Reggie Thomas holds a BA degree in Music Education from Western Illinois University and the MM from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. At SIUE he teaches jazz education, jazz history, jazz theory, and improvisation. In addition, he directs combos, and the SIUE Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Thomas has been on the summer faculty of the Birch Creek Music Center in Egg Harbor, WI, the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and has taught other jazz camps in Illinois and Texas. He is also active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the midwest. He has also directed the 1994 IMEA District VI Jazz Choir, the 1995 MMEA District VIII Jazz Band, and the 1996 IMEA All-State Honors Jazz Combo.

Reggie has performed with several nationally known artists including Karrin Allyson, Bobby Broom, Eddie Daniels, Al Grey, Slide Hamptom, Eddie Harris, Jimmy Heath, Oliver Lake, David "Fathead" Newman, Nicholas Payton, Clark Terry, Quartet Tres Bien and Steve Turre. He was also featured with saxophonist Hal Singer at the "St. Louis Jazz '96" festival in Senegal, West Africa. His compact disc recording credits include Ivories on the Avenue, Ahmaad Alaadeen's Blues for RC, and Time Through the Ages, Jay Hungeford's Keys to the City, and Clay Jenkins' Yellow Flowers After.

 

URL: http://www.siue.edu/MUSIC/thomasBio.html
Published by: SIUE Dept. of Music
Last update: 02/01/04 by dcoan@siue.edu