Jay Thomas at Seattle Jazz Fellowship

Most jazz fans in Seattle are aware of the great legacy Jay Thomas has built over the course of the past half century. Beginning as a teenager in clubs like the Black and Tan on Jackson Street, Thomas returns to Pioneer Square a scant two blocks from where he regularly played in the late 1970’s- Parnell’s in Occidental Square (Now the Davidson Gallery). Thomas is one of the great few who play both trumpet and saxophone at the highest level. Over two nights at SJF, he brings us two very different bands.

Slow Dogs At Play is as Thomas describes it, “his funky band.” Seattle stalwarts John Hansen and Milo Petersen join on piano and guitar respectively, with electric bassist Rick Houle and drummer Ben Smith combining for a solid bottom end for the Friday night tilt...

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Most jazz fans in Seattle are aware of the great legacy Jay Thomas has built over the course of the past half century. Beginning as a teenager in clubs like the Black and Tan on Jackson Street, Thomas returns to Pioneer Square a scant two blocks from where he regularly played in the late 1970’s- Parnell’s in Occidental Square (Now the Davidson Gallery). Thomas is one of the great few who play both trumpet and saxophone at the highest level. Over two nights at SJF, he brings us two very different bands.

Slow Dogs At Play is as Thomas describes it, “his funky band.” Seattle stalwarts John Hansen and Milo Petersen join on piano and guitar respectively, with electric bassist Rick Houle and drummer Ben Smith combining for a solid bottom end for the Friday night tilt. Saturday night Thomas leads a boss tenor band with fellow tenorists Mark Taylor, Travis Raney and Joel Steinke. The fearsome foursome will be supported by Seattle hall of famer Phil Sparks on bass, pianist Hansen and drummer Adam Kessler. Jay Thomas Photo: Daniel Sheehan

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