allViolin.com

Rob Thomas, Jazz violinst, bassist and educator

"a violinist of exceptional creative resources... riveting as a solo voice with a rich complex tone that can sing or shriek"

JazzTimes

Rob Thomas has been a complex and shrieking part (although certainly not rich) of the creative music scene in New York City since moving there in 1991.

In the mid ‘90’s he toured and recorded extensively with The Jazz Passengers, often featuring as guests Elvis Costello and Deborah Harry. In 2001 Rob accepted the violin chair in the String Trio of New York, joining guitarist James Emery and bassist John Lindberg as the legendary group began its 23rd season. He is also a member of the critically acclaimed Mahavishnu Project, an adventurous repertory ensemble that explores (with the Maestro's blessing and encouragement) the music of John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra. He is an active free-lancer, contributing to recent recordings by Lee Konitz, Andy Summers, Los Jovenes Del Barrio and Marc Ribot. He has also performed with The John Handy 'Monterey' Quintet, Max Roach, Jan Hammer, Bobby Previte, Claude Williams, The Soldier String Quartet and Akua Dixon's Quartette Indigo.

He toured throughout the Pacific Northwest as a leader on violin and a sideman on bass (on which he "doubled expertly" according to Leonard Feather in a Los Angeles Times festival review), gaining valuable experience in pick-up bands with jazz greats such as Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Charlie Rouse, Eddie Harris, Mose Allison, Nat Adderly, and others. Rob's own groups made regular appearances at regional clubs and festivals and often included such notable musicians as Glen Moore, Nancy King, Jerry Hahn, and John Handy. Thomas still enjoys playing the bass, and toured Asia in 2004 as bassist with the Grammy Award winning vocal ensemble, New York Voices.

Also an active educator, Thomas taught in the Northwest at Reed and Marylhurst Colleges, and at Cornish College of the Arts. He is currently an Associate Professor of Strings at Boston's Berklee College of Music, and an adjunct instructor at the New School University in New York.

Also in his website - http://www.robthomasviolin.com you will know more about his Discography, Calendar, News, Music Downloads and Contact.