Ben Thomas has been a percussionist since 1985. Playing vibes, drumset, and percussion, he has performed in a wide variety of groups and genres. In the last few years, Ben has performed at the Bumbershoot Arts Festival, Detroit-Montreaux Jazz Festival, Issaquah Jazz Festival, Anacortes Arts Festival, Ellensburg Jazz in the Valley Festival, Tacoma Maritime Festival, Bellingham Art of Jazz Series, and the Seattle Art Museum.

Thomas received his Master of Music with Honors in Improvisation from the University of Michigan in 1994. While in graduate school, he directed the University's Jazz Composers Orchestra and performed with Stephen Rush. His time with Rush resulted in the CD recording of Rush's chamber opera, Murders in the Rue Morgue. Thomas also graduated from Swarthmore College, where he majored in mathematics and music.

As a composer, Thomas has written for chamber groups, big bands, jazz combos, dance and theater. In 1999, he was awarded a grant for music composition by the Seattle Arts Commission. Since moving to Seattle, he has been leading jazz groups and playing with a wide variety of other musicians. Thomas currently teaches at Highline Community College. Working as a clinician/educator, Thomas has taught clinics and masterclasses at Eastern Washington University, the University of British Columbia, Western Washington University, the University of Puget Sound, and Seattle's World Rhythm Festival, as well as high schools and grade schools in Florida, Michigan and Pennsylvania.