“A boundary-blurring composer and improviser” Gramophone Magazine

Fred Thomas is one of London’s most sought-after multi-instrumentalists and composer/ arranger/producers, known for his breadth of musical styles as well as for specialising in creative re-interpretations of J.S. Bach. He is an ECM artist and has appeared all over the world, performing in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Berlin Philarmonic, Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Wiener Konzerthaus.

Fred’s ECM Records debut as a leader came on the New Series with Three or One (2021), 24 pieces by Bach transcribed for trio and solo piano by Fred himself, released to great critical acclaim. The album was described as “a revelation” (Apple Music), “mesmerising” (BBC Music Magazine) and “a world of soulful dreaming that enraptures with its poetic images” (Das Bach Magazin). Fred had previously appeared on Elina Duni’s ECM albums Lost Ships (2020) and A Time to Remember (2023), and has a new trio record called Za Górami out with Alice Zawadzki and Misha Mullov-Abbado.

Of British and Argentinian heritage, Fred has collaborated with a huge variety of artists across many genres, including Brian Eno, Yo-Yo Ma, Hilary Hahn, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Jordi Savall, Meredith Monk, Jarvis Cocker, Jovanotti, Lianne Le Havas, Rachel Podger, Abel Selaocoe, Ethan Iverson, Benoit Delbecq, Jorge Rossy, Elizabeth Kenny, Liam Noble, Elina Duni, Olivia Chaney and Kees Boeke. With a discography of over fifty albums, his arrangements and transcriptions are published by Edition Wilhelm Hansen and are available to buy in his shop.

A multi-instrumentalist, Fred’s first instrument is piano, although he also performs on double bass, percussion, vielle, viola da gamba and other keyboard instruments. As a producer, Fred’s work includes the highly-lauded debut album from cellist Abel Selaocoe, ‘Where is Home’ (Warner Classics, 2022) as well as Abel’s next album. Record label collaborations include ECM, Universal, Warner Classics, Harmonia Mundi and Realworld Records. Fred works regularly as Musical Director at Shakespeare’s Globe and his compositions have been performed internationally and at the Royal Opera House, London.

“An astonishingly fine musician” The Arts Desk

“Remarkable” International Piano Magazine

“Thomas is challenging the status quo of the classical music genre” Vice

“In a word: sublime” SilenceAndSound