David Thomas is a multi-instrumentalist, with his
primary instruments being the piano and the trumpet.
He is from Rochester Hills, Michigan. He began
taking piano lessons with Mrs. Christine Gahman when
he was 7 years old and finished his high school
piano training with Mrs. Shawn Panek. His trumpet
career began in the 6th grade. His band teacher, Mr.
Bill Walters, “fit” him with the trumpet, and he
hasn’t put it down since.
A highlight in David’s musical career was when at
the age of 17, he was called on stage to play with
Wallace Roney, a world-renowned, Grammy-award
winning trumpet player mentored by Miles Davis.
David says it was a thrill of a lifetime and a
privilege to play on the same stage as Wallace
Roney, as well as Ralphe Armstrong, who played bass.
David was in the jazz studies program at Michigan
State University. He studied with Etienne Charles,
Rodney Whitaker, Randy Gelispie, Wessell Anderson,
Diego Rivera, and Rick Roe. He played in the MSU
Jazz Orchestras and Octets and led an MSU Jazz
Combo.
David was the leader of DTQ (David Thomas Quartet)
and the Funtet while at MSU. He and his groups
performed around the East Lansing area playing
primarily original jazz compositions written by
David, as well as standards from The Great American
Songbook. The members have included Taylor Herron on
alto saxophone and flute, Alex Krausman on piano,
Sam Copperman on bass, Jordan Otto on drums, Griffin
Vacheron on trombone, and the late Nate Woodring on
drums, who is sorely missed.
While at MSU, David also played trumpet with the
Bard Owls, an Appalachian folk group based in East
Lansing. He is the featured artist on the song,
“Blue Rail Line,” off of their album, “No Tracks.”
David is also a certified teacher in grades K – 8.
He graduated from Michigan State University with his
Elementary Education degree and a minor in music.
David currently leads his jazz trio, David Thomas
& Co., in which he plays piano, Rhodes electric
piano, trumpet, melodica, piccolo, and flute. He
plays with Planet D Nonet, run by drummer, RJ
Spangler, and trumpeter, James O’Donnell. David
plays solo piano at the Rochester Chop House and
Kabin Kruser’s Oyster Bar in Rochester, Michigan.
Currently in his second year, he is the piano
accompanist for the Rochester Community Schools
Elementary District Choir and has arranged jazz
tunes for the children’s choir to perform at their
concerts throughout the school year. David can be
found playing either solo or with his jazz duo or
trio at restaurants, clubs, wedding ceremonies and
receptions, fundraisers, churches, private events,
and other various functions. Other than
aforementioned, David also plays with several other
bands and artists in the Detroit area.
Title: Return of the Prodigal Son
Composer: Harold Ousley
Performed by:
David Thomas (Piano)
Sam Copperman (Bass)
Jordan Otto (Drums)
Title: Sweet Georgia Brown
Composer: Ben Bernie, Maceo Pinkard, Kenneth Casey
Performed by:
David Thomas (Piano)
Sam Copperman (Bass)
Jordan Otto (Drums)
Title: Lulu's Back in Town
Composer: Al Dubin, Harry Warren
Performed by:
David Thomas (Piano)
Sam Copperman (Bass)
Jordan Otto (Drums)
Title: Makin' Whoopee
Composer: Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn
Performed by:
David Thomas (Piano)
Sam Copperman (Bass)
Jordan Otto (Drums)