| Jazz |
Another Big Band, you say? Not quite.
Because this one has a story one that commands attention even before you glance at the impressive and remarkably curated list of guest artists who joined the project.
The story begins like this: (New York, NY – October 25, 2024) When the late jazz impresario and trailblazer Meghan Stabile launched the Revivalist platform and the Revive Da Live concert series in New York, her mission was clear: bridge the gap between the hip-hop generation and jazz traditionalists. It was from this bold vision that, in 2010, the Revive Big Band was born an ensemble of more than twenty musicians, brought together under the direction of trumpeter, composer, and artistic visionary Igmar Thomas.
Since its inception, the Revive Big Band has stood at the crossroads of heritage and experimentation an intergenerational collective pushing the boundaries of jazz while honoring its roots.
You may not yet be familiar with Igmar Thomas. So, here’s a short introduction: Trumpeter, composer, arranger, and conductor, Igmar Thomas is one of the most sought-after minds in contemporary music. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he’s known for his mastery of swing, his fearless genre-blending, and his role as a musical director and collaborator for a dazzling array of artists Esperanza Spalding, Kamasi Washington, DJ D-Nice’s legendary Club Quarantine, to name just a few.
The result? An album that is far more than the sum of its parts. It doesn’t merely sound like a big band recording it feels like a work of post-contemporary 21st-century jazz, constantly shape-shifting, fusing genres, reinventing form. Jazz-rock, funk, hip-hop, and soul all flow through its veins, reimagined through the prism of a modern jazz master. When it comes to arrangements, Igmar Thomas doesn’t just lead the band he elevates it.
Still not convinced? Here’s more on Thomas: A defiant iconoclast, Igmar Thomas refuses to be confined by rigid traditions. He champions unity and the continuous evolution of Black music, connecting generations with a rare kind of elegance. His sharp compositional voice and improvisational prowess have led him to craft arrangements for the likes of Queen Latifah, Demi Lovato, Nick & Joe Jonas, Jill Scott, Robert Glasper, Terence Blanchard, Muni Long, Big Daddy Kane, Bilal, Gregory Porter, Faith Evans, Savion Glover, Ravi Coltrane, Jadakiss, Talib Kweli, Ashanti, Too $hort, KEM, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and many others.
He has performed or recorded alongside LL Cool J, John Legend, Lil Wayne, Common, J. Cole, Shawn Mendes, The Roots, Patti LaBelle, Yasiin Bey (Mos Def), Terrance Howard, Roy Hargrove Big Band, Wallace Roney, Swizz Beatz, Raekwon (Wu-Tang Clan), Tedeschi Trucks Band, Terri Lyne Carrington, and more.
Reflecting on this new release, Igmar Thomas says: “My hope is that this album serves as a bridge, allowing this generation to discover other genres through the lens of the big band. I also want this album to show that all Black music stems from a single root… This is dedicated to the life and legacy of our dear friend Meghan.”
Bridge? Perhaps. But this album is something else entirely—it picks up where Miles Davis left off with Doo-Bop, then writes the next chapter of modern jazz on a blank canvas that’s quickly filling with color, urgency, and soul.
Igmar Thomas is an artist to watch!
A trumpeter who doesn’t just play the notes, but defines the moment.
And with this album, he lays down a blueprint—an open invitation for any artist bold enough to follow.
Thierry De Clemensat
Member at Jazz Journalists Association
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor for All About Jazz
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, April 15th 2025
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The Revive Big Band performs Wayne Shorter’s “Speak No Evil” as part of The Checkout: Live at Berklee.
Titles: R&, LEVELS , SPEAK NO EVIL, WORDS I MANIFEST , ONE OF A KIND, THE COMING, INFANT EYES , THELONIOUS I, THELONIUS II, LONIUS , FORTRESS OF HOPE, ANGST , TO KINDA LOUNGE AROUND , RUNNIN’ OUTA TIME
Featured Guest:
Bilal
Talib Kweli
Terrace Martin
Jean Baylor
Nicholas Payton
Cory Henry
Dr. Lonnie Smith
Raydar Ellis
Sean Jones
Marc Cary
Marcus Strickland
Gregoire Maret
Myron Walden
Ben Williams
Mark Whitfield
Band Personnel:
Saxes:
Andrew Gould
Brent Birckhead
Brian Landrus
Myron Walden
Anthony Ware
Marcus Strickland
Trombone:
Marshall Gilkes
Frank Lacy
Alan Ferber
Jimmy O’Connell
Matt McDonald
Jerrick Matthews
James Rogers
Trumpets:
Igmar Thomas
Marquis Hill
Theo Croker
Jumaane Smith
Philip Dizack
Ryan Resky
Jonathan Powell
Shareef Clayton
James Cage
Rhythm:
John Davis – Drums
Ben Williams – Bass
Burniss Earl Travis ll – Bass
Mark Whitfield – Guitar
James Francies – Piano
Marc Cary – Piano