David Thomas is a multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, composer, and educator from Rochester Hills, Michigan who performs mainly in the Metro-Detroit area. He sings and plays a wide variety of instruments which includes the piano, Rhodes electric piano, organ, trumpet, piccolo, flute, melodica, and glockenspiel. David’s musical foundation began as an infant because his mother continually filled their home with music from a wide variety of artists and genres, many of which she took him to see in concert. Eager to learn how to play the piano, he began taking formal lessons at the age of 7. For 6th grade band class, he was “fit” with the trumpet and hasn’t put it down since.
Turning down scholarships from other universities, he was hopeful to study with the legendary Rodney Whitaker at Michigan State University and was delighted when he was accepted into their Jazz Studies Program. It was there that David formed his first jazz groups, DTQ (David Thomas Quartet) and The Funtet. He graduated from MSU with his Elementary Education Degree and his Minor in Music. With a desire to learn other instruments, he taught himself to play the piccolo and the flute. While the piccolo can be an uncommon instrument to hear in a jazz group, David has found a way to incorporate its sound into his jazz renderings.
Currently, David entertains his audiences with his variety of instruments and vocals while performing solo, with his own jazz group, DAVID THOMAS & CO., and with other stellar musicians such as RJ Spangler, James O’Donnell, Sheila Landis and Rick Matle. He has a deep passion and love for jazz history and is a bit of a jazz nut, always hungry to learn more.