Oluyemi Thomas facts for kids

Oluyemi Thomas, born on August 16, 1952, is a talented musician known for playing free jazz music. He mainly plays the bass clarinet and saxophone.

Early Life and Musical Journey

Oluyemi Thomas was born in Detroit, Michigan. He started playing the clarinet when he was a child. His parents introduced him to the music of famous artists like Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Dizzy Gillespie, and Duke Ellington.

He studied engineering and music at Washtenaw College in Ann Arbor Township, Michigan. After college, he worked as an engineer for a while.

In 1974, Oluyemi moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. There, he worked for a construction company and became very involved in the local music scene. This is where he met Ijeoma Chinue Thomas, who would become his wife and musical partner. She was a poet visiting from Washington, D.C.

Oluyemi moved to Washington, D.C., to be with Ijeoma, and they soon got married. Later, they moved back to the west coast and settled in Oakland.

Positive Knowledge: A Musical Duo

Together, Oluyemi and Ijeoma formed a music group called Positive Knowledge. Their music was inspired by their Baháʼí Faith.

Over the years, Positive Knowledge released many albums. They also traveled around the world, performing their unique music. They worked with many different musicians, including Marshall Allen, Henry Grimes, Sunny Murray, and William Parker.

A writer for The New York Times, Ben Ratliff, once said that Positive Knowledge created "the best moments" at a concert in 2002. He described their music as a mix of free jazz and poetry. Oluyemi played amazing improvisations that sounded like bird songs, while Ijeoma spoke and repeated lines, going from a whisper to a shout. They worked together very closely, sharing their energetic music.

Oluyemi's Unique Sound

Oluyemi Thomas calls his music "adventurous jazz." He has said that the famous musician Eric Dolphy was a "great teacher" for him.

Even though Oluyemi plays both the bass clarinet and the saxophone, he loves the bass clarinet the most. He explained that it has a deep, "floor-of-the-ocean tone" that he really enjoys.

A music reviewer named Michael G. Nastos described Oluyemi's bass clarinet playing. He said that Oluyemi can play for a long time, creating many sounds. His music often builds up from very quiet to very loud and then back again.

Composing and Graphic Scores

Besides being a great improvisor, Oluyemi Thomas also composes music. He is known for his colorful graphic scores. These are like musical paintings that show how the music should be played.

According to Duane Deterville, who interviewed Oluyemi, these scores look like paintings by the artist Kandinsky. Oluyemi started experimenting with these unique ways of writing music in the 1970s. He mentioned that his background in engineering helped him create the look of his scores.

Music and Faith

Oluyemi Thomas believes that his music is a way to express his Baháʼí faith. In an interview, he shared that "music comes from the world of beyond." He feels that music helps to share a "collective reality." For him, performing music is like "having a conversation with God."

Discography

As Leader or Co-Leader

• Unity in Multiplicity (Rastascan, 1996)
• Transmissions (Eremite, 1999) with Alan Silva
• Before The Beginning (Recorded, 2002)
• Nigeria (Not Two, 2006)
• The Power of Light (Not Two, 2007) with Henry Grimes
• Beneath Tones Floor (NoBusiness, 2010) with Sirone and Michael Wimberly

With Positive Knowledge

• Another Day's Journey (Music & Arts, 1994)
• Invocation #9 (Music & Arts, 1995)
• At the Center of the Threshold (Ear Light, 2000)
• Live in New York (Edgetone, 2003)
• First Ones (Charles Lester, 2005)
• Invisible Wisdom (Charles Lester, 2006)
• Edgefest Edition (Not Two, 2010)
• Live in Detroit (self-released, 2018)

As Sideman

With Marco Eneidi

• Marco Eneidi & The American Jungle Orchestra (Botticelli, 1996)

With Henry Kaiser and Wadada Leo Smith

• Yo Miles! (Shanachie, 1998)

With Sunny Murray

• Perles Noires Vol. 2 (Eremite, 2005)

With Alan Silva

• H.Con.Res.57/Treasure Box (Eremite, 2003)

With Gino Robair

• Buddy Systems: Selected Duos and Trios (Meniscus, 1999)