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Ron Thomas

Somewhere around 1900, Eleazar Thomas migrated from Wales to settle in the coal-mining community of Dickson City, Pennsylvania where he met his wife Martha and had four children: Mary, Benjamin Llywellen, David Wesley, and, my father, “Buddy” (Arja Worthington) born in 1917.

Buddy’s two older brothers, Ben and Wesley, had each begun to work in the mines at the age of nine but Martha refused to allow Buddy, her youngest son, to join them, or so goes the official family story. Martha took her children to her sister’s boarding house in Newark, New Jersey; Eleazar joined them sometime later. It was there that my father met Helen Edna O’Connell, cousin of his friend Terry Foy, Jr. and they were married in 1940. I was born in 1942, and my brother Glenn in 1944.

Bud was a self-taught amateur pianist who deduced the laws of harmony and melody from observing and analyzing piano roll performances. His mother, Martha, and sister, Mary, sang duets to his accompaniments at home. He was deeply attached to the musical traditions into which he was born. He and his brother David Wesley (“Wes”) exchanged records, listened to music together, and clashed noisily over their often conflicting musical convictions and opinions. I grew up listening to Buddy’s piano playing and record collection which contained classical and romantic music and also the great master piano stylists of early 20th century American jazz. My mother too loved music, her taste indicating a slightly more adventurous sensibility, Errol Garner and Reinhold Gliere, for example.

The first books I read were in my parents’ library: Taylor Caldwell, John O’Hara, Daphne DuMaurier, Ben Ames Williams, the Rubaiyat, Oliver Goldsmith, the Psalms of the Bible, Deems Taylor’s essays on music, Shakespeare, poems of Shelley. My mother took me to the Public Library early and when I was old enough, I eagerly began to explore it on my own. In the beginning reading was a kind of competition I engaged in with myself. Norman Mailer’s Naked and the Dead, was the first grown-up book I completed (followed very quickly by The Young Lions) and I was very proud. I loved air war adventures such as Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. I joined the Civil Air Patrol still in post-war operation. I was sent a Directory of Silhouetted International Aircraft which I dutifully carried up to our roof, searching the New Jersey skies for Enemy Aircraft.

Buddy started me playing piano when I was three or four years old. I was able to improvise music at the piano early. I know he taught me this but I have no recollection of how! Maybe I just knew. Piano lessons followed in 1948 when I was six from Gladys Ogden who instructed me in the rudiments of reading music, practicing, and playing piano pieces.

Paul Colombo: Rio Crystal

Read "Rio Crystal" reviewed by Chris M. Slawecki

by Chris M. Slawecki
September 4, 2021

Rio Crystal is the perfect title for this bright and clear, warm and sunny set led by guitarist Paul Colombo. Its frontline pairs Colombo's nimble guitar with keyboardist Ron Thomas, supported by bassist Andy Alonso and drummer Chris Loser, in a series of jazzy instrumental workouts. It's uncomplicated swing, and the emotional directness and honesty with which the principals play, turn Rio Crystal from jazz fusion into genuine (instrumental) soul music. The title track was the first tune ...

Album Review

Paul Colombo Group: Rio Crystal

Read "Rio Crystal" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
February 4, 2021

Paul Colombo's debut, Rio Crystal, comes about because his fellow guitarist, Pat Martino, released an album called Pat Martino/Live! (Muse Records, 1972). When Colombo heard Martino's sound, the then fifteen year old aspiring musician's path to jazz artistry came into focus. The keyboardist on Martino's 1972 LP was Ron Thomas, who played Fender Rhodes on Pat Martino/Live! He went on to become an adventurous and artistically successful--if somewhat underrecognized--jazz (and beyond) player in his own right, with the ...

Building a Jazz Library

Shining A Light On Pianist Ron Thomas

by Dan McClenaghan
May 18, 2020

Pianist / composer Ron Thomas (b. 1942), was introduced to the piano by his father, Buddy, a self-taught player who learned the art of the ivories by analyzing piano roll performances. Ron was, according to his biography, three or four years old at the time. Those early lessons took root, and then along came Marilyn Monroe. In 1957, Thomas had the good fortune to see The Seven Year Itch, a film that featured Monroe, and a soundtrack that included Sergei ...

Reassessing

Scenes From A Voyage To Arcturus

by Dan McClenaghan
May 10, 2020

Scottish writer David Lindsay published his A Voyage To Arcturus in 1920. It is said to have influenced everyone from C.S. Lewis in the writing of his Space Trilogy to J.R.R. Tolkien to Clive Barker. The story concerns a character Muskull and his fantastical journey across the planet Tormance that orbits the star Arcturus. And while the external landscapes encountered are surreal, so too are Muskill's inner landscapes, and the music. “Lindsay's fantasy eludes analysis," pianist/composer Ron Thomas ...

Album Review

John Vanore: Primary Colors

Read "Primary Colors" reviewed by Jerome Wilson

by Jerome Wilson
March 4, 2020

These recordings come from the mid-80s, a time when mixing jazz and electronics was still a fairly radical idea. They have trumpeter John Vanore marrying his solo lines to electronic embellishments performed by pianist Ron Thomas on a Yamaha DX-7 synthesizer and other keyboards. Nothing here is startling by modern standards, but there are still some interesting sounds and experiments present. The electronic effects mix in lightly on several tracks. “Yesterdays" and “A Time for Love" are basically ...

Album Review

John Vanore: Primary Colors

Read "Primary Colors" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
February 13, 2020

This beautiful duet set recorded by trumpeter John Vanore and pianist Ron Thomas serves as a showcase for auspicious beginnings, for both artists. The music for Primary Colors was recorded in 1984-85. Both of the players evolved into higher profiles, finding their individual places in jazz in the twenty-first century--Vanore with, mostly, his large ensemble writing, influenced by saxophonist/orchestrator Oliver Nelson on albums like Stolen Moments: Celebrating Oliver Nelson (Acoustical Concepts, 2017) and Contagious Words (Acoustical Concepts, 2011). For his ...

Album Review

Ron Thomas / Paul Klinefelter: Duo

by Budd Kopman
October 27, 2016

One of the wonderful things about jazz is that it can be appreciated from more than one angle, oftentimes simultaneously: pure entertainment, art as entertainment, art as beauty and art as intellect among others. Some of this, of course, relates to music in general, but jazz as a genre has moved beyond any stylistic boundaries to the point where no one can claim any particular sub-genre to represent “jazz." This push-pull aspect of jazz allows a player to ...

109

Recording

Leron Thomas: Dirty Draws, Vol. 3

Source: Poppi Kikos
August 16, 2011

The trumpeter, singer, bandleader and provocateur Leron Thomas, a New Yorker originally from Houston, isn't making it easy on himself. His records, self-produced and often underproduced, are hard to sum up, and that's the point. They're perverse and searching and sketchy and sometimes quite lovely: straight-ahead jazz— he is a serious improviser, rhythmically strong and controlled in ballads—as well as R&B, tense indie-rock and several kinds of singer-songwriter music. He sings in croons and yelps, making acid commentary about competition ...
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123

Event

Leron Thomas CD Release Party at 92Y Tribeca on August 6th

Source: Michael Ricci
July 18, 2011

Leron Thomas delivers volume 3 of his Dirty Draws series with a CD Release Party at 92Y Tribeca—Saturday, August 6th at 9pm. Bringing his signature style of genre crossing antics, this new music will make for an incredible live show fusing humor and compositional prowess. Featuring; Yayo Serka-drums, Mark Kelley-bass, Theo Hill- keys, Jean-Christophe Milliard-guitar and Leron Thomas- vocals/trumpet. Tickets are $10 online and $12 at the door with ALL attendees receiving a free download of Dirty Draws Volume 3. ...
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216

Performance / Tour

Leron Thomas / 6 Figures / Logan Richardson at 92Y on February 18

Source: Poppi Kikos
February 8, 2011

Leron Thomas presents a mixed genre event at 92Y Tribeca on Friday February 18. The three artist bill showcases the spirited post-bop talents of Logan Richardson featured with an incredible line up; Keyon Harrold, Sam Harris, Burniss Earl Travis and Bram Kincheloe. The amazingly fun, high energy funk band 6 Figures includes; Louis Cato, Nozomi Yamaguchi, DJ Ginyard, Corey Bernhard, ((D White}} and James Casey are sure to deliver. Returning to 92Y Tribeca following an outstanding set at Jason Moran's ...
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224

Event

Leron Thomas performs at Jason Moran's 713 → 212 songwriter event on January 14th

Source: Poppi Kikos
January 9, 2011

Featuring an array of Houston born talent, Leron Thomas showcases his songwriting diversity with material from his recent independently released album; Juxtaposed alongside some highly anticipated party favorites. Thomas leads a band of well respected artists; Jason Moran, Mark Kelley, Josh Mease, Kendrick Scott and Nicole Hurst for a night that is sure to be one to remember. Jason Moran Presents 713 > 212—Houstonians in NYC (Songwriters) The groundbreaking jazz pianist-composer Jason Moran, a 2010 MacArthur Fellow (aka “Genius Award" ...
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227

Recording

New album by Leron Thomas - "Juxtaposed"

Source: Poppi Kikos
October 30, 2010

Leron Thomas presents an eclectic range of musical statements on his latest album Juxtaposed. Always keeping listeners on their toes, Thomas always delivers fun, intelligent and reflective discourse that represents the current moment. Download the free MP3 available at All About Jazz (see right). Juxtaposed is available at cdbaby.com.

About Leron Thomas

Leron Thomas' musical journey began in his hometown of Houston Texas, always inspired by family rich with respect and understanding of quality music. After graduating from Houston's distinguished ...
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202

Recording

Ron Thomas + Paul Klinefelter: "Blues for Zarathustra" on Art of Life Records

Source: All About Jazz
April 16, 2008

Now available for ordering via our web site's secure server Following his two previous Trio releases on Art of Life Records, Music In Three Parts (AL1010-2) and Doloroso (AL1021-2), “Blues for Zarathustra" finds pianist Ron Thomas in a duo setting with acoustic bassist Paul Klinefelter performing six Jazz standards and one original composition. Ron and Paul perform the songs “Gentle Rain" (Luiz Bonfa), “Time Remembered" (Bill Evans), “Yardbird Suite" (Charlie Parker), “You Must Believe in Spring" (Legrand, Demy & Bergman), ...
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157

Performance / Tour

Les Paul (Mon) Mingus Big Band (Tues) Vince Giordano (Wed) the Brubeck Bros. w/Taylor Eigsti Mar. 8-11 (Late Nite Fri) Bill McHenry (Late Nite Sat) Leron Thomas' Other Music at the Iridium Jazz Club

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
March 6, 2007

IRIDIUM JAZZ CLUB 1650 BROADWAY (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023 RESERVATIONS: 212-582-2121 8:30 & 10:30PM, Fri. & Sat. 3rd Sets AT MIDNIGHT Note: Set Times for Les Paul Remain at 8 & 10PM EVERY MONDAY LES PAUL AND HIS TRIO JOHN COLIANNI - PIANO - LOU PALLO - GUITAR, NICKI PARROTT - BASS Note: Set Times for Les Paul Remain at 8 & 10PM Every Tuesday ...
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149

Recording

Ron Thomas Trio-"Doloroso" Art of Life Records AL1021-2 CD

Source: All About Jazz
April 28, 2006

Ron Thomas Trio-"Doloroso" Art of Life Records AL1021-2 CD

Now available for ordering via our web site's secure server!!

Following in the footsteps of their previous Art of Life Records release, Music In Three Parts (AL1010-2), Doloroso was recorded in May of 2005 and features Tony Marino on bass and Joe Mullen on drums.

The concept utilized throughout Doloroso is based upon improvising freely (no specific chords and measures) within the loose framework of a pre-determined genre-piece such as a ...
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188

Festival

Festival of New Trumpet Music Continues with Diego Urcola, Leron Thomas, Nabate Isles

Source: All About Jazz
August 17, 2005

The 3rd Festival of New Trumpet Music Continues with: New Bands, at Spark-August 16-20 161 W. 22nd Street August 17 8:00 PM LeRon Thomas 9:00 PM Diego Urcola Quartet – www.diegourcola.com. The Grammy nominated trumpeter will be performing music from his newest recording “Soundances.” 10:00 PM Nabate Isles – A mix of diverse musical styles with melodic clarity and rhythmic intensity. August 19 8:00 PM Jesse Neuman and the Bruce Lee Band – www.bruceleeband.com. Jesse Neuman-acoustic and processed trumpet/laptop, Oscar ...
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133

Recording

The Ron Thomas Trio's "Music In Three Parts" on Art of Life Records

Source: All About Jazz
October 21, 2004

Art of Life Records is proud to announce our latest CD release. The Ron Thomas Trio: Music In Three Parts AL1010-2 Ron Thomas' newest project for Art of Life Records, Music In Three Parts, was recorded on November 12, 2003 and features Paul Klinefelter on bass and Joe Mullen on drums. The pieces on Music In Three Parts are based on only three different simple musical figures. The three Impromptu's are based on a figure in D minor, the two ...
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