THE THAD WILSON JAZZ ORCHESTRA

About the Artist

A person need not dig too deep into Washington’s jazz scene before coming across the name Thad Wilson. Since coming to the area in 1997, Wilson has become a mainstay in the jazz clubs of U Street and beyond by consistently performing with passion, intensity, and consummate artistry in a variety of settings. In addition to his own considerable abilities, his groups feature some of the finest players in the entire D.C. area.

A native of Fort Dix, New Jersey and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, Thad Wilson began playing the trumpet at age 12.  He went on to receive performance awards throughout high school and eventually majored in Music Education at New Jersey City University. There, he studied with Jimmy Owens, an alumnus of Dizzy Gillespie’s Big Band. His playing is influenced by many of the greatest jazz artists, including Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, and Freddie Hubbard.  After living and performing in New York City, Thad eventually moved to Washington DC., where he founded the Thad Wilson Jazz Orchestra. The orchestra has been performing consistently since 1998 and, since then, Thad has toured Port of Spain, Trinidad; Mexico City D.F., Mexico; St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia; Guatemala City, Guatemala; El Salvador; London and Manchester, England; Paris, France; Brussels, Belgium; and extensively throughout other parts of Europe. Thad Wilson has performed alongside artists such as James Moody, Buck Hill, Billy Taylor, Illinois Jacquet, Steve Turre, Eddie Henderson, Roy Hargrove, Cecil Bridgewater, Vanessa Rubin, Andrew White, and many others. The Jazz orchestra's recordings include: "Movin' On" (The Thad Wilson Jazz Orchestra) and “A work in Progress." His latest project involves performing a live soundtrack to Louis Malle's classic film Ascenseur pour l'échafaud, or "Elevator to the Gallows,” whose original soundtrack was scored by Miles Davis.  Thad has also recently completed a successful US tour of the musical Ella, in which he played the role of Donnie, which includes a Louis Armstrong impression.  In 2008, Thad was a finalist for the Mayor’s Arts Award and he currently performs and teaches jazz performance at George Washington University. The Thad Wilson Jazz orchestra performs every Monday night at the Bohemian Caverns and Thursday nights at Jojo’s, two DC venues that have become friends of the Washington jazz scene.  Whether it is with his chordless trio, his big band, or as a sideman, Thad Wilson is a local talent that any D.C. jazz fan should hear.

Past Performances

June 13, 2009

Composing and arranging for more than 20 years and playing the trumpet for 30, Thad Wilson blends progressive elements such as blues, funk, gospel, and hip hop into music played by his 16-piece big band. Part of the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival’s New Orleans on the Potomac

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