What is the Pat Thomas Quartet's music inspired by?

The Pat Thomas Quartet's music is inspired by Sufism and the legacy of late bassist Ahmed Abdul-Malik, a pioneer of global music.

How did the audience react to the Pat Thomas Quartet's performance in Glasgow?

The audience danced ecstatically around the quartet during their performance, despite the pianist, Pat Thomas, having his eyes shut during the improvisation.

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Sufi-Inspired Jazz Quartet Captivates Crowd with Eclectic Fusion

Q: What diverse musical influences can be heard in the Pat Thomas Quartet's music?

The quartet's music blends abstract improv and groove music from a range of influences, including Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, dub, jungle, electronics, and the 1990s free-improv of Derek Bailey, Lol Coxhill, and drummer Steve Noble.

14 Nov, 2025

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Summary

British free-jazz pianist Pat Thomas leads quartet in powerful fusion of Sufi inspiration, rhythmic intensity, and improvisation
Quartet's music dedicated to legacy of late bassist Ahmed Abdul-Malik, pioneer of global music
Crowd danced ecstatically during the group's performance in Glasgow in April 2022

Sufi-Inspired Jazz Quartet Captivates Crowd with Eclectic Fusion

On April 2022, the British free-jazz pianist Pat Thomas and his quartet أحمد [Ahmed] delivered a captivating performance at Glasgow's Glue Factory. The group's music was a powerful fusion of Sufi inspiration, rhythmic intensity, and improvisational fire, dedicated to the legacy of the late bassist Ahmed Abdul-Malik, a pioneer of global music from the 1950s to 1970s.

Despite Thomas's eyes being shut during the improvisation, the ecstatic crowd danced the night away around him. The quartet's collective heat blended abstract improv and groove music from diverse influences, including Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, dub, jungle, electronics, and the 1990s free-improv of Derek Bailey, Lol Coxhill, and drummer Steve Noble.