Boston based trombonist/composer/educator Brian Thomas began playing trombone since the age of 10 in his hometown of Rochester, NY. Through hard work and dedication, Thomas now leads his own jazz quartet, big band, and funk power house Akashic Record. Each of which feature his original compositions. As a freelance trombonist, Thomas has performed with Soulive, Lettuce, Maceo Parker, Melvin Sparks, Sam Kininger, John Brown’s Body, Alan Evans Playonbrother Band, Eric Krasno, The Boston Horns, New England Jazz Educators Orchestra, Brass Force, The Hurricane Horns, Night Rhythm, and Pressure Cooker.

Thomas attended Ithaca College where he studied classical trombone with Dr. Harold Reynolds and jazz with Steve Brown. Along with earning a degree in music education, he gained valuable gig experience as a leader and sideman. Thoams landed his first professional gig as a member of the Chuck Mangione Studio Orchestra. As co-founder of Ithaca based funk/jam band Nozmo King, Thomas and NK produced 2 CD's and toured from Seattle, Washington to Key West, Florida. After multiple tours with Boston/Ithaca based roots reggae band John Brown's Body, he settled in Boston.

Upon moving to Boston, Thomas studied with Jeff Galindo and Hal Crook. He started showing up to all the Boston jam sessions and soon landed a weekly gig hosting the “funk night”at the legendary Wally's Jazz Café, where he continued to work on his craft and play with the best musicains in Boston.

Thomas soon joined Hammond organ driven funk group, Akashic Record. Brian produced and wrote most of the material for Akashic Record's debut CD "New Days Ahead" and their 2nd release “Theosophy”. Akashic Record currently tours throughout New England and New York.

Brian was offered a TA position in the jazz department at the University of Massachuetts Amherst in the fall of 2008, under the direction of Jeff Holmes. At UMASS Amherst, Brian studied jazz composition with Jeff Holmes and trombone with Norman Bolter (retired BSO trombonist) while earning a masters degree in Jazz Composition.

Teaching has always been a big part of Brian's life. He landed an instrumental music position in the Franklin, MA public schools upon his arrival to Massachusetts. Brian left the full-time position and opted to teach privately. Brian accepted a position in the Fall of 2009 as the director of bands at Canton High School. Brian teaches band, jazz ensemble, music history, and music theory at Canton High School.