An interview with Luther Thomas by David Ossman

David Ossman: Interviewer
At the Bride, a syndicated radio Broadcast recorded live at the Painted Bride, Philadelphia, PA; "Luther Thomas"music distinguishes itself for its angualarity. His music often reaches unbelivable peaks and whithin split seconds, moves into a calmer territory."

Luther Thomas: Saxophonist
"My concept is to initiatate an almost complete freedom for the musicians to work with freedom even in melody to express the notes and sounds they may feel during those moments, and to proceed onte directions spontaneously and with the form. My music is composed rhythmically, I usually call it Rytjmelodic because my melodies are basically rhythm patterns (because of my unnoted harmonic values the compositions tend to have a 12-tone affect/effect on the listener). The forms are usually traditional: Standards; 12, 16, 32 bar blues, and various rhythm changes and ballads".

David Ossman:
"Before moving to N.Y. from St. Louis, Missouri, Thomas worked with the Black Artists Group. B.A.G became famous in the In the early ´70´s as a collective of jazz Musicians who gathered to explore new forms And approaches to the music"

Luther Thomas:
"In St. Louis everybody seemed involved with music, dance, theatre, or some other art, there was a real cohesiveness there. St. Louis artist (avant garde musicians and actors) hung out together. There was always a big space, hall o empty building; even large homes where we could play and produce, every day. I remember in St.Louis we would all come together And just play and play...

Art, expressive as it is, must express everything. My expressions are shades of colours; emotions Of darkness, light, happiness, horror and satisfaction. The music is complete. Sometimes I can put myself In an emotional vibe. Say I want to feel something that Someone else may be feeling, eben though I´ve never experienced it. For instance, I want to feel how a cancer patient may be feeling while close to death or how the person losing the close one may be feeling. Once I´m in the vibe I begin to command myself to express what I´m imagining and vibing on. Suddenly I see/hear, music, melodies, lines of material that portray the emotion. I then begin plotting and sketching out that scenario and tagging it, usually giving it, (the composition) a name relative to the theme. That´s one rythmelodic formula; ( that rhythm, sound and emotion). You can use emotion to get insiration."