Author Archives: fredthom

Kees Boeke

Kees Boeke – recorders Fred Thomas – vielle   Kees Boeke and Fred Thomas play French and Italian medieval duos from the Modena & Squarcialupi Codices, as well as the music of Paolo da Firenze, Matteo da Perugia, Giovanni da … Continued

Fred Thomas Trio

Fred Thomas – double bass Liam Noble – piano Dudu Kouate – percussion              

Abel Selaocoe

South African cellist Abel Selaocoe is redefining the parameters of the cello. He moves seamlessly across a plethora of genres and styles, from collaborations with world musicians and beatboxers, to concerto performances and solo classical recitals.  Fred Thomas and Abel … Continued

Taking a Nap, I Pound the Rice

  Fred Thomas & Phaedra Ensemble have been collaborating for the past six years. Thomas’ composition ‘Taking a Nap, I Pound the Rice’, for string quartet, percussion, prepared piano and spoken voice, was recorded and released by Phaedra in 2022. … Continued

Sands Films

Fred Thomas curates an ongoing series at the legendary Sands Films Studios in Rotherhithe, inviting artists he admires to play duos or small ensembles followed by informal interviews delving into their artistic practice. Featuring Elizabeth Kenny, Abel Seloaocoe, Kit Downes, … Continued

Strings

  Buy J.S. Bach’s ‘Air’ from Bandcamp here Overture No. 3 BWV 1068, Air Composed by J.S. Bach  Performed, recorded and mixed by Fred Thomas Mastered by Peter Beckmann Artwork by Fred Thomas  Violin I: viella Violin II: viella Viola: viola da gamba Continuo: double bass & … Continued

Ruth Bruckner

Multi-instrumentalists Ruth Bruckner and Fred Thomas met in Tuscany in 2019, immediately connecting through their love of medieval music and in particular the viella. Performing on combinations of strings, recorders, prepared piano, tenor banjo and voice, their duo is dedicated … Continued

Elina Duni

  Fred Thomas has been collaborating with Albanian/Swiss singer Elina Duni since 2017. Their album ‘Lost Ships’ was released in ECM Records in 2020, featuring Rob Luft, Mathieu Michel. Their second album together will be released on 2023, recorded at … Continued

J.S. Banjo

“The familiar prelude to the G major Cello Suite sounding so, so right. Thomas gives the closing Gigue an irresistible swing and finds rare depth and expression in the Allemande. There’s similar magic in Suite No. 3, Bach’s slow Sarabande … Continued

Martin Speake/Ethan Iverson

ECM artists Speake/Iverson/Thomas join forces with the extraordinary James Maddren.   Martin Speake – alto saxophone Ethan Iverson – piano James Maddren – drums Fred Thomas – double bass   Buy the album on Bandcamp   Pianist, composer, and writer … Continued

Zawadzki/Mullov-Abbado/Thomas

Alice Zawadzki – vocals, violin, piano Misha Mullov-Abbado – double bass Fred Thomas – piano, drums, strings Inhabiting their own stylistic realm encompassing mediterranean folk song, chamber music, improvisation and the world of acoustic jazz, this trio comprises the award-winning … Continued

Dick Wag: A Tribute to Richard Wagner

4 Stars **** Jazzwise Magazine     ‘Dick Wag – a Tribute to Richard Wagner’ is a new jazz trio dedicated to the notorious German composer, despised and idolised in equal measure. Comprised of the most unlikely collaborators, this tribute … Continued

Spinning Threads

Complex counterpoint – the combination of multiple independent melodies into a single harmonic texture – has been noticeably under-explored in jazz. This project explores improvised, spontaneous counterpoint, seeking inspiration from one of the richest resources in all of Western music … Continued