January 17

Jazzmo Club, Quebec City, Canada

Rene Thomas takes Little Vienna band to the Jazzmo Club in Quebec City for a concert. Repertoire is : Sonnymoon For Two, Our Delight, Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, A Night In Tunisia, Tune Up, How Long Has This Been Going On?, Like Someone in Love, You Stepped Out Of A Dream and Cherokee.

 

January

Cafe Lutece, Montreal, Canada

Thomas is still doing Montreal Jazz Society (5, 12, 19 and 26).

 

January

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

Several concerts at Little Vienna.

February 1

CBC Radio, Montreal, Canada

Rene Thomas and Neil Michaud appear on CBC radio's "Tempo"

 

February

Cafe Lutece, Montreal, Canada

Thomas is leading a trio with bassist Bob Rudd and drummer George Braxton for the Montreal Jazz Society (2, 9, 16 and 23).

 

February 29

CBC Radio, Montreal, Canada

Thomas trio on CBC radio's "Tempo".

 

February

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

Thomas still with Neil Michaud at Little Vienna.

 

March

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

Thomas trio for several concerts.

 

March

Cafe Lutece, Montreal, Canada

Thomas trio for the Montreal Jazz Society (1, 8 and 29).

 

Mi-March

Trip to New-York

Rene Thomas makes a trip to New-York. He probably does it to see his friend Bobby Jaspar and he comes back with him on March 25 to play at Little Vienna.

 

March 25-27

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

Rene Thomas with his belgian friend Bobby Jaspar on sax as guest.

 

March 25,26 or 27(?)

Recording of La Femme Image soundtrack, Montreal, Canada

Thomas and Jaspar record with bassist Freddie Mac Hugh and drummer George Braxton the soundtrack of a short experimental film by Guy Borremans. The film, made by a few friends with very little money, was actually the first independent film ever made in Canada and it was very provocative at the time, with much surrealist influence. The music fit particularly well with the images. Note that the recording date could also be next week-end in April.

 

April 1-3

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

Bobby Jaspar as guest for second week-end.

 

April 8-10

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

Jackie Mac Lean as guest this week-end.

 

April 15-17

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

Rene Thomas trio with J.R. Monterose as guest. Here arethe poster and a photo:

 

 

 

April 22-24

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

Rene Thomas trio with Cecil Payne as guest.

 

April 29-01

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

J.R.Monterose is Thomas's guest at Little Vienna for second time.

 

April

Cafe Lutece, Montreal, Canada

Rene Thomas still at Montreal Jazz Society this month (5, 12, 19 and 26) but he leaves it after about a year and a half as leader of the house group (according to Len Dobbin), after gig on April 26.

 

May

Vieux Moulin, Montreal, Canada

Rene moves to Vieux Moulin in Milt Sealey's band with Monterose, George Braxton and bassist Fred McHugh. It seems that Monterose is there for two weeks.

 

June 14

Cafe La Poubelle, Montreal, Canada

Montreal Jazz Society leaves Lutece after June 7, moves to la Poubelle. Pianist Keith White is now the leader; Rene Thomas plays two sets on first night at La Poubelle then leaves, apparently unhappy about not being the leader. Thomas is supposed to be at Little Vienna through the summer but Little Vienna actually drops jazz for the summer.

 

July 23

CBC TV, Montreal, Canada

Broadcast "Noir et blanc" is telecast with Thomas, tenors Wimp Henstridge, Jack Rider and George Kennedy, Art Roberts, bassist Stan Zadak, drummer Pierre Beluse and singer Eve Adams. Repertoire is Well You Needn't, Round Midnight, Motion and Oleo. Thomas wanted to use J.R.Monterose and Bobby Jaspar on this TV show, but musicians' union says no.

 

July

St. Jovite, Canada

Rene Thomas is working in St. Jovite (outside Montreal) with pianist Art Roberts, drummer Rejean Emond, bassist Don Habib and singer Eve Adams.

 

August 8

Mont Royal, Montreal, Canada

Thomas, with bassist Don Habib and drummer Pierre Beluse, opens for Dizzy Gillespie at the Chalet outdoors on Mont Royal in Montreal. Repertoire includes Half Nelson.

 

September 7,8

Recording of Guitar Groove, New York, USA

Thomas moves to NY to record for Riverside with J.R.Monterose one of this best LP : Guitar Groove.

 

October

New Gaiety, Albany, USA

Thomas and Monterose work in Albany, earlier this month.

 

October 7-9

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

Rene Thomas back at Little Vienna, where Jackie McLean is the guest.

 

October 14-16

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

J.R.Monterose as guest for this week-end.

 

October 21-23

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

J.R.Monterose as guest for this week-end. Rene Thomas plays drums for a set.

 

October 28-30

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

Montreal tenor saxophonist Benny Winestone as guest.

 

November 3

Social Centre of University, Montreal, Canada

Thomas plays at Social Centre of University of Montreal with bassist Stan Zadak and drummer Pierre Beluse.

 

November 4-6

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

Pianist Duke Jordan as guest. Rene Thomas plays drums for a set.

 

November 18-20

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

Thomas is not at Little Vienna on weekend of 11, but back on 18th with bassist Fred McHugh and drummer Billy Barwick.

 

December

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

Thomas is still at Little Vienna the weekends (2, 9, 16, 23, 30) now with Fred McHugh and a New York drummer, Billy Osborn.

 

December 30-01

 

Little Vienna, Montreal, Canada

Bobby Jaspar as guest for New-Year's week-end. Repertoire contains : Nuages, You Made Me Love You, Our Delight.

 

December

 

CBFT, Montreal, Canada

Thomas trio is seen on CBFT's "Music Hall" in late December.

 

 

 

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