{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/iiif/rr1pg1jc7t/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Justin Thomas oral history, 2002 July 31"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/008/original/peabody-institute.logo.large.horizontal.blue.cropped.png?1549570058","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":[" Justin Thomas is a vibraphonist and percussionist born in 1987. He won second place at Showtime at the Apollo in February 2000 and was a finalist on Star Search. He has studied at the Baltimore School of the Arts and performed with Wynton Marsalis, Ellis Larkins, and Cyrus Chestnut. In this interview with Elizabeth Schaaf, Thomas discusses his musical education with Wendell Hairston, his recent performances, and his development as a jazz musician and composer. (Abstract)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":[" 2002-07-31 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":[" Thomas, Justin, 1987- (Interviewee)"," Schaaf, Elizabeth M. (Interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":[" English (Primary)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Format"]},"value":{"en":["audio/mp3"]}},{"label":{"en":["Publisher"]},"value":{"en":["Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["The collection is open for use. Contact peabodyarchives@lists.jhu.edu for more information."]}},{"label":{"en":["Source Metadata URI"]},"value":{"en":["https://aspace.library.jhu.edu/repositories/4/archival_objects/215394"]}}],"summary":{"en":[" Justin Thomas is a vibraphonist and percussionist born in 1987. He won second place at Showtime at the Apollo in February 2000 and was a finalist on Star Search. He has studied at the Baltimore School of the Arts and performed with Wynton Marsalis, Ellis Larkins, and Cyrus Chestnut. In this interview with Elizabeth Schaaf, Thomas discusses his musical education with Wendell Hairston, his recent performances, and his development as a jazz musician and composer."]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["The collection is open for use. Contact peabodyarchives@lists.jhu.edu for more information."]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/008/original/peabody-institute.logo.large.horizontal.blue.cropped.png?1549570058","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/117/504/small/thomas_justin_photoshop.jpg?1651086464","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - pims0091_ThomasJ_01.mp3"]},"duration":3025.03184,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/117/504/small/thomas_justin_photoshop.jpg?1651086464","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-peabody.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/117/504/original/pims0091_ThomasJ_01.mp3?1624270995","type":"Audio","format":"audio/mpeg","duration":3025.03184,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["ThomasJ_1_OHMS_20220609 [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"ELIZABETH SCHAAF: Tell me your full name and when and where you were born.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: My name is Justin Brian Thomas. I was born here in Baltimore, and\nI was born in 1987, June 22nd.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: When did music start becoming a part of your life?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Music started becoming my life when I was seven years old, when I\nwas introduced to the steel pan, and they had a steel band and they set a steel\npan in front of me to see if I knew anything. It was a copy game. I had to copy\nwhat they did to see if I could be in the band. That's how I started my music,\nand I became a member of the band.\n\nThen, later on in elementary school when I was eight years old, an instructor\nnamed Mr. Wendell Hairston, introduced me to the xylophone, ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=0.0,60.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"and this instrument\nwas easy to learn. So I just fell in love with it and practiced and that's how I\nstarted jazz.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So you've been studying now for?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: For eight years.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: And how long were you with Mr. Hairston?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I was only with him in elementary school, from grade 3 to 5.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: And who else have you studied with?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, I studied with teachers from my middle school.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Now where were you in middle school?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Oh, I went to Loch Raven Academy middle school. And I studied\nwith Miss Boyle, Mr. St. Pierre, and Mr. Eric Sloan. And now that I attend\nSchool for the Arts I am studying with Mr. John Locke, who is a percussionist in\nthe BSO. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=60.0,120.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Then I studied with Jeff Antoniak who's a\n\nsaxophone player, and he plays jazz so I study techniques, different kind of\nimprovisations to improve myself.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Well, you've already been doing a lot of performing, haven't you?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yes, I have.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Where was the first public performance that you did?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I think the first public performance was when I was in the steel\nband, and I believe we were performing at some museum. I'm not sure what it was.\nThe B \u0026 O [Railroad Museum] or the BMA [Baltimore Museum of Art]. I don't\nremember the museum. I forgot the name, but that's my first performance that I\nremember. Because it was during break, and a gentleman asked me to play \"Mary\nHad a Little Lamb\" on the steel pan, ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=120.0,180.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"and I played it, and I got like five\ndollars for it. [Laughter]\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: That's great. What was the elementary school that you went to?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I went to Yorkwood Elementary School.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Well, are either of your parents musicians?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: My father is a musician. His name is Winthrop Thomas, and I don't\nknow how long he's been playing because he lives in New York. But right now, I\nthink he's not playing as much as he used to. Only my father's a musician.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: What kind of music does he play?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: He plays all kinds, but I think he mostly plays calypso. More\nCaribbean music.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: And what kind of music did you listen to at home growing up?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Jazz. A lot of jazz. That brought me where I wanted to be -- jazz.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=180.0,240.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So of all the solo performances that you've done, which one\nwas the most satisfying for you and the most exciting?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: The most exciting one I think I did was when I went to Showtime\nat the Apollo.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: When was this?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: This was three years ago. And that's when I was going to Loch\nRaven Academy. We traveled up to New York to go to the Apollo. I had to send a\ntape to get on the show. So, I played the vibraphone and I played a jazz piece\nby Duke Ellington, and it is called \"Take the A Train\", and I think that was the\nmost exciting one, because just to stand in front of an audience on a famous TV\nshow was just a very good experience and meeting Steve Harvey was nice also.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=240.0,300.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Wow. That's nice. What a rush.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. [Laughter]\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So how long do you think it will take you to get back to the Apollo?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, I'm not sure if I'm going back to the Apollo 'cause I\nthought about it very little. I thought about going back to the Apollo, doing a\nmulti-performance, playing the steel pan, then switch to the keyboard and going\nback to the steel pan. But I'm not sure if I'm going back.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: This was your first year in School for the Arts?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yes, School for the Arts. This is going to be my second.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So you're going into your second year.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: How has it been different studying over there?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Oh, from past experiences? The School for the Arts is way\ndifferent ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=300.0,360.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"because you have double the work that you had to do back then. And\nthen you study more classical. You get inside of it, who made it, the literature\nof it. And you learn music theory. It's not complicated -- but it's just more.\nIt's not expected so it's just more to do. But I think it's also interesting to\nfind out the inside about composers and everything. So, it's a very nice experience.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: The classical technique must be really useful to have at your\nfingertips when you're working with jazz?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah, I find that very useful. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=360.0,420.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Especially musical because it's\nthat I interpret the information and then I exert it through the jazz and other\nstyles, to make it -- not make it unusual -- to make if different, but also make\nit sound good. Basically to have my own style.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So where do you see yourself in ten years? Well, let's back\nup. Where do you see yourself headed after School for the Arts?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I want to head to a college, but I'm not sure which one. My\nchoices are Berklee in Boston, the College of Music, and the University of Miami\nbecause I heard that was a good school also. And I want to go there for\nproducing, because I want to become a producer, and also I want to be a\nperformer. So I want to produce music, make the music, and make CDs and also be\na performer. and also be a performer.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=420.0,480.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So that pretty much takes us where you want to go when you get\nout of here. You've done a lot of playing around town. Who were some of the\nfolks that you enjoy playing with?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: There's this band -- the Bobby Ward Trio -- that I played with a\nfew Sundays. Most of the shows were a fund raiser for me to get instruments or\nwhatever. This show was planned by Jim Staton, Miss Donna Holley and Miss\nEleanor Janey, and they introduced me to this band, I believe. I think they're\nreally good. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=480.0,540.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"We didn't practice together, but if we chose a song and we perform\nit, it's like we knew we was doing it. So it's very communicating. So if we\ndidn't practice and we performed, we knew what we were doing.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: That's wonderful. It's great fun when you fall into a\nsituation like that.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So are you going to stay in touch with these folks?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. I am. I will stay in touch 'cause later on in the year I\nhope we can make a CD together.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Good. Now who are the musicians in the band?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: The musicians -- well the drummer, his name is Bobby Ward. And\nsometimes the keyboardist and saxophonist change so I'm not keeping track with\ntheir names. But there's also a guitarist. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=540.0,600.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/11","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"I'm not sure what his name is, but I\nheard that he has his own club and he performs also. So I'm hoping to stay in\ntouch with them so we can get something going out there.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Where have you been playing here?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Places like around here? I played at the Walters Art Gallery. I\nplayed like at Martin's West -- I can't really think of it because it's a lot of\nplaces that I've played.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: I know. [Laughter]\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. I played hotels, parties and etc. I remember playing at a\npost office when they was releasing the Malcolm X stamp. I played there. It was\na whole bunch of places.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=600.0,660.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/12","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Right. And I know you played over at Coppin [State College].\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah, I played at Coppin.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: And you were at the Eubie Blake Center too.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So how busy is your schedule? How much time do you put in practicing?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Practice two hours at least. I'm really focused now, because, I'm\ngrowing up, and I have to do something more with my music. So I would say two\nhours, at least. If I'm into it, then it's just probably four hours.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Goes fast, doesn't it?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. It does. [Laughter] Like you make one song, and you feel\nlike it's ten minutes, but it is two hours that passed. So music is fun. So I\nwould say two hours.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So when you're not playing music, what are you doing?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: That's a good question. Most of the time I'm talking on the\nphone. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=660.0,720.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/13","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Now, lately, I haven't been watching TV as I used to. So, I'm either\nplaying games, or I'm writing music. I like to compose.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So how long have you been writing?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, it's on and off I've been writing so I believe two years. I\nstarted to write, and I set it aside and then this year I came back to writing\nbecause I want to get my songs copyrighted.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: And have your own music.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: A lot of theory and a lot of music theory. But that's fun.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. It is.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So who are you studying music theory with?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, the teacher that I was studying with the past year, his\nname is Mr. Allen Good, and he's a pianist I believe. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=720.0,780.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/14","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"We study things from all\nthe way back -- plainchant where it didn't have rhythm and choruses, etc. And\nthen we went to counterpoint and things like that.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: More tools.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: More tools to play with. Are you writing mostly jazz or have\nyou done some classical pieces too?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I'm not going to write any classical. But I'm going to include\nsome classical with my jazz, but lately I've been writing all kinds -- like\nslow, fast, R\u0026B, hip hop, rap, jazz, Caribbean, you know, those things.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=780.0,840.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/15","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"It's really good to have such catholic tastes in music, taking\nlittle bits and pieces from everything and seeing how it goes together.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. Because it gives it a different feel to it, better than\njust playing a jazz piece with only jazz techniques, while you can use classical\ntechniques or different, a different kind of technique from the song that you\nwere playing. It's very interesting.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: A lot of what you are talking about sounds like Ellis Larkins.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Oh yeah. He is a keyboardist. I remember playing with him one\ntime when I was playing at Coppin State. It was the intergenerational jazz quartet.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Yeah. I was at that concert. It was great. [Laughter]\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Thank you.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Yeah. He was a wonderful, isn't he wonderful to play with?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: He really is. 'Cause I like him. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=840.0,900.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/16","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"I like his improvising and everything.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: What was it like getting together with him and practicing?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, I didn't really practice much with him. I really practiced\na lot with the guitarist whose name is Christopher Brooks. He's the son of Miss\nCamay Murphy, and she is the daughter of Cab Calloway. So I'd been working with\nhim a lot, practicing with him, and then all we did was just make sure what song\nI knew that the pianist knew because we need the pianist and the bass.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: I see. And you just went out there and let it happen.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. It was really fun. Cause the ego just takes you -- it was\njust the ego.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Just go with it.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. Sometimes it's hard to stop. You got to stop.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=900.0,960.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/17","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Now, I've been out there for several of those concerts, and\none of them Gary Thomas played.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Gary Thomas.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Gary Thomas. He's head of the jazz program here.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I don't recall. I'm not sure.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: That was the year after the one you're talking about I think.\nBut I was just wondering whether you had had any opportunity to see Gary perform.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I don't think so. Because I didn't play all the time at Coppin\nState. At a certain time I think I stopped and then I was going to get back into it.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: I hear people talking about doing music, and your name comes\nup all the time. We need to get Justin, we need to get Justin. Is it getting\nhard to keep space for your studying and your writing and practicing and\nbalancing the performance obligations?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=960.0,1020.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/18","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"To me? I don't think it's hard. I think it's just something fun\nto me. So if I'm doing something like let's say we're going to rehearse in five\nminutes like, I will probably use those five minutes very wisely. Like I\nwouldn't go talk to my friends or whatever, I would probably think of a rhythm\nand then like when I can't get it, I probably go talk to my friends. So I just\ntry to fit everything. Even though I'm busy, I try to fit everything. I'm\nperforming, I'm also using technique that I use to also help me practice so I\ncan fit it in.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Well, that's great. Learning how to balance your time.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: This will come in very handy for you.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: It's like killing two birds with one stone.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Absolutely. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1020.0,1080.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/19","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So do your friends complain to you that they don't\nhave, you know, that you don't have enough time for them?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Not really. They haven't complained.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: I know there's always a struggle with musicians and being\ninvolved in sports because you don't want to do anything that's likely to mess\nup your hands.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, sports I don't think really mess up my hands. Only thing\nthat will probably mess up my hands is just getting injured. But like sports and\neverything, that's just if I take too much of it, maybe it will.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So what do you do? What sports are your favorites?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: My favorite sport is basketball. I really love basketball. And I\nlike baseball and football.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1080.0,1140.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/20","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Which one are you best in?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I think I'm best at basketball. 'Cause baseball, sometimes I miss\nthe ball, and then. Well, I think football is my second cause I can really throw\nthe ball.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: You've got great hands for basketball. Got good stretch. And\nfor playing.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So your family has been very supportive of your performing.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, my mother has been very supportive. Not my family. Just my\nmother. Because my brothers are grown and living away from home. My mother's\nbeen very supportive. She helped me get where I need to get, and still is\nhelping me to get where I need to get. She bought me all the instruments so I\ncan practice. And then, when I'm used to it, I get something different to better\nmy skills and stuff, you know.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1140.0,1200.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/21","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"What kind of vibes do you play?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: You mean the brand? The brand, the vibes that I got is a Musser,\nand it's a three octave instrument in silver. And recently, some weeks ago, I\ngot me a 4.3 marimba, which is an Adams marimba. It's a nice performance instrument.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So that will hold you for a while.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. It would.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Great. So what's the next step?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: The next step? I'm not sure, I know I got this audio software\ncalled an Audigy to hook up into my computer and that's supposed to like enhance\nmy ability like making CDs and stuff, taking out the hissing. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1200.0,1260.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/22","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Basically making\nit professional.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Right. Right. Have you been tempted to drift over into\nelectronic music?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I don't think so. I'm really not sure.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: You started to say.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, I believe that in a way I am using electronics. But I'm not\nsure -- maybe sound effects and stuff I'm using, but if I'm going to use\nelectronics, it will probably be for something special or something.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So you're talking about electronic enhancements rather than\nelectronic instruments.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1260.0,1320.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/23","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"It's a tempting world. You know, there's so much going on in\nthat realm, and we probably haven't seen anything yet. So it must be fun to keep\nan eye on that, to see where that's going on.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. It's fun in a way, but then it's like driving you in a way,\nbecause I see what's happening and I know what I got to do. So I have to\npractice to do that, and then, when something else comes up, then you've got to\npractice again, keep on doing what you're doing to do that. And then something\nelse comes up, keep on practicing.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So it goes back to what you were saying about needing to stay focused.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. Just stay focused. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1320.0,1380.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/24","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Just pay attention to everything that\ncomes at you because you don't want to miss any good opportunities.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: What is your feeling about the popular music scene today? I\nmean, who are the artists that you really enjoy listening to?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, I don't really have a favorite, but I like listening to the\nmusic that is performed today 'cause I listen to their style, and I listen to\nevery note, how they interpret it, how it makes the music different. Sometimes,\nthey put a melody in, and it can probably fit for the major and the minor. So I\nlisten for that. I listen for how rhythmic they are and I just listen to the harmonies.\n\n","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1380.0,1440.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/25","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Lately I've just been listening to that, just the music part.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Who are some of the groups you've been following?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, lately I've been following people from Murder, Inc. I think\nthe producer's name is Jah Rule. I'm sure that's the producer. But I've been\nlistening to his tracks, and I think he's very interesting 'cause he comes up\nwith good R\u0026B tracks. P Diddy, also known as Sean John Combs. I admire his\nbusiness work because he's a producer. Everybody has their own style. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1440.0,1500.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/26","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"When you\nlisten to different styles, it's just very open. I can't find the words, but\nvery open.\n\nBut I think you've just got to be very observant, and listen to the styles. But\nI don't really have a favorite. So I just listen to anything I hear.\n\nAnd jazz also -- I listen to Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker, I listen to him\na lot. 'Cause the improvising is very fast, and I try to catch the notes\nsometimes, but it's very hard. So I just listen to the CD and keep on trying.\nAnd I listen to a lot of Lionel Hampton 'cause I admire his improvising also.\nHe's very good, very talented.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1500.0,1560.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/27","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Now it's interesting to listen to his music and hear how it's\nchanged over the years.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I like his style too, because it's more of a blues style, but\nthen he has a kind of a bebop improvising to it, and a jazz improvising. I think\nit goes well. It mixes very well.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: That's great. So how would you describe the music you're\nworking on? Where do you think that falls in the musical spectrum?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: The music I'm working on? I'm really not even sure. I try to do\ndifferent styles to expand my style, and so I'm not even sure. I think it's\ngoing to be all kinds. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1560.0,1620.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/28","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So I'm going to think about it.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: See where it takes you.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. Later I'm going to find out where it takes me, and see what\nkind of style it is that I have.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So do you feel like you're beginning to find your own voice?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah, I'm finding my voice 'cause I really want my name to be\nheard and I really want to become a producer. So I'm making songs and etc, and\nthen later I'm going to write it and copyright it.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So you're doing your own lyrics?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Oh, I'm not doing lyrics.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: No lyrics.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I'm just doing instrumentals.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Are you interested in going there?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Not me. 'Cause I'm not the type of person who would like to sing.\nPlus I can't sing, and so I'm not going to do something that I can't do. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1620.0,1680.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/29","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So I'm\njust going to stick with what I got, the instrumental, and later I'm hoping to\ncreate a band. I'm going to just stick with instrumentals.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Seems like a wise choice. There are lots of singers. What kind\nof band? Are you talking about -- a small combo?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Actually I'm talking about both. Like to have a combo for the\nsmaller jobs, and then when it's a very big event, I would have an orchestra.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Well, that's great. How big an orchestra?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I'm not sure. I'm really not sure.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: I mean if you could have your druthers and you could spend the\nnext two weeks putting together a group, ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1680.0,1740.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/30","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"and you didn't have to worry about\npaying them.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Probably very big. [Laughter] 'Cause I would probably want to\nmake it sound professional.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So when you talk about an orchestra, would you be using\nstrings as well?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: No. Just a jazz orchestra.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Why is it that the stringed instruments have never been a\ntraditional part of the voice of jazz? I know there are exceptions, but they are exceptions.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I think that strings are mostly used for classical. So I guess a\nlot of people see it as a classical instrument. Maybe that's why. But I'm really\nnot sure. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1740.0,1800.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/31","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"I mean, you can have a string in your jazz orchestra.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: You mean apart from the bass.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. But I think a lot of people just see it as a classical\ninstrument. They would probably only use it when they have something classical\nin their jazz piece or something.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Billie Holiday had strings backing her up on one of her records.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Really?\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: I think she was one of the first jazz singers to do that. And\nit was a big departure. But I've always been curious about that. I used to play\nthe viola, and I always wondered why weren't we welcomed there. There's always\nseemed to be this wall.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, I'm not sure if it's a wall. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1800.0,1860.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/32","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"I don't think it's like any\nseparation -- we can't have that because it doesn't mix with it. I mean, we can\nuse it, but I'm really not sure. But I intend to use it for a lot of my songs.\nMaybe if I'm doing a piece that includes that instrument then I would probably\nhave it in my orchestra.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Oh it's something that I always wondered about.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. That does make you wonder.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: They're great sounds.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah, they are. They're really mellow.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So for the small combo that you were talking about that you\nwould like to put together, what kind of instrumentation?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, I would have the bass, the drums, piano -- ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1860.0,1920.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/33","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"I'm not sure\nabout piano, I think I'll probably have a guitarist, and maybe two to three\nhorns. Just make it nice and compact.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Sounds like a great combo. Have you thought of a name for it yet?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: No. I haven't.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: You would just use your own name?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I might. People suggested that I should use my initials or\nsomething. But I'm not sure. I might name it based on how the band is, like the\nstyle it has as a whole.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Sounds very. So what's next up on the performances?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1920.0,1980.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/34","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Well, next I'll be performing at Morgan State [University].\nThat's my next performance.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Oh when is that?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: That is in September the 22nd, and I'll be performing on the\nmarimba. I'm really looking forward to performing there.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Oh that's great. Now at School for the Arts, are you, do you\nhave to do a junior recital as part of your requirements there?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: A junior recital?\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: A solo recital.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, yeah, we have to. We have recitals every Wednesday. So if\nit's not our recital, then we're watching someone else's recital. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=1980.0,2040.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/35","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"So you just\ngot to practice, make sure you don't lose track of the date -- because they just\nkeep it posted so you have to look for your name and the check the date and\npractice, and make sure you got everything that you need to get.\n\nIt's fun. I think it's fun performing for your classmates who are watching you\nperform, and watching how focused you are and how much you're concentrating and\nhow much work you put into it. So, it's very good.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Now, do you have a group that you perform with regularly at\nthe School for the Arts?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: No, I don't have a group. But there's a group that I'm in that's\ncalled percussion ensemble, ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2040.0,2100.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/36","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"and it's just basically percussion ensemble, and we\ndo like a lot of percussion songs that tell a story. Let's say you're using the\nvibraslap, you might think of the desert or something. Or if you hit a tubular\nbell, you might think you're in a church or something. So just you've got to\nback it up with different instruments to make it realistic.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So do you like the ensemble performances? I know music\nstudents tend to fall in one of two categories. I mean, they're very focused on\nbeing soloists, and you have to do the ensembles, but you do it because you have\nto -- not because it's a really great thing to do.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2100.0,2160.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/37","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"I also was in an ensemble called the Wind Ensemble. It's\nokay, but I wouldn't like to stick around in it. Percussion ensemble I really\nenjoy 'cause it's not the full band doing the storytelling. So it's just\ninteresting how the percussion ensemble can do the same thing without the other instruments.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Looking forward to when you get yourself established and\nproducing your own music, do you think touring is going to be a serious part of that?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I believe so. Well, I haven't really begun to think about the\ntouring part yet. So I'm not sure.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2160.0,2220.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/38","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"People forget about what hard work touring is.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: The logistics and the planning.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: The choreography. I never really thought about it until you just\nmentioned it.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: The music scene has changed a lot over the course of the\nTwentieth Century. And there are so many more outlets now. When I was a little\nkid, we didn't have MTV.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Oh yeah.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: And even the recorded music wasn't as easily available or as\ngood as it is now. And with music so accessible electronically, I often wonder\nis touring going to be as popular as it is now. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2220.0,2280.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/39","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"I mean, ninety percent of what\nyou see at the big concerts is electronically produced. People probably watch\nthe screens as much or more than they watch the performer, and it's all being\nbrought to them by amplification. So, you kind of wonder.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: But, yeah, it really has changed cause just you think about it,\neverything like that was done in the past. I mean, it's still here, but it was\nmore added to so as to make it like a different. I guess, I don't know if people\ndidn't want to be the same, or just wanted to see what a different style would\nsound like. So I guess that's why -- ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2280.0,2340.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/40","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"and like TV shows are just keeping up on\nwhat's coming out or who will be releasing at what date and things like that.\n\nBut yeah, it has changed.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: What, and in the time that you've been performing and paying\nattention to music there have been some changes? What have you really taken\nnotice of? I mean, what do you thing are big?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I remember people saying that rap and R\u0026B and stuff like that\noriginated from jazz. So when rap came out, there was more of a jazz feel to it.\nYou know, more of a swinging feel to it. And they also included jazz samples\ninto it. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2340.0,2400.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/41","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"But now, like today, it's like more rap. I hardly even hear jazz in the\nrap now. So, you know, it's just different.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: That is interesting. Is it more focused on the poetry now?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I think it is. It's like it's more focused, I think, on the chord\nchanging, and the lyrics of the poetry and everything. And also they're worried\nabout if the track is a nice track. So I think it's just trying to be different,\nI guess.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: What about what about hip hop?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Hip hop? ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2400.0,2460.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/42","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Hip hop, I'm not really sure about because I didn't\nreally look that much into hip hop, and I haven't heard about people. I think\nhip hop originated from rap. I'm not sure. I think I'm kind of confused about\nthe rap and the hip hop because I think the hip hop includes rap and singing.\nBut I'm not sure yet. So I'm just like still trying to look into that.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Well, let's see what else did I want to ask you? Oh, I wanted\nto go back and ask you about the steel band that you said that you worked with.\nWhere was this and who directed that and how did you get involved in that?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: The steel band. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2460.0,2520.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/43","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"That was closer to Greenmount Avenue, and it was\na little Caribbean place that we always used to practice in. And the head of the\nsteel band was Mr. Emerald Gray. I think a friend told my mother about the steel\nband, and she decided that we should just go one night and see what they're\ndoing and to see if we can get into the band. So I don't really remember that far.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Well, it's been a ways back.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. That's what I think.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: And about long did you stay with them?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I believe like a year or two. But I'm not sure. But I know it was\nlike a good enough time.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Do you have brothers and sisters?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2520.0,2580.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/44","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Yeah. I have three brothers and two sisters.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: And are there any more musicians?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yea, me and my father.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: That must be a relief -- only one to buy instruments for.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. [Laughter] 'Cause then if you had the whole family who was\nmusically talented, that would be like more money you'd have to spend.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Devastating. And just think of the racket.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah, like I want to practice now. I want to practice now!\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: They must be really interested in following your career.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, I don't know because I'm not really sure. I haven't really\nliked paid attention to it. I've just been focused. I wasn't worried about if my\nfamily was supporting me, but I really was worried about how my mom was\nsupporting me. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2580.0,2640.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/45","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"She's just been there from day one. But I haven't really worried\nabout them. And I haven't seen them very much, but I won't let that bring me\ndown. You just keep on rolling.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So where are your brothers and sisters living?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, one of my sisters is moving to Florida, and one still lives\nin New York. But the one who's moving to Florida right now, she's in California.\nAnd my brothers, they're all in Baltimore here.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: So next year you're going to be a sophomore.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Well, this school year coming up I'm going to be a sophomore.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: And so probably by next year, you will have more or less\nnarrowed down where you're going to go to school.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2640.0,2700.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/46","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Yeah. I think so.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: I'm just curious. I know that most people don't want to go to\nschool in the town where they're living. Because part of the whole experience is\ngetting away and, you know, getting in totally different surroundings. But have\nyou thought about coming over here to Peabody after School for the Arts at all?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I haven't really thought about it. But I remember coming here to\nPeabody for like lessons when I was younger. The person's name is Mr. Leo\nLapage. He was also in the BSO, and I had lessons from him. But like after that,\nI haven't really thought about Peabody that much.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Well, maybe you should come over and hear the jazz concerts\nand see how that goes. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2700.0,2760.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/47","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"But it isn't far enough way. I know. So after college,\nare you looking at trying to establish a career here in Baltimore, or is\nCalifornia on the horizon or New York?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: I'm really not sure. Because after I go to college, I just know\nthat I want to be a producer, but I'm not sure where I want to start that. I\nmight just start it from the college like that I went to. 'Cause then like if\nI'm having trouble with something, I will probably go back and ask questions,\nprepare, what I need to improve on, just in case I have questions.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2760.0,2820.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/48","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Oh, that's a good strategy. Do you have any contact with any\nof the older vibe players here?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: No. Well, actually, I believe so. Well, I don't have contact with\nhim, but I know him because he also used to attend Baltimore School for the\nArts. His name is James Johnson, and he attends Peabody Institute. But I really\ndon't have contact with him, but I mean I listen to him whenever he had a\nperformance. But I wasn't able to make it to most of his performances. Just\nperformances at the school. And a vibraphonist who went to School for the Arts\nalso, but I think he's living in Boston because he went to Berklee. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2820.0,2880.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/49","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"And his name\nis Warren Wolf.\n\nI saw him when I went up there this summer because I went up there Boston for a\nmusic camp, and it was only for percussionists. I saw him at one of the\nperformances. I could contact him. But if I see them, I would say hello. But I\ndon't really have their phone numbers and talk to get together to do some kind\nof playing or something.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Do you get to concerts much outside of performances at School\nfor the Arts?\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2880.0,2940.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/50","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"Well, my mom decided to decrease my performances so I can\nfocus on how to adapt myself to the school and then getting used to it. I think\nthat's it, basically -- I think that's the answer -- just changing myself. But\nyeah, I mostly give performances out of school. Well this was in June I had a\nperformance, a school performance, but I don't have as many school performances\nas I did as outside school. Yeah, I have a lot of outside performances, but some\nof them are on weekdays after school which interferes with my homework.\n\nELIZABETH SCHAAF: Well, it's summer.\n\nJUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah. ","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=2940.0,3000.0"},{"id":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504/transcript/38494/annotation/51","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":"I guess you've got to enjoy your vacation.\n\n[END OF INTERVIEW]","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://streaming.peabody.jhu.edu/collections/1178/collection_resources/44173/file/117504#t=3000.0,3060.0"}]}]}]}