Thomists play at opening of ECMA's

by Erin McPhee, BA III

The Thomists played at the opening ceremonies of the ECMA’s held at South Market Billiards in Saint John at noon on Thursday, January 31. Their performance launched the 72 hour jam.

The Thomists are a 20 member Big Band style dance orchestra founded in 1965 by former professor Harry Rigby.

“Word has gotten around,” said Rigby. He said they were asked to play probably because of the recent release of their CD, Ninety and Zero.

“It was an incredible experience. The people there seemed to enjoy it,” said Thomist trombone player and St.Thomas student Wes McLean. “I saw Shirley McAlary dancing. She appeared to be enjoying herself,” McLean joined the Thomists in the fall of 2000.

Saint John Mayor Shirley McAlary made comments prior to the Thomists’ set.

“She advertised our cd. She waved it in the air. She had received it and said it was a great cd,” said Rigby. McAlary spoke of Rigby’s career, both as Director of the Thomists since their creation in 1965, and his involvement in music prior to then. She said it was interesting that he is from Ireland and Saint John is an Irish city.

Rigby said he has heard reports that sales of their new cd are, “going well.” For the week ending January 22, 2002, Ninety and Zero was number one on CHSR-FM 97.9 Top Thirty. McLean says Ninety and Zero, “has a lot of our favourites that we play at dances.

“I have great fun. I look forward to each time we play. It makes it all worthwhile when you play a song and they all get up and dance,” said McLean.