Jazz writer and radio personality Larry Thomas presented “The Carolina Jazz Connection” Sept. 17 in the Upperman African American Cultural Center. Thomas spoke of racial segregation, black male lynchings, the “Black Church” and the blues as factors that all led up and fed into the creation of jazz music. 

Thomas spoke of the culture North Carolina has inspired through its history and environment.

“North Carolina is not hick-ville,” said Thomas.

“I don’t like to call it jazz; I like to call it American classical music,” said Thomas. “If Europeans have classical music, why can’t we?

He also detailed the influence that North Carolina had on jazz, and the influence jazz had on him.

“It took ahold of me,” said Thomas.

Upperman Director Todd McFadden used to play jazz for a living. Shortly after McFadden started at UNCW, he helped orchestrate a jazz event through social media.

“As soon as I got it up there, Larry [Thomas] contacted me and said, ‘You’ve got to get the Heath Brothers,’ and we’ve been in touch ever since,” McFadden said.

Since he has been director of the Upperman Center for a little under two years, McFadden has helped orchestrate plenty of jazz-related events, including getting Thomas to speak at UNCW. 

“When the music changes, so does the jazz,” said Thomas. “This is the music of the future. I don’t think people have caught up to it, yet.”

Thomas is an advocate of all Americans, especially young African Americans, embracing jazz as a historical and artistic virtue of this country. Thomas also voiced his disapproval of modern African American music.

“It all moves backwards,” said Thomas, talking about hip-hop and rap. “Even the beat and the tone lowers through the progression of the song.

“It’s a reflection of society,” said Thomas. “All music is. Jazz moves forward, and the beats and tones raise throughout the songs… much like society did at the time.”

Larry Thomas is a native Wilmingtonian and received his M.A. in history from UNC Chapel Hill. Thomas is currently working on his book, “The Barn,” and has authored “The True Story Behind the Wilmington Ten” and “Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit!”-all having to do with Wilmington history. He has also been published in The New York Times Magazine and Downbeat. 

Thomas is the founder and project director of a non-profit organization, Larry Thomas & Associates Inc, which carries the tagline, “Specializing in Jazz and Caribbean Cultures since 1984.”

He has worked on numerous radio stations, and his character and charisma have allowed him to interview many famous jazz figures. On his own program, Thomas gives historical background when announcing music and works as the DJ as well.  Thomas presents “Sunday Night Jazz” from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. through WCOM-FM radio station, which can be heard through live stream at wcomfm.org or through radio on channel 103.5 FM in the Chapel Hill area.