Willie Thomas started playing the horn in Orlando, Florida when he was ten years old. His professional career includes 45 years performing with jazz legends such as the Woody Herman Orchestra and the Al Belletto Sextet. He also performed with the Slide Hampton Octet featuring Freddie Hubbard, George Coleman, and the MJT 3 with Bob Cranshaw and Frank Strozier. Peggy Lee is another example. Apart from his international performances, residencies educational clinics and jazz research work, Willie was also active in the International Association of Jazz Educators. In 1994, he was inducted into IAJE Hall of Fame. Alfred Music still publishes his “Jazz Anyone” class series. Willie lives now on a small island off the Pacific Northwest. He still plays the horn every day, even though he is 86 years old. He enjoyed getting back in the action with Jazz Everyone. Once a teacher, always a teacher! His online lessons series will help you learn and play his unique jazz language system. For the Jazz Everyone language system’s core, you should start at Lesson 8 in Intermediate Corner. Willie will introduce the Pentatonic Pairs. Visit www.jazzeveryone.com
