Michele Thomas Reclaims Jazz History with a Powerful New Rendition of “No More”
Some songs just never lose their power—their messages still hit just as hard years, even decades later. Chicago jazz singer Michele Thomas brings new life to one such standard with her breathtaking rendition of No More. Originally written in the ’60s by legendary flutist Hubert Laws, with lyrics later added by the great Jon Hendricks, the song has always been inspiring. Now, Michele Thomas makes it her own and brings something new which also feels tailor-made for the times we're living in right now.
This song was originally released on Michele's 2022 album The Assumption, and it's been getting much love ever since. So, she and her team decided to make a lyric video. It was directed by artist Kevin M. Gates and features strong visuals combined with Jon Hendricks' lyrics and was released on the last day of Black History Month. The video is about remembering the past, what people had to go through but at the same time it's a prayer for the future.
Michele Thomas loves and respects Jazz, but she doesn't want to be put in a category. Her rendition of No More is fueled with gospel energy, rich harmonies, and a great mix of neo-soul, folk, and rock that makes it sound fresh. And with some of the best musicians Chicago has to offer backing her, she presents us with a performance that's technical and emotionally intense.
So many of us are trying to be strong when faced with difficulties, and Michele Thomas gives us something that’s pretty special, both a protest and a prayer. It’s a strong message, a message to anyone who will not have let their future being controlled by the past. And with the lyric video, she's taking it even further by being open, by being vulnerable, and by inviting others to listen to the message, to see it, feel it, live it.
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