Adam Robert Thomas is a JUNO Nominated performer based in Vancouver, Canada.
Music began for Adam in the home; barely an evening went by when the record player didn’t see vinyl. Top plays were John Denver and Gordon Lightfoot, but Chuck Mangione’s 1977 album ‘Feels So Good’ was the album that effectively brought the desire to play music.
He began formal music training at the age of eight on trumpet; he continued musical training throughout his school years in private lessons and in instrumental and choral ensembles. At the age of twelve he began electric bass lessons with his mentor Rick Stoen, and at eighteen acquired his first upright bass thanks to his grandfather.
Along the way, after the prompting of some friends and mentors, especially Kate Hammett-Vaughan, Adam began singing as a soloist. His bass playing carried him to the University of North Texas (UNT) for music school and then to New York to experience its unique energy and music scene.
During his time at UNT, he had the opportunity to brush shoulders, play music with and learn from such musical legends as John Abercrombie, Michael Brecker, Bob Brookmeyer, Kenny Wheeler, Louis Hayes, Eddie Gomez, Lynn Seaton, Ignacio Berroa, Ed Soph, and David Leibman many others.
In his professional career in Vancouver he has been given the opportunity to work with fantastic musicians from all over the world including Laila Biali, Jill Barber, Brad Turner, Bill Coon, Sharon Minemoto, Denzal Sinclair, David ‘Fathead’ Newman, Joey DeFrancesco, and many others. Adam has worked especially close and partnered for some amazing music with some of Vancouver’s finest musicians – Jillian Lebeck, Mike Allen (and the Mike Allen Quartet. Albums: Fearless [2004], Vancouver [2007], Faculty Jazz Collective [2012], A Hip Cosmos [2014], Panorama [2014], as well as partnering for Adam’s release For My Love [2010]) and Dan Brubeck.
Adam Thomas received JUNO Nominations in 2016 for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year for his work in The Dan Brubeck Quartet and for Children’s Album of the Year for his work with Ginalina.
In 2013, Adam began performing primarily as a solo artist singing and playing guitar. In 2015 he began developing his own band and writing in earnest, preparing for his debut album as leader performing his own compositions.
The 2018 self-titled album ‘Adam Robert Thomas’ has debuted at #11 on the R&B charts in the US and is available online at all major music websites.
contact: info@adamrobertthomas.com
