Oluyemi Thomas and Kenn Thomas Duet at Kerrytown Concert House

Oluyemi Thomas moved to Oakland from his native Detroit in 1974. He is a master of many instruments, with a particular predilection for the bass clarinet, C melody saxophone, and musette. Like so many bass clarinetists he has a great fondness for the playing of Eric Dolphy, but this admiration does not extend to imitation and he has developed his own gruff-voiced way with the instrument. Thomas brings to his music a deep spirituality rooted in his Baha’i faith. He is interested in music and instruments from all over the world and often incorporates scales and sounds not often encountered in Western music....

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Oluyemi Thomas moved to Oakland from his native Detroit in 1974. He is a master of many instruments, with a particular predilection for the bass clarinet, C melody saxophone, and musette. Like so many bass clarinetists he has a great fondness for the playing of Eric Dolphy, but this admiration does not extend to imitation and he has developed his own gruff-voiced way with the instrument. Thomas brings to his music a deep spirituality rooted in his Baha’i faith. He is interested in music and instruments from all over the world and often incorporates scales and sounds not often encountered in Western music.
Kenn Thomas
Kenn Thomas is a pianist and synthesizer player who lives in Ypsilanti, and just happens to be Oluyemi’s brother. He performs widely in different contexts in our area, and was featured at last year’s Edgefest. He can be heard in a quartet setting together with his brother on Nigeria, released by the Polish label Not Two.

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