Alma Thomas

Alma Thomas, a New York native, has spent the past three years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil immersed in the language, culture, and rich musical atmosphere that many jazz musicians have found themselves inspired. Within months of her arrival, and at a mere 21 years old, Alma had her phonographic debut on the compilation album “GNT New Jazz” alongside celebrated musicians Norah Jones and John Pizzarelli.

Alma Thomas, a New York native, has spent the past three years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil immersed in the language, culture, and rich musical atmosphere that many jazz musicians have found themselves inspired. Within months of her arrival, and at a mere 21 years old, Alma had her phonographic debut on the compilation album “GNT New Jazz” alongside celebrated musicians Norah Jones and John Pizzarelli. Her speedy trajectory continued as she was not much later chosen to be apart of Mistura Fina’s “American Airlines Jazz Festival” headlining with other names such as Dave Holland, Kurt Elling, and Trio da Paz. Much of Alma’s positive exposure was impart to her frequent presentations with the big band UFRJazz including the 60th anniversary concert for Gilson Piranzetta at Sala Cecilia Meirelles where she sang along side him (on piano and accordion) “Love Dance” a partnership of Gilsons with Ivan Lins.

Alma Thomas’s second album “Live Sessions One” brings back the spontaneity of live recordings from back in the day. Paired up with partner Pedro Milman, co-author, arranger, and producer. The band “Alma Thomas Sextet” is a departure from their first release “Sub.entendido-implied” released in Japan to rave reviews, often comparing Alma and Pedro’s writing partnership to famed duo Diana Krall and Elvis Costello among others. This first release, recorded completely in a home studio, counted on the talents of many of Rio’s most generously talented musicians, and welcomed the challenge of a homemade CD bearing the expertise of industry standard sound quality.

However “Live Sessions One” was recorded live in the countryside of Rio. Now with new original compositions by Alma and Pedro, and a lyrical partnership in Portuguese by Alma and famed Brazilian lyricist Bernardo Vilhena, “Live Sessions One” is now available on the independent label Make a Sandwich Records. Biografia em português: Alma Thomas, a New York native, has spent the past three years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil immersed in the language, culture, and rich musical atmosphere that many jazz musicians have found themselves inspired. Within months of her arrival, and at a mere 21 years old, Alma had her phonographic debut on the compilation album “GNT New Jazz” alongside celebrated musicians Norah Jones and John Pizzarelli. Her speedy trajectory continued as she was not much later chosen to be apart of Mistura Fina’s “American Airlines Jazz Festival” headlining with other names such as Dave Holland, Kurt Elling, and Trio da Paz.

Much of Alma’s positive exposure was impart to her frequent presentations with the big band UFRJazz including the 60th anniversary concert for Gilson Piranzetta at Sala Cecilia Meirelles where she sang along side him (on piano and accordion) “Love Dance” a partnership of Gilsons with Ivan Lins. Alma Thomas’s second album “Live Sessions One” brings back the spontaneity of live recordings from back in the day. Paired up with partner Pedro Milman, co-author, arranger, and producer. The band “Alma Thomas Sextet” is a departure from their first release “Sub.entendido-implied” released in Japan to rave reviews, often comparing Alma and Pedro’s writing partnership to famed duo Diana Krall and Elvis Costello among others.

This first release, recorded completely in a home studio, counted on the talents of many of Rio’s most generously talented musicians, and welcomed the challenge of a homemade CD bearing the expertise of industry standard sound quality. However “Live Sessions One” was recorded live in the countryside of Rio. Now with new original compositions by Alma and Pedro, and a lyrical partnership in Portuguese by Alma and famed Brazilian lyricist Bernardo Vilhena, “Live Sessions One” is now available on the independent label Make a Sandwich Records. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL..