Next Shows

Friday 6/26/09
Akashic Record
Waterfront Tavern - Holyoke, MA
INFO: Hammond Organ Driven Funk. 10pm

Thursday 7/2/09
B3 Kings
House Of Blues Lounge - Boston, MA
INFO: Boogaloo organ grooves.

Lessons

The key to successful lessons is to motivate the student with positive feedback, discipline, variety of styles of music, and FUN!! I have been providing this encouraging and nurturing setting to brass students for over 15 years. I have successfully help prepare students for district festivals, recitals, BYSO auditions, and college auditions. Lessons focus on classical technique, jazz and rock styles, composition, and improvisation.

I am currently filling in my Saturday schedule for appointments at my studio in Milford, MA. Contact me at brian@brianthomasgroup.com to schedule an appointment.

I am also teaching on Tuesday afternoons this summer in Franklin, MA through the Life Long Learning program. Call 508 541 2100 x 3178 to schedule a lesson.

News

5/28/09
For all you FaceBook folks: There is a cool video of the Dueling B3's from the Dive Bar in Worcester recorded last weekend. The band features Beau Sasser and Eli Winderman on organs, Steve Fell on guitar, Bill Connor on drums (who also built both organs) and me on trombone. Click here to check it out.

I also just stumbled upon some old footage of the BTG from the Tazza jam session. The clips feature Ben Zecker on organ and Tom Arey on drums. Click here to visit youtube to check them out. It will send you to the first one and I am sure you can find the other two. Good times with that trio. Good times!

3/11/09
Akashic Record just added a few new dates!! We have had the pleasure to be joined by saxophonist Jared Sims while Timo has been on the road. Check out the dates page for more exciting shows in Boston, Western Mass, Dover, and Providence. Also look for the return of Mike Tucker for a few shows in April!!

1/20/09
Pressure Cooker is pleased to partner with Chicago's famous ska label Jump Up Records to release the brand new album - "WHAT SHE WANTS".

"WHAT SHE WANTS" is Pressure Cooker's sixth full-length album of new original reggae songs for 2008, culminating a year and a half of studio recording sessions held in the Brighton & Allston neighborhoods of Boston. Craig Akira Fujita, Pressure Cooker's unique frontman leads the nine piece band through a versatile array of 70's style reggae, rocksteady and ska music, skillfully mixed by the group's renowned sound engineer Craig "Dubfader" Welsch. The result is a fresh set of fifteen songs exploring themes on love, good times and hard times, all the while keeping the sound and spirit on a lively, upbeat vibe. Highlights include "Can't Stop Thinkin'," "Hold On," "One Kind of Love," "Higher Than High," "Without Purpose," "Darkest Hour," and the instrumental jam "Rocker's Delight." Once again, Pressure Cooker delivers a unique set of songs that stay faithful to the roots of reggae music but have some new things to say -- and can be appreciated by fans both inside and beyond the genre.

1/10/09
Happy New Year!! Blessings to you and your family in 2009.

Akashic Record, The B3 Kings, Brian Thomas Group, Pressure Cooker, Brass Force, and many other various projects will be plugging along in 2009. Stay tuned for new recordings, venues, and, musical collaborations this year. Continue to check the dates page for all current shows.

www.myspace.com/btgroup is also a great place to check out for new videos, music, and photos.

I have started graduate studies at UMASS Amherst where I have the pleasure to be studying with jazz composition with Jeff Holmes and trombone with Norman Bolter. I am looking forward to starting my second semester this month. I will also have the honor of directing the UMASS Jazz Lab this semester.