Brianna Thomas
August 12, 2017 • 2:00PM to 4:00PM
Her father, Charlie Thomas, influenced her sound and love for jazz music. At the age of six, Thomas made her singing debut performing a duet version of “What A Wonderful World” with her father. Since then, she spent most of her childhood performing at local and regional events until she met Mary Jo Papich, a distinguished jazz educator, who also helped Brianna tour Europe with the Peoria Jazz All-Stars. Brianna Thomas has been compared to the likes of Sarah Vaughn, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson and Diane Reeves. Thomas has performed with Fred Anderson, Von Freeman, Houston Person and the Barber Brothers and performed at Montreux, North Sea, and Umbria Jazz Festivals.
