"Alan Thomas was the excellent soloist in the premiere of his own Rhapsody on a Spanish Theme for Guitar and Orchestra - a three-movement work of lush harmonies and memorable melodies written in a rich, romantic style that pays homage to Rachmaninov. It was very appealing and enjoyable, with the composer making ingenious use of the work's opening theme." Leicester Mercury newspaper (England) "Thomas conjured a wonderfully rich world from his instrument in this spellbinding concert. Anyone interested in the best of what's being written for the contemporary guitar should seek out Alan Thomas, who exudes confidence and pleasure in his inspired playing and repertoire." Classical Guitar (England) "What strikes one most about this collection are Thomas's bold arrangements. Thomas takes the feverishly adolescent exuberance of "She Loves You" and transforms it into a lovely, achy, mature love song. It's a completely fresh reading and beautiful -- and it's pure genius." Minor7th.com
"Alan Thomas is an intelligent and meticulous performer who applies his innovative approach and vision to probe the guitar's greatest depths." Yeniyuzyil (Istanbul) "…a player of great technical facility. The MacDowell transcriptions were excellent and the Rodrigo pieces rousing." Soundboard (USA)
"The guitar in the hands of this master effortlessly conveyed the stylistic contrasts and overcame the most daunting technical difficulties." Musica Viva (Sofia)
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the concert was the emergence of the electric guitar in music which owed little or nothing to blues or rock sources. Laurence Crane's Bobby J. evoked Robert Fripp's early experiments in guitar ambience in spirit, if not in substance, while the prevailing toccata motion of Ian Moore's Chantefables had an almost Baroque agility under Alan Thomas's fingers. musicweb-international.com "…vast personal and musical charm… Alan Thomas's concert programs are distinguished by a masterly virtuosity, exceptional expressiveness, and a unique and inimitable style." The Azerbaijan (Baku)
"The Per Norgard highlights [of the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival] all came on a Sunday morning concert by the guitarist Alan Thomas. Exploiting all the guitar's richness, Jack of Diamonds was dispatched with strutting yet sensitive style." The Times (London) Alan Thomas played brilliantly [in Evis Sammoutis's] Alter Ego 1, which explored that instrument's possibilities, melodic, percussive and harmonic, with scordatura to enhance overtones through sympathetic resonance. Musical Pointers
