Ian Thomas magazine interview.

[border_reiver]

Remember that Jim Cox would have been the first pick ever since 1996, had he not suffered from his inner ear illness.

First there was Geraint Watkins (who I only miss because of how funny he looked while playing the accordion, if he didn't seem to fall off from his podium, he'd be fainting due to loss of air). And then MK picked Matt as a second stand-in for Jim.

But I have to agree that Matt is still the best one in comparison.

[Jules]

I used to call him Jim "cling clong cling clong" Cox by his piano playing...

Matt played with a feeling and a power that I didnt see in the MK band since Alan Clark.

[superval99]

I fell in love with Matt's beautiful piano playing some years ago on Mary Chapin Carpenter's albums, of whom I am also a fan.   I agree, he plays with much feeling and is quite poetic, unlike plinky-plonk Jim.   

[the visitor]

Personally, I think its a shame that MK chooses to change his personnel so often - it's always fun to play with new people but there doesn't seem to be any sense of loyalty to drummers in particular.  Looking back as far as OES, I think it was a very bad choice to use Chris Whitten over Terry Williams. Chris seemed to be a more kind of stop start drummer, flick a switch and off he goes. And whilst Danny is undoubtedly a world class percussionist, the set up on that tour was simply over the top.

I'm not familiar with Ian Thomas or his playing, since I havent seen MK live since 2005. However, it does look to me like drums will be taking a back seat on this album.  I think if you are going to water drums down it may be best not to have them at all.

[Jules]

There are a lot of videos of the Strat Pack concert in youtube where you can see how good drummer is Ian Thomas.

Also some videos from Steve Winwood and Clapton... Amazing.

[sak4]

But maybe MK doesn't choose to change his personnel so often, it could be that they were simply not available - involved in other stuff, not wanting to do a long tour - who knows?

Anyway - are  you going to do a concert Visitor? - hi by the way

 

[the visitor]

Hello Sak4, thanks for the reply


Yes, you are probably right there is something to do with availability too which has something to do with changing band members.

When I next do a concert I will let you know. For real, I play bass!

[ingridswing]

I do agree with you, there was a great feeling with Danny playing drums. It had a feel which I missed when Ian played.

Sometimes even an excellent musician does not fit well with some artists - this is really an alchemy.

I must admit that Ian playing last year did not impress me.
What I recall is Privateering sounding just awful.

+1

And the alchemy worked with Danny.

Can't understand Mark's choice on this one. At least I'm happy to read I'm not the only one to think this way.

What Danny used to do, Ian did the same during the last tour

[sak4]

Hello Sak4, thanks for the reply


Yes, you are probably right there is something to do with availability too which has something to do with changing band members.

When I next do a concert I will let you know. For real, I play bass!

Hi Vis

mmm - sounds cool

Sally

[Banjo99uk]

I welcome the return of plinky plonk Jim, Matts was too cheesy for me as I prefer a bit of boogy woogy Jools Holland style of playing. Danny seemed like a nice chap and its a shame he's not around MK anymore. I even got to talk to him at a very early Blues Club gig years ago. Although I cant remember the conversation as the bloody barman sold me too many beers.

[Adz]

MK has always said that he likes to make changes so that he doesn't get bored with his songs. Can you imagine just how many times he's played Sultans or R&J over the years? Perhaps that's part of the reason for the changes in line-up? I also get the impression that he likes to help his friends out, too. The music industry can be a cruel business when you're not in the limelight, and playing on a major artists album, or touring with them, can be quite lucrative.

[Tally]

I was not very impressed with Ian on last tour, but we'll see. I'm sure he has a lot to give if properly unleashed.

[Pottel]

Maybe Jim reminds mark of his uncle Kingsley? The boogie woodie playing uncle?

[dannyjun]

Woow, strange, I think that Ian Thomas is great drummer...listen to Song for sonny liston with him for example...so creative! And he does absolutelly no mistakes, or I haven

[Guitarman1972]

Ian Thomas is the BEST drummer MK had ever... probably even better than Chad Cromwell.

The problem with here is that we compare his drumming with the previous drummers, many of us know how Chad or Danny played all the songs and when Ian play them his way, some dont like it, and its understable, because we expect something else.

I saw Ian Thomas playing drums in the Strat Pack dvd, as the drummer in the Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood dvd, he also plays in the Music for Monserrat concert (together with Phil Collins in many tracks) and his playing is EXCELLENT.

When in Glasgow concert last year, I liked him a lot because of all the new things he add to the old songs, the way he played the new ones, but I was a bit dissapointed because he changed many little things we were used with Danny, but every drummer has his beat. Actually, my impression was that probably MK music nowadays is not so demanding, concerning to drums, like it used to be, or to what Ian is used to play.

If there is such a thing as best drummer then in my humble opinion the best drummer(s) MK had were on the album On Every Street. Jeff Porcaro and Manu Kath