Jazz musician explores the African American artist as a young man

With the premiere of the most ambitious work of his still-nascent career arriving just before the conclusion of his graduate studies at Temple University, Elijah Thomas finds himself at a crossroads. Rather than honing his focus on his own life, however, the occasion seems to have widened his perspective.

Scenes From the Life of a Young Man in Philadelphia, which Thomas will perform with a 15-piece ensemble of his peers at the Painted Bride on Saturday, was initially conceived as something of a musical autobiography for the 24-year-old jazz flutist. The piece has grown not only to involve two co-composers - trumpeter Marcell Bellinger and vocalist Brandon Evan Moulden - but to explore the more general experience of young African American artists in the city.

"We wanted to show that African American males are far more than what we are often perceived to be, with emotions and potentials and capacities to act for the best possible good of everybody," Thomas explained over coffee and juice last week.

"The second point would be how art has always been a major form of expression for any African American demographic, and how we're using that these days to continue to express our experience.

"And, number three, it's been a very interesting time [for us] as younger artists growing up in Philadelphia, which is a very tight-knit, insular community amongst jazz musicians."

Thomas has made inroads into that community. He plays in a variety of settings in Philly, from sideman work with vocalist Chelsea Reed to playing classic swing-era big band charts with the Salvation Army Kroc Center Community Jazz Band to exploring the spectrum of Latin jazz and folk styles with Latin Fiesta. It was through the project "Another Holiday for Skins," which paid homage to drummer Art Blakey, that Thomas caught the attention of Painted Bride music curator Lenny Seidman.

"Afterward, Mr. Seidman said that some of the effects I was using on flute reminded him of Rahsaan Roland Kirk," Thomas recalled, referring to the adventurous multi-instrumentalist known for his extended techniques. Seidman encouraged Thomas to submit a proposal, asking what his dream project would be. Considering that wide-open offer, Thomas realized he had no ready answer.

"The more I thought about it, the more I realized I had no idea what I wanted to do," he said, laughing. Through a series of discussions with friends and family, Thomas and his collaborators ended up creating a piece that looked at their experience through a range of lenses: education, economics, politics, black identity, race relations, and religion.

Using a combination of jazz, through-composed music, songs, and spoken-word poetry, the evening-length suite will touch on topics ranging from the 14th Amendment to the Constitution to recent police shootings of young unarmed black men. "I thought I'd use my life as a reflection of what many other black lives look like, but also try to draw from the experiences of other people and dig into what we experience every day, psychologically, emotionally, physically, and mentally."

A native of West Mount Airy, Thomas grew up in the public school system and is now a busy educator in a variety of schools and programs around the city. On the day we met, he was coming from teaching at the Girard Academic Music Program, en route to a private lesson, and he wound up his day at Settlement Music School's Germantown branch. He also serves as codirector of the Jazz Workshop at Temple's Community Music Scholars Program and is a teaching artist for Tune-Up Philly!

As his academic studies come to a close, Thomas realizes it's education, not necessarily performing, that is his true passion as a jazz musician. His path isn't fully decided yet, but he envisions himself spending more time in a classroom than on stage. "It took a long time to admit to myself that teaching is what I not only wanted to do, but needed to do," he said.

"Being a teacher is one of the most important and most terrifying responsibilities, but I owe it to the Philadelphia public schools, which did not fail me. I love playing, but I never found it to be as substantial or weighty as the relationship I have to my students."

The social commentary Thomas and his ensemble will present at the Bride on Saturday is another opportunity to educate, in his eyes. "I think this is something that should be heard. If people are upset by what they hear, good; if they love what they hear, great; but whatever the reaction might be, I figured I might as well take advantage of this platform to really say what I have to say."

Scenes From the Life of a Young Man in Philadelphia, 7 p.m. Saturday at Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St. $20-$25. paintedbride.org.