PHIL THOMAS (DRUMS)

In memory of a true friend and fellow musician

1930 - 2002

From Yoko:

悪いお知らせです。ジャズ・ミー・ブルースのドラマー、が８月23日に亡くなりました。７６歳でした。

ガンをやって、片肺と声帯がない状態のこの数年でしたがドラムはたたきつづけていました、２週間ほど前に衰弱して入院しましたが、

今までも、もうだめだろう、といわれながらも回復したことが何度もあったため、今回も嫁さんと一緒に大丈夫だろうと話していました。フロリダのツアーから

帰ってきて、この知らせを聞いて、信じられない気持ちです。

歩けない状態でもホットハウスにやってきて、ドラムをたたき続けてくれたフィル。トイレに行くのにも途中で何度も立ち止まって休ま

ないとだめだったのに、ドラムの前に座ると、すごい演奏をしました。音楽にかける心意気とか、生きていく上でのたくましさとか、やさしさとか、いろいろ教

えてくれたのがフィルでした。もう会えないというのが今でも信じられません。

フィルの分まで、頑張って生きようと思います。

-Yoko

Press release from HotHouse regarding

the passing of Phil Thomas.

Tribute to Phil Thomas on JazzReview.com

Phil Thomas cuts a dashing

figure perched astride his drummer's tool in his white cowboy

hat. The otherwise unobtrusive timekeep is as reliable as a

chronometric metronome, setting the pace for tunes like Cherry

and I Want a Little Girl with a sedate, yet solid heartbeat. On

Cherry his hands go one way while his head goes another in a

swinging side-to-side counterpoint to his exquisite,

bird-fluttering brush work.

Born

in Chicago, Phil is an alumnus of DuSable High (as are guitarist

George Freeman and fellow drummers Odie Payne and Gred Below --

all friends since their youth). While supporting his family at

various endeavors including working as a deputy sheriff and

police officer, he found time over the years to play with

Memphis Slim, Little Brother Montgomery, Muddy Waters, Zoot

Sims, Al Gray, Sonny Stitt, Wayne Bennett, and he spent more

than a decade as a member of the Johnny Young Trio.

Phil

has provided the beat behind the blues on the recordings of such

artists as Chuck Berry, Buddy Guy, J.T. Brown, Jody Williams,

JImmy Reed; and on the soul and jazz recordings of Jerry

Butler, Ramsey Lewis and others -- playing congas as well as the

full drum kit. Along with bandmates Sonny Seals and John Watson,

Phil was a member of "The Legends" of Fantasy Lounge

renown.

Highlights of

this career include working with Ike Cole and the Cole Brohters,

a barnstorming stint in the '50s with Preston Love's Northwest

Territory band, two amazing weeks at The Beaucoup Club on North

Broadway with Billie Holiday, and tours with Charles Brown and

Jimmy Reed. However of his 1998 tour of Japan with Clark and

Yoko he emphatically states, "That was the best road trip I

ever had."