Monique
B Thomas

Native Philadelphian, Monique Thomas, grew up listening to African- Americian music, notably jazz, gospel and soul, and began singing at a very early age. To hone her craft, she studied classical and jazz with the likes of Rufus Reid, Vivian Lord, Norman Simmons, Noreen Grey- Sauls, Nan Guptil-Crain et Harold Mabern at William Paterson University. Since then Monique has been touring extensively in Europe where she lives as well as Asia and Africa. 

Her main group is a jazz/gospel quartet where she explores the New Orleans jazz repertoire, with some of her gospel roots added for good measure. This group features French musicians Didier Ottaviani (drums), Yann Penichou (guitar) and Hervé Saint-Guirons on the organ for a more roots sound. Monique sites Sassy, Ella, Billie, Dinah Washington, Carmen McRae and Betty Carter as some of her main influences. Her repertoire includes an eclectic mix of traditional favorite standards as well as some heavier jazz tunes by the likes of Monk, Nat and Cannonball Adderly and even Randy Weston. 

Currently, she is paying homage to the female singers of blues in her new show, "Lady Sings the Blues". This project is dear to Monique's heart as the women who sang the blues were in fact pioneers and yet are often overlooked. They were also some of the first true feminists in the US and she feels she owes much of her career to them.