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American jazz saxophonist, born 23 June 1950 in St. Louis; died 8 September 2009.

Luther Thomas was an alto saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist from St. Louis. He was known for his free jazz playing drawing also on funk. He was involved with the Black Artists Group starting in the 1960s, played in the Human Arts Ensemble with Charles Bobo Shaw in the 1970s, and led a group called Dizzazz in the early 1980's. He has also played saxophone for James Chance and the Contortions.

In recent years, two Thomas-led sessions from the early 1970s have surfaced on CD, as part of Atavistic Records' Unheard Music Series. The titles are Funky Donkey and Banana.

ALBUMS


Luther Thomas
In Denmark
2014, 2xCD, Album, ILK Music, ,
Free Jazz/Contemporary Jazz
Mikkel Mark Trio Featuring Luther Thomas
Mikkel Mark Trio Featuring Luther Thomas
2012, CDr, JaZt TAPES
Jeffrey Shurdut, Marc Edwards, Luther Thomas, Blaise Siwula, Ras Moshe, Nick Gianni, Ed Chang
Ayler Records Celebration
2008, 2xFile, MP3, Ayler Records, ,
Free Jazz/Free Improvisation
Luther Thomas & John Lindberg
Spirit Of St. Louis
2008, 7xFile, FLAC, Album, Ayler Records
Luther Thomas, Jeffrey Shurdut
Spiritual Machine
2007, CDr, Ltd, Nolabel (2)
Luther Thomas, Jeffrey Hayden Shurdut*, Ed Chang, Motoko Shimizu
Finally! Total Unity
2006, CDr, ,
Free Jazz
Luther Thomas, Jeffrey Shurdut, Nick Gianni, Mike Fortune
The Rap
2005, CDr, Ltd, Nolabel (2)
Luther Thomas, Jeffrey Shurdut, Daniel Carter, Blaise Siwula
Outcry
2004, CDr, Ltd, Nolabel (2), ,
Free Jazz/Free Improvisation
Luther Thomas & Human Arts Ensemble*
Banana (The Lost Session, St. Louis, 1973)
2001, CD, Album, Atavistic
Joseph Bowie - Luther Thomas, Saint Louis Creative Ensemble Featuring Charles Bobo Shaw
I Can't Figure Out (Whatcha Doin' To Me)
1979, LP, Album, Moers Music, Moers Music, ,
Free Jazz/Avant-garde Jazz
Luther Thomas
11th Street Fire Suite
1979
Luther Thomas & Rune Larsen
Busking In Christiania
14xFile, MP3, Ayler Records
Luther Thomas & Dizzazz
Yo' Momma
1981
Luther Thomas Creative Ensemble
Funky Donkey
1977
Luther Thomas Quartet
Leave It To Luther
2004, CD, Album, CIMP
Hugh Steinmetz Quartet
Janus Head
2003, CD, Album, CIM Records
Luther Thomas Quintet
Realities: Old & New
2000, CD, Album, CIMP
Luther Thomas Trio
Saxcrobatic Fanatic
1997, CD, Album, CIMP, ,
Free Jazz/Contemporary Jazz
Luther Thomas Quartet
BAGin' It
1996, CD, Album, CIMP
Luther Thomas Quintet
"Don't Tell"! (Rhythmelodic Music)
1993, CD, Album, Creative Consciousness Records,
Luther Thomas & Dizzazz
Six Months In Reform School / Nervous Breakdown
1981, 7", Moers Music
The Human Arts Ensemble
The Human Arts Ensemble Live Vol. I
1978, LP, Album, Circle Records (2)
The Human Arts Ensemble
Poem Of Gratitude
1973, LP, Album, Not On Label (The Human Arts Ensemble Self-released)

APPEARANCES +


Jeffrey Shurdut
Imaginary Control Systems
2011, CDr, Ltd, JaZt Tapes, ,
Free Jazz/Free Improvisation
On Ka'a Davis
Djoukoujou!
2009, CD, Album, Tzadik
The James Marshall Human Arts Ensemble*
Autonomous Oblast
2008
Meditations On Albert Ayler
Live At Glenn Miller Café
2007, 2xFile, MP3, Ayler Records
Luther Thomas Quartet
Finally! Total Unity In 3 Phases
2006, 3x File 231 Kbps, ,
Free Jazz/Abstract/Experimental/Free Improvisation
Billy Bang
Sweet Space/Untitled Gift
2004, CD, Album, RE + CD, Album, RE + Comp, Dig, 8th Harmonic Breakdown, ,
Free Jazz
James White & The Blacks
Off White
2004
James Chance
Irresistible Impulse
2003, 4xCD, Comp, Tiger Style, ,
Free Jazz/Noise/Punk/Disco
Various
CIMPosium - Volume 13
2003, CD, Comp, CIMP
Caroline Henderson
Don't Explain
2003, CD, ,
Contemporary Jazz
Defunkt
The Legend Continues
2001, 2xCD, Comp, Music Avenue, ,
Jazz-Funk/Funk
Luther Thomas & Dizzazz / Gangsta' Jazz*
Dial 911
2001, CD, Creative Consciousness Music
James Chance & The Contortions
Molotov Cocktail Lounge
1996, CD, Enemy Records, ,
Leftfield/Disco/Avant-garde Jazz
The Swingin' Neckbreakers
Live For Buzz
1993
Paranoise
Constant Fear
1988, Vinyl,
Defunkt
Avoid The Funk... A Defunkt Anthology
1988
James White
James White's Flaming Demonics
1983
James White And The Blacks*
Sax Maniac
1982
Defunkt
Razor's Edge / Stranglin' Me With Your Love
1981
Billy Bang Sextet Featuring Frank Lowe
Sweet Space
1979, LP, Album, Anima Productions, ,
Free Jazz
Charles Bobo Shaw / Human Arts Ensemble* Featuring Joseph Bowie
Junk Trap
1978
Luther Thomas Human Arts Ensemble* Directs The Saint Louis, Missouri Creative Ensemble*
Funky Donkey Vol. 1
1977, Vinyl, ,
Free Funk/Free Jazz/Jazz-Funk
Tequila
Tequila
CD, Album, Gramkracker Entertainment,
Caroline Henderson
Don't Explain
2003, CD, Album, Unofficial, Par Media Music