Leron Thomas has been actively releasing music for two decades, remaining dedicated to his objective of demonstrating that his artistry cannot be confined to a single category. While this ethos might be easy for any "experimental" musician to express, it presents a different challenge for someone who has achieved success within the fiercely competitive and tightly controlled New York jazz scene. After excelling as a trumpet player at one of the city's leading conservatories, Thomas performed with some of the most celebrated figures in the field, including Roy Hargrove, Charles Tolliver, and Billy Harper. He has also collaborated closely with Lauryn Hill, Bilal, and most notably, Iggy Pop, with whom he co-wrote the 2019 jazz-fusion album 'Free' and later became the musical director for Iggy's current live band. Since his debut solo album, 'Dirty Draws Vol. 1', released in 2005, Thomas has boldly challenged the unspoken norms of the jazz world, rejecting conformity and risking his reputation as he ventured into songwriting and featuring his voice in his projects.
Operating under the name Pan Amsterdam since 2018, Thomas's solo music has gradually gained traction with UK audiences, largely due to airtime from Iggy Pop and other presenters on BBC Radio 6. He has released three albums under the independent label Def Pressé, establishing himself as a rapper, with fans often comparing his lyrical style and musicality to that of MF Doom. His projects blend a humorous and subconscious rap style with distinctive trumpet phrases, set against a backdrop of boom-bap rhythms crafted by artists such as Damu The Fudgemunk and thatmanmonkz.
Two decades after the start of his solo career, ‘Confines’ marks the first Pan Amsterdam release under Heavenly Recordings, a label known for promoting unique and unconventional sounds, including those of Kneecap, Gwenno, and Lynks. This twelve-track LP is a celebration of Thomas's creative values and explores a wide array of musical expressions. The song compositions are heavily influenced by George Clinton, seamlessly transitioning between an abstract, otherworldly vibe and thoughtful sociopolitical commentary. Throughout, Thomas defiantly challenges the elitist attitudes from his past that urged him to "stay in the confines."
‘Day Out’ is the album's opening track, beginning with the line, “living more vicariously than a white girl through her mixed baby.” The lyric was inspired by a disturbing viral video of a white mother who shamelessly exploited her young interracial daughter for social media attention. As the father of a mixed-race daughter, Thomas found this particularly resonant. Nonetheless, the track evolves from this sentiment, layering into a surreal sonic environment where unconventional rhymes—such as “Mariachi” paired with “Pagliacci”—highlight the album's playful rejection of traditional norms and celebration of the quirky.
In 2018, Thomas sent Iggy Pop a track called ‘PLUS ONE’, which became Pan Amsterdam’s debut release and the first of his songs featured on Iggy’s Confidential Show on Radio 6. In a poetic twist, the new album revisits this track, now featuring Pop’s unmistakable gravelly voice. Coupled with a mysterious ambient beat and a captivating trumpet melody, the song immerses listeners in the intimate, dimly lit atmosphere of a late-night jazz venue in New York. This theme is echoed in ‘NYC Town’, another track that exists in an entirely different form prior to this album.
Last year, Metronomy collaborated with Pan Amsterdam to release ‘Nice Town’, the band’s inaugural single under the new label Ninja Tune. However, the slower original version included in ‘Confines’ has Thomas delivering the lyrics in a melancholic tone rather than the upbeat rap style. The chorus—“Nice town… nice town…”—serves as both a loving homage and a wry reflection on the city’s narrative, highlighting the way New Yorkers continually affirm their connection to the city, sometimes as reassurance for themselves and others. The introspective lyrics capture the city as a space for self-reinvention, grappling with the question of whether transformation is an escape or true self-discovery.
Tracks like ‘Sure’ and ‘Meeshy J’ adhere to the album's overarching theme. Building a reputation as a rapper on previous albums and reinforcing it in tracks like ‘Evening Drive’, these songs transition into a different vocal realm, showcasing Thomas’s soulful singing talent. The project concludes with the title track ‘Confines’, a triumphant tribute to his lifelong musical journey, characterized by an unwavering dedication to creating without limitations.
8/10
Words: Finlay Harrison
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For the last two decades, Leron Thomas has consistently put out music, steadfastly adhering to his goal: to demonstrate the authenticity of his artistry.