Rob Thomas is a highly regarded jazz multi-instrumentalist, fluent on violin, cello and bass. JazzTimescalls him “a violinist of exceptional creative resources… riveting as a solo voice with a rich complex tone that can sing. In the mid ’90’s he toured and recorded extensively with ’downtown’ mainstays, The Jazz Passengers, who often featured guest vocalists Deborah Harry and Elvis Costello. He is a veteran of Gregg Bendian’sMahavishnu Project, and can be heard on two critically acclaimed recordings by that adventurous repertory ensemble.
Since 2001, Thomas has held the violin chair in the String Trio of New York, being the fifth in a series of notable violinists to join guitarist James Emery and bassist John Lindberg in this illustrious group, whose presence on the scene spans nearly four decades. Four outstanding recordings by the trio have been issued in the “Thomas era”. Rob has also contributed to recordings by Lee Konitz, Andy Summers and Mark Ribot. He records and performs regularly with The Chris Parker Band, Gypsy Jazz Caravan, Chuck Owen’s ‘Jazz Surge’ big band, and Annette Aguilar. He has also worked with John Handy’s ‘Monterey’ Quintet, Max Roach, Jan Hammer, Bobby Previte, Claude Williams, The Soldier String Quartet, Akua Dixon’s Quartette Indigo, and Ada RovattiBrecker’s ‘Green Factor’.
Thomas has taught in the Northwest at Reed and Marylhurst Colleges, and at Cornish College of the Arts. He is currently a Professor at Berklee College of Music (Boston) and an adjunct instructor at the New School in NYC.