Chicago-born, Minneapolis-based drummer Kenne Thomas brings his quartet of established jazz players to Berlin.

Band Members:
Kenne Thomas - Drums
Solomon Parham - Trumpet
Abebi Stafford - Piano
Vic Smith - Bass

Kenne Thomas was raised in a musical family and was encouraged to pursue music by family friends Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt. He studied jazz drumming with Ahmad Jamal’s drummer, Vernel Fournier, and played in clubs with Sonny Seals, Jody Christian, and the Chicago fusion group Life Rhythms (which later became LIFEFORCE). Kenne earned a degree in instrumental music education from Moorhead State University and toured internationally with the Memories of Elvis show. A friend and disciple of drummer Elvin Jones, Kenne spent over a decade living in Japan, where he toured with jazz organist Kankawa Toshihiko. He then returned to the United States for graduate studies and settled in St. Paul, teaching Japanese and working clubs and recording. His most recent album, YESTERDAYS, features some of the Twin Cities’ finest musicians.

Trumpeter Solomon Parham has played with Eric Kamau Gravatt, Delfeayo Marsalis, Sounds of Blackness, and Eric Anderson. A Detroit native, he earned an undergraduate degree in instrumental music education from Wayne State University and a master’s in performance from McNally-Smith College of Music. Solomon released his first album, Forward, in 2022. Solomon has performed with Kenne Thomas for many years and is featured on the Kenne Thomas composition “Roy’s Thing” on the album WOODLAWN.

Abebi Stafford is an award-winning jazz musician. He has performed and recorded many flavors of jazz, from modern to fusion to straightahead. Having toured in the United States and Europe, he is now a veteran keyboardist in the Twin Cities, playing piano and Hammond B3 organ. Abebi recently released his fourth studio album, Stolen by Lies. He has collaborated with Kenne Thomas for several years in K-TET.

Bassist Vic Smith is a Memphis-born musician. He graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in music composition, later touring with the national show band ATLANTIS. He has played with Donald Brown, Tony Reedus, and Phineas Newborn. A licensed pilot, Vic flew for Delta Air Lines for many years. For the past few years, Vic has performed on electric and acoustic bass with Kenne Thomas K-TET and other musicians in the Minneapolis club scene.