Joe Thomas (trumpeter)
Joe Thomas (July 24, 1909 – August 6, 1984) was an American swing jazz trumpeter, who was born in Webster Groves, Missouri, and died in New York City, New York.
Biography
Joseph Lewis Thomas, born in Webster Groves, Missouri, started his music career at the age of 19 with bandleader Cecil Scott in 1928,[1] and played throughout the Midwest before moving to New York in 1934, where he became one of the most sought-after trumpeters of the 1930s and '40s. Those he worked with include Fletcher Henderson's Orchestra (1934–37), Fats Waller, Benny Carter (1939–40), Joe Sullivan and Teddy Wilson's Sextet (1942–43),[2] Claude Hopkins and many others.[3][4] He featured in Art Kane's iconic 1958 photograph A Great Day in Harlem.[5][6]
Discography
- Mainstream - with Vic Dickenson (Atlantic, 1958)
With Buck Clayton
- How Hi the Fi (Columbia, 1954)
- Jumpin' at the Woodside (Columbia, 1955)
With Coleman Hawkins
- Coleman Hawkins All Stars (Swingville, 1960) with Vic Dickenson
With Claude Hopkins
- Let's Jam (Swingville, 1961) with Buddy Tate
With Al Sears
- Things Ain't What They Used to Be (Swingville, 1961) as part of the Prestige Swing Festival
With Rex Stewart
- Henderson Homecoming (United Artists, 1959)
References
- Jan Evensmo, "The Trumpet of Joseph Lewis Thomas". Last updated January 4, 2020.
- "Teddy Wilson - Russian Lullaby (great trumpet solo by Joe Thomas) video", NME Online.
- "Joe Thomas" at Discogs.
- "Joe Thomas was a much admired trumpeter", Harlem.org.
- "Remembering Joe Thomas", Jazz Lives, June 11, 2009.
- "The Musicians", A Great Day in Harlem.
External links
- "Remembering Joe Thomas", Jazz Lives, June 11, 2009.
- "Soulful Elegance: Joe Thomas, trumpet", Jazz Lives, July 20, 2012.