Steve Thomas: Buy

Eight of my original jazz songs, plus new takes on one each by Wayne Shorter and John Carisi, big influences for me. Maybe all we really are is spirit, the spark that draws people to us, the trail we leave behind. The songs on SPIRITS PASSING THROUGH were prompted by the spirits of friends, my father, Uncle Chuck Fisher, and a mysterious Mona Lisa grin . . . all breathed into life, spirit into material form, by the fabulous Co-Conspirators: John, Rich, and Gary.

Steve Thomas: vocals, songs, arrangements; John Funkhouser: bass; Rich Greenblatt: vibraphone; Gary Fieldman: drums.

My first CD - vocal/piano duets with pianist Ben Schwendener on six of my original jazz songs. The songs are mine, but maybe they show traces of some of my heroes - Caetano Veloso of Bahia, Thelonious Monk of New York City, Tom Jobim of Rio de Janeiro, Steve Lacy of Paris, Johnny Carisi of "Israel." Besides being my long-time teacher, Ben's also a good friend, and it shows on this album. We recorded these performances live in his studio, and they feel like conversations between two pals on the same wave length.

Steve Thomas: vocals, songs, arrangements. Ben Schwendener: piano, engineering/mixing, support, coffee.