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.