Latin percussionist Steve Thornton is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Before moving to Malaysia, Thornton lived and worked in New York. In the course of his formidable recording career he has worked and recorded with saxophonist Sadao Watanbe, and continues this gig today. Thornton has also worked with and appeared on albums by Herbie Hancock, Mongo Santamaria, jazz legend Miles Davis, and pianist McCoy Tyner, as well as Tracy Chapman, Mariah Carey, and Michael Jackson. His playing is particularly well displayed on albums by jazz vocalist Tania Maria and by romantic crooner Jon Lucien. Most recently, Thornton released an album under his own name ("Nature's Plan"), and appeared on a CD with Keiko Lee, a jazz vocalist popular in Japan.
Steve's talent and stature in his adopted homeland are such that even when he is acting in the role of sideman his presence pushes everyone involved to a higher level. The debut solo concert of Siti Nurhaliza, was powered by an impeccable rhythm section led by Steve. And Siti's crowning moment may have been when she turned percussionist (by way of Steve's tutelage). It was a surprise display of skill that caught the audience off-guard and sent them into a frenzy of appreciation. Music that once seemed bounded by the urban centers in which it originally flourished now seems to be taking root everywhere.
