Colossal Sax Man Emerges from Shadows
with a New CD
By Chris Manson December 5, 2002 Issue

Michael J. Thomas’ new CD Shadows of Love may surprise a lot of people who only know him from his fantastic saxophone work with local favorites, DC Horns. In addition to writing and producing the album’s 15 songs, Thomas also contributed drum and bass programming as well as vocals on Lay Back, Falling in Love and the title track.

“The songs that are just vocals, I wouldn’t put on the CD if it were released on a major label,” Thomas said. “I did them because I’m an independent artist and I like them. Someone said I sounded like a cross between George Michael and Michael Jackson on Lay Back. I hope they were kidding. I don’t claim to be a singer. Someone else was supposed to sing, but they kept putting me off…so I just did it myself.”

Shadows of Love is Thomas’ third CD, following 1999’s The Way I Feel--a collection of smooth jazz music that sold very well at “Seabreeze” festivals—and 2001’s similarly styled Michael J. Thomas. Thomas’ dramatic alto and soprano saxophone melodies are augmented by some well-known local musicians—Jones & Co.’s bassist Denny Jones and drummer Brent Purcell, guitarist Josh Blackburn from the Hog’s Breath Band and Thomas’ DC Horns pals Bobby Lanz (keyboards) and Alan Perkins (trumpet).

“They’re all top notch musicians,” Thomas said. “It’s my original stuff, but they all brought their own style. I let them do what they wanted to do, I’m not too picky. Denny and Brent are used to playing together, so they have that nice groove going.”

The new CD kicks off with Thomas’ personal favorite, Lay Back, which is “geared toward the soul and rhythm and blues I like to listen to.” Other tracks include Change of Heart, Do You Remember and Yo! Mr. Saxman, which incorporates voice samples from “Grandma” Audrey Thomas.

“Some of the songs I’ve had for a long time, some are remakes of songs on the previous CDs with live instruments,” Thomas said. “A couple I wrote specifically as I was working on them. I always have a different approach to songwriting. Sometimes I’ll get the melody first, sometimes I’ll play around on the keyboard and find chords and write a melody around it.”

The Elizabethtown, Kentucky native has called Destin home since 1999. “Bobby Lanz’ mother lived here and he told me about the area. I came here for a two-week vacation and never went home,” Thomas said.

Thomas began playing saxophone at age 13. “When I signed up for band in middle school, I originally wanted to play drums. Then I found out you don’t actually get a drum set, so I tried saxophone. I didn’t start taking it seriously until between my sophomore and junior year. I sat down for a whole summer and taught myself how to play by ear listening to other artists from the moment I got up until I went to bed,” Thomas said.

“Sax wise, I like David Sanborn, Dave Koz and Warren Hill,” Thomas said of his musical heroes. He counts Brian McKnight, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder among his favorite singers. “I like to listen to Jeff Buckley, too,” he added. Buckley is the late vocalist best known for his 1994 album Grace.

Thomas indicated that Shadows of Love can be purchased from his web site, www.michaeljthomasmusic.com and at local music stores. The web site is just another example of this performer’s numerous talents—Thomas designed it himself, even though he admits “I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m doing it anyway.”

“I’ve sent the CD out to a lot of Internet radio stations. It’s a hard thing nowadays, for independent artists to get airplay,” Thomas said. Worrying about airplay was just one challenge Thomas faced as he recorded his latest collection. The entire album was self-financed—“it’s tax deductible, thank God”—and recorded mostly in Thomas’ home studio using the “Cakewalk” program. “I’ve got an external unit that hooks up to the computer and bypasses all the computer noise,” he said.

“There’s so much stuff out there now, it’s amazing. There’s a new program coming out where you can make music sound like analog or scratchy old 45s.”

Thomas has come up with a crisp and punchy sound in a collection that shows off his many attributes as a composer and performer. His good friend Bobby Lanz calls it “his best album yet. It’s great, very well put together.” Lanz’ keyboard skills are all over Shadows of Love, and Thomas has returned the favor by laying down some killer sax tracks on Lanz’ recent Frank Sinatra tribute, CD Sinatra My Way. (Top)

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