Tony Thomas

“I’m an afrobeat drummer but Pat Thomas is highlife. That is what he does so well.” Tony Allen Strut are proud to announce the brand new studio album by one of Ghana’s all-time great vocalists, “The Golden Voice Of Africa”, Pat Thomas, in conjunction with the Kwashibu Area Band led by multi-instrumentalist Kwame Yeboah (Cat Stevens, Patrice) and saxophonist Ben Abarbanel-Wolff (Ebo Taylor, Poets of Rhythm).

The trio pays homage to legendary pianist Paul Bley, drawing on both his tunes and improvisational approach. Bley's music encompassed latin-inspired grooves, deceptively simple and catchy melodies, as well as freer improvisations. His willingness to collaborate openly with European improvisers as well as being part of the American tradition was an attractive template to follow. Pat Thomas, Dominic Lash and Tony Orrell grew up in the UK with the children's tv series Play School and when searching for a name for this album could not resist the pun - the inspiring figure of Bley combined with the element of childlike experimentation.