Jazz legend Willie Thomas is 81 years old, but he said that doesn’t stop him from learning daily.
Thomas networks and teaches students using Skype and his website and plays for his own amusement and amazement at least an hour each day.
“I consider myself still evolving and developing as a player,” Thomas said.
And after a two-year break from performing on the island, the trumpet master be back on stage in “Tribute To The Masters” at Orcas Center, Sunday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
“It’s sort of a living tribute to my mentors and role models,” said Thomas, whose professional career spans 45 years of performing with such jazz greats as the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Al Belletto Sextet, the Slide Hampton Octet with Freddie Hubbard and George Coleman, singer Peggy Lee and many more. He is affectionately known as “Uncle Willie” to many of his colleagues and fans.
He will be joined by vocalist Gail Pettis, multi-instrumentalist Jay Thomas, pianist John Hansen, bassist Jon Hamar and drummer Tony Morales. Special guest artists are Martin Lund, Steve Alboucq and Willie’s young jazz violinists, “Take 3” – Christian Bailey, Paris Wilson and Matthew Laslo-White.
While talking about the upcoming show, Thomas expresses not only love for jazz, but muses on the creation of music itself and the life lessons it teaches.
“Tribute To The Masters” presents the music of Thomas’ generation, a time that is losing its eyewitnesses on a daily and weekly basis, he said. But even though the people of that era may be gone, the music lives on, evolving just like Thomas has over the ages.
“Everything changes, change is good, it’s what life is all about, and the changes have been not so great as one might think,” he said.
The heart of rock and roll and pop music is based on the foundation built by the masters like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk.
“Music builds on itself,” Thomas said. “Just like the roots of our music probably builds from the classical European form.”
And even if you are not a jazz buff, Thomas said anyone can appreciate the interaction between the players and improvisation, which will be thrilling.
“There is a tremendous amount of spontaneity and perfection that people will hear. Spontaneity is one of the most essential things in jazz and the level of proficiency in the kids improvising is great – they are really taking care of business,” Thomas said. “There is energy and happiness with things that happen spur of the moment, which is like life, it’s not canned.”
But there are still some aspects of life that are so amazing they don’t need to change. Thomas still spends most nights with a cup of tea and a Charlie Parker album.
Tickets are available at Darvills’ Bookstore and online at brownpapertickets.com. All net proceeds will benefit The Funhouse-Commons.
