Tom began playing piano at the age of five. Growing up in the
wilds of North Wales, listening mainly to his dads Elvis collection
and his mums E.L.O. records, he has surprisingly developed a strong
jazz piano style likened to Errol Garner, Oscar Peterson, and Ramsey
Lewis.
Mainly self taught (Tom was mercilessly thrown out of piano
lessons at the age of 10, for playing his own tunes and not the
set pieces!) he met clarinetist James Evans while doing music A
level. They formed a duo and performed their own brand of jazz
standards and original compositions to an unsuspecting welsh public
(!) teaming up with local band Dr. Jazz featuring Manchester guitarist
Andy Mackenzie. During this time Tom played with touring British
and American instrumentalists such as Kenny Baker and Michael Hashim,
Later teaming up with saxophonist Jonny Boston and joining Boston
Tea Party.
A move
down to London was inevitable and Tom had 5 successful years
here playing with the tea party as well
as joining London
based band the Fallen Heroes, featuring Emile and Ben Martyn.
This band is still going strong and performs worldwide in music
festivals
and top venues, from London's 100 club to New York’s
Lion's Den. He has also backed various artists, including Roy
Williams,
Alan Barnes, Barry Martyn and Bruce Adams, to name but a few.
Tom now lives near Manchester and still plays regularly in London,
as well as with a select group of fine Northern musicians, forming
a trio in 2003 with Bass playing extraordinaire Richard Vernon
and the late, but ever so great Peter Cotterill.
