East West Double Trio

East meets west when multi-instrumentalist Jay Thomas leads this group of all-star players from Tokyo and Seattle.

The East/West Jazz Alliance aka the East West Double Trio is a group of musicians bent on creating fresh new jazz for the 21st century and a fresh connection between Japan and the U.S. Jazz is the common point of reference that takes on a spiritual dimension when the members of this group work in tandem with the goal of creating spontaneous music of the moment. The ability to communicate using the universal language of jazz far outstrips any inability to converse in Japanese or English.

A native of Seattle, Jay Thomas is a versatile multi-instrumentalist (trumpet, flugelhorn, alto, tenor, soprano and flutes), improviser, and bandleader. Twice voted by readers of Earshot Magazine as Musician of the Year (1996 and 1998) Thomas was also chosen as one of the top 10 brass players by Jazziz magazine. Thomas can be heard on over sixty recordings including Blues For JW his eighth CD release as a bandleader. Thomas has also recorded as a bandleader and sideman with Cedar Walton, Billy Higgins, Jessica Williams, the James Knapp Orchestra, Pete Christlieb, Becca Duran, Bud Shank, Ray Brown, and Elvin Jones. Thomas has toured or appeared in concert with Mel Lewis, Clayton-Hamilton, Maria Schneider, Bill Holman, Herb Ellis, Jake Hanna, Mel Ryne, Becca Duran, John Stowell, Slim Gaillard, Bob Florence, Frank Wess, Buddy Tate, George Cables, Charles McPherson, Bill Mays, Ralph Penland, Harold Land, and Diane Schuur. Over the past decade Thomas has frequently toured Japan and represented Seattle as a jazz exchange artist with a variety of ensembles. He also has been both a regular member and featured soloist with one of Japan’s leading big bands.

Tenor player Yasuhiro Kohama is the spiritual force behind the East West Double Trio and is a natural leader and magnetic personality. His tenor sound is full and gutsy with lots of surprises for the listener. Kohama has a missionary zeal when it comes to making jazz converts. Kohama has created a whole community of support in Japan for his various music projects including his big band CUG. Kohama was in the Village Vanguard one night watching the Mel Lewis Orchestra when he had a life changing experience. At that moment he realized his life’s work was jazz music and getting people to perform together.

If tenor saxophonist Kohama is the conscience of the band, then alto saxophonist Atsushi Ikeda is a large part of the creative drive. At the last IAJE convention held in New York, Ikeda, then a member of Makoto Ozone’s big band, stepped up to the microphone and proceeded to blow everyone away. Atsushi is an integral part of East West Jazz Alliance. A prolific writer he contributes a major portion of the material, and a unique and prodigious alto saxophonist. There is a deep gentleness and calmness to Atsushi, but when playing jazz he can also “set it on fire!”

Drummer Daisuke Kurata is a modern hard-swinging drummer with ears open to all the modern players. He frequently performs with Japan’s top players as well as in and around Manhattan. He has a strong pulse and a somewhat aggressive style that provides the backbone for this ensemble.

Bassist Phil Sparks has been the recipient of several Earshot “Artist of the Year” awards. His impeccable sense of time and the beautiful woody sound he produces on his 17th century bass, make him a first-call bassist in the Pacific Northwest. Phil also happens to be half-Japanese on his mothers’ side. Phil can improvise like a demon and his reading and intonation is spot on, attributes that keep him in demand and at the vanguard of a lot of fine bass players currently residing in Seattle.

Pianist John Hansen has a gift for melody and accompaniment that makes him unique suited to this group. As critic Christopher DeLaurenti has written, "John Hansen is of that rarest of breeds: an attentive, discreetly inventive accompanist."