Bryan Thomas is a full-time professional musician based in the fertile music community of Northeast Ohio. He comes from a background of classical and jazz bass traditions and has sought out musical interactions in as many cultures as possible. Expanding into the worlds of dance, pop, folk, and Caribbean ensembles, Bryan's favorite music is any that is conversational, with both musicians and audiences involved. In addition to being a sought-after sideman for decades, Bryan has been expanding his roles as an arranger, music director, composer and recording artist.

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Bryan's many first-hand experiences and lessons with giants of the double bass, notably soloists Gary Karr, François Rabbath, Cleveland Orchestra bassists Anthony Knight, Scott Haigh, and Mark Atherton, jazz legend Ray Brown, and great Cuban bassist, Carlos del Puerto, shape his approach to the instrument. After earning his BM in Music Performance at Kent State University, he spent many years as a road musician, touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, as a staff musician on Norwegian Cruise Lines, and as a freelance copyist and musician in Germany. Since 1996 Bryan has been based in Northeast Ohio as a freelance musician, teacher, and recording artist. Check out his recent recordings with the dynamic

 

Americana/Folk/Rock group Hey Mavis, singer and producer Helen Welch, and with wife and hammered dulcimer artist Tina Bergmann. Since 2000 Bryan has been an adjunct professor of double bass at Kent State University as well as maintaining a private studio for students from as young as five to current professionals. Other current teaching positions include the Aurora School of Music (since 2006) and the Tri- JazzFest Academy (since 2022). He was the music director for the Unity Chapel of Light in Tallmadge, OH from 2019 to 2021 and a member of their music team since 2000.