An original blues. Also from the Blues For Trane CD (2010).

Blue Z

The title tune from my 2010 "BLUES FOR TRANE" CD. I feel it evokes some of the blues feeling and spiritual mood of some of Coltrane's work.

Blues For Trane

This is a new remix of the title tune from my 1989 CD "2B NAMED LATER" which will be re-released in Japan later this year. With the GREAT rhythm section of Steve Ferrone on drums and Darryl Jones on bass, currently with Tom Petty and the Rolling Stones respectively.

Tune 2B Named Later

This is from my 2010 CD "MANHATTAN SESSIONS PART 1" which was released on ESC Records in Europe. A couple of years ago, after returning from New York where I had attended the memorial service for my old friend and bandmate Michael Brecker, I sat down at the piano and came up with this tune, which I dedicate to his memory - he was truly a wonderful musician and person. I also wrote a little essay "Remembering Mike B." which you can find at www.barryfinnerty.com.


Mikey B

Also from "MANHATTAN SESSIONS PART 1"...This song has a story behind it. I wrote the music for it in the mid- 90's. I was trying to write something a little bit in the style of Clare Fischer, the pianist who is known for his VERY harmonically sophisticated Latin jazz compositions. But I never named it until 2001 when I got together with my (almost) wife Clarita. I decided to name it after her because she and the tune have a lot in common... they are both quite complicated and go through a lot of changes! I finally wrote the lyrics a few years ago... completing this musical portrait of a woman who, like the song, is quite a piece of work!


Clarita

Also from the "Blues For Trane" CD.."Knee-Bop" is an original of mine which is based on reversed rhythm changes in C. Instead of C-A7-D-G7, it goes C-Eb7-Ab-Db7. Then after three 2-5 changes in the bridge, I threw in some of Coltrane's "Giant Steps" changes for good measure! I was originally going to call this one "Neo-Bop" because of the rather new combinations of chord changes, but it turned out to be such a knee-slapper I decided to call it "Knee-Bop" instead!

Knee-Bop

Also from the "Manhattan Sessions Part 1" CD.
SIDE OF COOL - This one dates back to my days with the Crusaders in the early 80's. You might be able to detect a little bit of Joe Sample compositional influence here. Also maybe a tiny nod to one of my favorite guitarists: George Benson! Fine solos here from Randy Brecker and Dave Kikoski

Side Of Cool

Billiy Joel's wonderful song, accordion solo Featuring Julia Messenger!

Just The Way You Are

From the re-issue "Serious Business" by John D. Thomas on ESP-Disk label - ESP 5006. John D. Thomas - Executive Producer

John D. Thomas - Guitar, Guitar with the prototype "Nourney Infinite Sustain Pickup System"
Markus Becker - Electric Piano
Christoph Erbstösser - Synthesizer (For Me) only
Bert Thompson - Electric Bass on (For Me, and Hess Strasse) only
Claude Gouiffé - Electric Bass
Gerd Breuer - Drums
John D. Thomas - Composer
Recorded and mixed by John D. Thomas and Dieter Joswig

Album originally issued as "Serious Business" on Nabel Records in 1987. Produced by John D. Thomas, Dieter Joswig for Jojo Productions and Uwe Neeb, Peter Fassbender, and Irene Winkler for Music Area.


Serious Business

1 Boulder Brothers

FOR MILES - I wrote this in the winter of 1981 in my loft on West 30th Street in New York. I was feeling bad about the way things had gone with me and Miles earlier that year and I wanted to write something special for him that I thought might patch things up between us. Unfortunately he never got to play it ... or even heard it. The melody at bar 17 is a bit reminiscent of the bridge of "Milestones". Here Randy Brecker is in the role of Miles - complete with Harmon mute - and does a beautiful job.

Featuring: Randy Brecker, trumpet 
Victor Bailey, electric bass
Dave Kikoski, piano
Graham Hawthorne, drums,
Chuggy Carter, percussion


1 Boulder Brothers

John D Thomas