“If anyone doesn't remember that some of the major
new thing figures such as Eric Dolphy, Dewey Redman
and Pharoah Sanders were either Californians or spent considerable time there, Thomas' playing will prompt
you.”
- Ken Waxman, Jazz Weekly
"...one of those rare occasions where the mix of poetry
and jazz succeeds on so many levels; setting an
example for the genre."
- Steven Loewy, All Music Guide Oluyemi & Ijeoma Thomas of Positive Knowledge has recorded & performed together for the past two decades, composing and sharing their joyful Creative World Music Systems with lovers of music and poetry around the world.
Ijeoma Thomas - Wordsmith, spoken word artist, poet vocalist and teacher believes "all art is a gift of the Holy Spirit."
Composer, teacher & multi-reed musician (bass clarinet, saxophones) Oluyemi Thomas brings elements of life and work to the flow & he believes:
"The musician's art is among those arts worthy of the highest praise..."
As a great enhancement to their compositional approaches, Positive Knowledge continues to perform throughout the United States, Africa, Asia, Europe, South America, Israel, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands which has resulted in a rich multifaceted vocabulary to date.
They have recorded or performed with such artists as Cecil Taylor, Wadada Leo Smith, Roscoe Mitchell, Alan Silva, Peter Kowald, Henry Kaiser,William Parker, Miya Masaoka & Gino Robair, "Kidd" Edward Jordan. |
ARTISTS
Wilber Morris, bass
Michael Wimberly, drums
Ijeoma Thomas, spoken word, percussion
Oluyemi Thomas, bass clarinet, c-melody sax, flute, musette, perc. |