smoke, Dallas Original Jazz Orchestra (St. Thomas arranged for big band in 1976 by Gene Glover)