“Fred Thomas is a highly original talent” – Chris Parker
“Distinctive arrangements and settings by bassist/percussionist/keyboard man Fred Thomas …..encourages repeated listens to reveal all the detail, and the beguiling range and variety of the songs and arrangements reward this” – fRoots Magazine
“Drummer Fred Thomas nips any slickness in the bud with his splendidly creative messiness.” – The Wire Magazine
“British pianist and composer Fred Thomas is one of the young pianists around in the world of today’s creative jazz archipelagos that has recently caught my closest attention and curiosity. I consider his work not to be overlooked nor missed. He is at the opening of a great career built of self-demand, pertinence in taste, a true sense of drama and rhythmicity, and of tone richness and delicacy. Furthermore, his seeking for a multi-layered music is an important thrust for pushing the highest expertise issues in art even further.” – Benoît Delbecq
“The audience had already been eased into receptivity for subtle nuances by the delicate piano improvising…of Fred Thomas” – John Fordham, The Guardian
“Thomas is challenging the status quo of the classical music genre” – – The Creators Project
“Extreme sensitivity to colour and nuance….Fred Thomas is brilliant” – BBC Music Magazine “High class.” – The Telegraph
“The Fred Thomas Trio captures the imagination of the listener with hypnotic soundscapes, whilst challenging boundaries and traditional roles of the instruments within the genres of improvised music and contemporary composition. Most importantly though, it’s beautiful music.” – Gerard Presencer
“It is drummer Fred Thomas who emerges as the leading compositional voice here. Thomas’ principal study at the Royal Academy of Music was in piano and he is an experienced performer on that instrument in a variety of contexts. This might go some way in explaining not just his dominance in the writing, but also the colouristic, textural approach he adopts on the drum kit.” – OMH Music
“superb technique” – Steve Berryman (I Care if You Listen)
“most ear-opening of all, pianist Fred Thomas…providing an inexhaustible range of touch and colour” – Chris Morley, Birmingham Post
“first-class double-bass/pianist” – Charlie Gillett’s Sound of the World
“Fred Thomas plays with a strutting, brooding tension” – Chris Morley, Birmingham Post
“a highly cultured double-bassist/pianist” – El Correo Digital
This trio produced sounds that were a synthesis of Fred’s compositions and free improv, exploring those made possible by delving into the bowels of a grand piano – using bluetac, rubbers, pegs, coins, plectrums, mallets, and cymbals – and uniting these discoveries with the exquisite playing of Robin Fincker and Ben Bryant. Their E.P. ‘It’s Time’ was released in 2006.
1. Palo Alto
2. It's Time
3. Valse Pour Les Enfants
4. Out Through an Earhole
5. River's Run
Fred Thomas – (prepared) piano
Robin Fincker – clarinet
Ben Bryant – percussion
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