Prairie Moon presents
JAY THOMAS SEXTET
Jay Thomas – Trumpet
Chad McCullough – Trumpet
Ryan Shultz – Bass Trumpet
Jeremy Kahn – Piano
Clark Sommers – Bass
George Fludas – Drums
ABOUT JAY THOMAS
Jay Thomas, a native of Seattle, is a versatile multi-instrumentalist (trumpet, flugelhorn, alto, tenor, soprano, and flutes). He is a consummate craftsman and an emotionally charged improviser. Anyone who has encountered Jay’s music during his 50-odd-year career will testify to numerous qualities synonymous with the heart of jazz.
Jay grew up in the fertile atmosphere of Seattle’s ’60s jazz scene. Playing in clubs such as the “HOE” (House of Entertainment), the Black and Tan, and the Llahngaelhyn figured prominently in Jay’s early years of trial and error music-making. While still in high school, he was the recipient of two DownBeat scholarships (summer and one full year) to the Berklee School of Music in Boston.
In 1968 Jay moved from Boston to New York, where he worked and studied for several years. Highlights include gigging for a summer with Machito’s Latin band, recording for James Moody on the Perception label, and taking private lessons with Carmine Caruso.
Through the mid-seventies, he lived and played in the Bay Area, where he met and played with numerous musicians, including Jessica Williams. Twenty years later, Jay played on three of Jessica’s recordings. During this time in S.F., Jay added flute and saxophone to his repertoire.
Jay moved back to Seattle in 1978 and became a frequent member of the house band at Parnell’s Jazz Club, working engagements with jazz artists George Cables, Charles McPherson, Bill Mays, Ralph Penland, Harold Land, and Slim Gaillard.
Jay is on over 100 CDs, including 21 as leader or co-leader. Jay has also recorded with many heavy-weight players, most notably Cedar Walton, Billy Higgins, Ray Brown, and Elvin Jones. Jay’s first two CDs, Easy Does It on Discovery Records and Blues For McVouty on Stash Records, featured Cedar Walton and Billy Higgins. 360 Degrees on Hep Records and Rapture on Jazz Focus continued to establish Jay’s reputation. Jay’s later CDs from McVouty Records alternated between live and studio recordings, and all have the feel of the clubs where Jay was first baptized into the world of jazz. Jay recorded with Herb Ellis on Roll Call and with Bud Shank on, On the Trail. T
ABOUT PRAIRIE MOON
Live music in Evanston. JAZZ!
RAW BAR • GRILL • DRINKS • JAZZ.
Prairie Moon restaurant, 1635 Chicago Avenue in Evanston, is proud to offer affordable, top notch jazz every Wednesday night from 9PM – 11PM in downtown Evanston. Prairie Moon is a favorite restaurant in Evanston serving authentic regional American cuisine and is known as Evanston’s original craft beer bar.
Every Wednesday a different jazz group will play from 9PM-11PM. There is an affordable $7 cover, which goes entirely to the musicians and to support Fulton Street Collective.
9 pm Show
Two Sets
$ 7
A ll Ages