reveals the inner workings of a seasoned drummer who clearly has much to say.
A longtime centerpiece of the Portland, Oregon jazz scene, drummer William Thomas lets his pen do the talking with "Notes From A Drummer," a project featuring the compositions of Thomas and the performance of a stellar ensemble composed of John Gross, Randy Porter, Warren Rand, Troy Grugett, Dick Titterington and Tom Wakeling.
Track Listing:
1. Bye-Bye Now 6:26
2. Valse Rosemaree 4:18
3. Steatopygic Nightmare 7:32
4. Tango Del Perdido 6:40
5. Feliz Aniversario Mi Vida 2:53
6. Moaning / Bhomaz Squad 3:17
7. Illegal Death 4:48
8. After Francke 4:32
9. Crazy For K.Z. 4:13
10. End Of A Love Affair 5:18
11. Remembrances 5:43
12. Say...You Guys Improvise Anything? 3:41
13. Escapee 4:18
Performers:
John Gross - tenor sax
Troy Grugett - baritone sax
Warren Rand - alto sax
Dick Titterington - trumpet
Randy Porter - piano
Tom Wakeling - bass
William Thomas - drums
Production Info:
Recorded live to 2-track DAT, December 14, 2001 at Saphu Studio, Portland, Oregon
Ed Bennett - Recording Engineer
Kevin Nettleingham - Mastering
Mercedes Rodriguez - Photography
John Bishop/OriginArts - Layout & Design
Reviews of Notes From A Drummer
All About Jazz (Mark F Turner)
Drummer William Thomas gives a potent glimpse into the hotbed of jazz talent in Portland, Oregon. His first recording, Notes From A Drummer , consists of music written, arranged, and composed for his ensemble. The themes on the recording range from bop and swing to playful and intricate ballads with an emphasis on strong ensemble dynamics.
The to ...
All Music Guide (Adam Greenburg)
As with many of the artists on Seattle's Origin label, William Thomas is an excellent jazz drummer. Here on his debut as a leader, the Portland native spends an hour of quality time with his set, but more important to the album is the time he spent with his score sheets. The feature here is the quality of composition that he's been able to put toge ...
