About Me
Dedication to mastery and technique combined with creativity and musical freedom, make Boston based trombonist Brian Thomas widely regarded as one of the top musicians in the northeast. Brian began playing trombone at age 10 in his hometown of Rochester, NY. He realized his passion for music and performance and decided to continue his musical studies at Ithaca College. Brian studied classical trombone with Dr. Harold Reynolds and jazz with Steve Brown. Along with earning a degree in music education, he gained valuable gig experience as a leader and sideman. Brian landed his first professional gig as a member of the Chuck Mangione Studio Orchestra. The group toured upstate NY and NYC. As co-founder of Ithaca based funk band Nozmo King, Thomas and NK produced 2 CD’s and toured from Seattle, Washington to Key West, Florida. After multiple tours with Boston/Ithaca based roots reggae band John Brown’s Body, Brian settled in beantown. Upon moving to Boston, Brian studied with Jeff Galindo and Hal Crook. He started showing up to all the Boston jam sessions and soon landed a weekly gig at the legendary Wally’s Jazz Café, where he continued to work on his craft. While hosting the jam session, Brian performed with Roy Hargrove, Christian Scott, Sam Kininger, Eric Krasno, Mark Kelly, Charles Haynes, Andre Heyward, Jeff Lockhart, John Blackwell, and many of the most killin’ cats in Boston. Brian quickly began working the New England freelance scene joining and hosting weekly sessions in Salem, Gloucester, Providence, Brookline, Northampton and Boston. He joined Hammond organ driven funk group, Akashic Record. Brian produced and wrote most of the material for Akashic Record’s debut CD New Days Ahead. Akashic Record currently tours throughout New England and New York. Brian is also a member of Boston based groups Pressure Cooker, Night Rhythm, The B3 Kings, Big Swingin’ Organ Quintet, New England Jazz Educators Orchestra, Kings Highway, and The Players Inc. Since moving to Boston, Brian has also performed with Melvin Sparks, John Brown’s Body, The Boston Horns, Soulive, Babaloo, The Brazilian Girls, Matisyahu, Ken Clark, Ryan Montbleau, Scott Aruda, Jen Kearney, Jon Ellis, Timo Shanko, Adam Deitch, Andre Ward, Spearhead, The Slip, Mike Tucker, The Jerry Garcia Band, Peter Prince, Jiggs Whigham, Paul Smoker, Robin McKelle, Arcoda, 10ft Ganja Plant, Adoni & I, Kohootz, Flipside, Beantown, Sultans of Swing, Toussaint & the China Band, Melvin Henderson & Paradigm Shift, and Addison Groove Project. Teaching has always been a big part of Brian’s life. He landed an instrumental music position in the Franklin, MA Public Schools upon his arrival to Massachusetts. Brian is still on faculty in Franklin, as well the Brookline Music School and Derby Academy in Hingham, MA.
