Pat Thomi has a talent for creating music that inspires the listener to "see without looking," music that is so visually provocative, it can tell a story that transcends language, communicating through its sheer emotional impact and reinforcement of the visual.  His guitar performances have been featured in television commercials for such clients as Kawasaki, Mitsubishi and Chevrolet, among others, as well as on the scores for such long-form projects as "The Final Cut," starring Sam Elliott, and the popular "Knight Rider" series.  Pat has also scored such projects as the acclaimed PBS documentary "Speed" and "Dry Long So," an independent film featured at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. 

Born and raised in Basel, Switzerland, Pat developed his eclectic taste in music and gift for performance during a childhood rich in musical exposure. His father was an accomplished classical and jazz piano player and instilled in his son the basic foundation for any aspiring composer - a love of the great masters.  From Mozart and Wagner to Debussy and Berlioz, Pat studied them all.  But while he was firmly grounded in the classics, Pat found he also had a passion for his father's collection of jazz, and big band music, as well as Euro pop bands such as The Beatles.

As a young boy of seven, Pat first tackled the drums as his main instrument, developing the innate sense of rhythm and timing that is so evident today in his remarkable ability to hit poignant emotional cues.  He later included piano and guitar studies, spending two years learning harmony and classical composition from renowned European composers at the Basel Conservatory of Music.  Ultimately, Pat was eager to fine tune his skills in front of a live audience and formed the jazz/rock band Ramayana, which played such popular events as the Montreaux Jazz Festival and the Zurich Jazz Festival, as well as numerous clubs throughout Europe.  

The influential Swiss composer/arranger and big band leader George Gruntz, who served as one of Pat's mentors, convinced him to further hone his talents through advanced musical education and recommended he attend the Berklee School of Music in Boston.  There, Pat studied film music, delving in-depth into the emotional and technical aspects of composing for picture.

Following his education, Pat relocated to Los Angeles in 1981 and studied with such virtuoso jazz guitar players as Pat Martino and Joe Diorio.  Pat immersed himself in the local music community and began playing live and in the studio with such diverse artists as Gino Vannelli, Joe Vannelli, Jean Luc Ponty, Bonnie Hayes, L. Subramaniam, Gary Wright, David Liebman and Prince proteges Wendy and Lisa. 

Studying the varied styles and techniques of these artists inspired Pat to explore the technical side of recording and producing his own music.  Once outfitted with a state-of-the-art 24 track recording studio, Pat had the freedom to fully realize his musical ideas.  In 1994, he released a progressive pop/jazz instrumental CD called "Night of the Coral," produced by Joe Vanelli for Vie Records.  Following up in 1998, he released the CD "Fairytales", an atomospheric, acoustic compilation. In the summer of 2000, Pat demonstrates his eclectic range with "Remote Control", a CD showcasing his electric, progressive pieces.

Spring of 2001 marks the release of "Pyramids", his first CD for Blue Blimp Records. With this album, Pat presents another collection of richly rextured, atmospheric, acoustic music.

Soundsamples here:

http://www.patthomi.com/musical.html