Tribute

Willie Thomas | November 3, 2011

Yo, I just received this tribute from the Des Moines Community Jazz Center. I thought you all might like to check it out and hear a few stories about Uncle Willie.

Also, I recently received this note from new member David Angol.

Willie,
I am a self taught jazz saxophonist and have been fortunate to have had some lessons of key jazz players who have the jazz knowledge, ie. Donald Byrd, Ralph Moore, Kenny Garrett, to name some.
Your lessons are truly great and what I would give to have known you 20 years ago when i started out.

Your lesson gets to the point of teaching jazz musicians to understand the jazz language from the greats through to modern concepts.

I remember my lesson with Donald Byrd was brief as we bumped in to each other while on tour in seperate bands. But what he tried to give me was the concept of connecting the scales and lines chromatically, and you demonstrate this in the same way.

I remember at the the time he said only the old cats know this stuff and you my man are one of those cats, ie. you are one of the last keepers of the flame Willie and respect to the max.

The people who are checking your lessons have a true master to help solve the mysteries of jazz.

Thanks for the kind words David!  And now here's David in action with Jerry Bergonzi.  The video is a little shaky, but David is playing some sweet sounds.