Tom Kirkpatrick Bio

 Tom was born in Springfield, Ohio in 1954, the product of a musical family. His first instrument was piano, buy a precocious interest in jazz led him to the trumpet. Tom describes himself as “basically self-taught” even though he attended Bowling Green State university and The Julliard School of music.

It was through the encouragement of Chet Baker that Tom was persuaded to move to New York in 1977 and try his luck in the toughest of all jazz cities. The gamble paid off and Tom has an excellent reputation amongst the best of his peers.

The English journalist Mark Gardner in the 90s writes : “Finding a personal style is the most difficult task facing the apprentice jazz musician. Style involves many elements, not least tone and phrasing. Some players take years to discover this intangible element. With others it just seems to come naturally. Trumpeter Tom Kirkpatrick seems to belong in the “natural” category. He has a beautiful sound, a rhythmic ease and admirable control of his instrument.”

Tom has worked and performed with Chet baker, Harold Mabern, Billy Higgins, Lou Donaldson, Charles Davis, Walter Bishop, Max Roach, George Coleman, Clifford Jordan just to name but a few.

After many years in New York and touring the States, Japan and Europe, Tom left for Denmark for a teaching job. He lived in Copenhagen for a year and a half. He then went to Holland for another teaching job for six months and after that he was asked to do a tour in the South of Italy and this is when he fell in love with Italy.

Meanwhile Billy Higgins had recommended Tom to Alberto Alberti, an important Italian manager and Tom started getting a lot of gigs in Italy and Europe. He moved to Ferrara (a town in the Emilia Romagna region) playing and teaching. Tom is always remembering his relationship  with Alberto Alberti with great affection and now with great sadness as well because Alberto passed away in September 2006.

He is considered to be of the smoothest trumpeters around with a full, pretty tone, especially effective in the middle register. He is tough on both smoking bebop and ballads, a rarity in jazz players these days. His varied experience is evidenced by his ability to really get inside a tune, avoiding the stringing together of clichés that many horn men lean on. Tom also handles himself well on the bandstand with his wit and intelligence working overtime.

As the journalist Kyeld Frandsen said: “…he works with a very classic bebop expression, brilliantly telling and with a total control of all the registers and shades of the horn. He also has an unusually playing style filled with motives, in reality making all of his solos wonderful, musical short stories…”

 Tom cites Kenny Dorham as his major influence.

Kenny Dorham and Miles Davis were contemporaries. Kenny was born in 1924 and Miles in 1926. Both made their first recordings in 1945. Although Kenny never received the public acceptance and acclaim that Miles eventually did, he was and is still acknowledged by musicians as one of the great players in Jazz. Kenny’s influence can be heard in the current playing of New York trumpeters Tom Harrell, Virgil Jones and especially Tom Kirkpatrick. Dorham replaced Davis in Charlie Parker’s historic quintet in December 1948. Miles was at the forefront of several major changes and developments in the direction of Jazz and is one of the most sustaining and creative forces in all of jazz. Kenny died on December 5, 1972 and Miles is still playing and recording in 1987.

(Extract from the Jazz Educators Journal by Dick Washburn)

Recordings soon to be released:

 Steve Grossman/Tom Kirkpatrick Sextet. Rec. Spring 2010, Rome, Italy

Luciano Fabris Quintet, featuring Tom Kirkpatrick “Remembering Bird” Volume 1 and 2. Rec. November 2009

 Recordings currently available:

Charles Davis All Stars Rec. Nov 2009 TCB Recordings

Jazz from New York (Tom Kirkpatrick quartet), 2003

Nicola Arigliano- My Name is Pasquale-( Live Recording at the Teatro Fiamma di Terni), 2000

Powder Keg- Ned Otter, Tom Kirkpatrick, Harold Mabern, Dennis Irwin, Billy Higgins, Two and Four Records, 1987

So Little Time – Ned Otter, Tom Kirkpatrick, George Coleman, Billy Higgins, Two and Four, 1988

Walter Bishop Quintet Vol. I and I, Timeless CD SJP 373, 1991

Presenting Michael Weiss, Criss Cross 1022, 1986

T.K. Plays for Lovers, 1987

In the Chet Baker Mood, Tom Kirkpatrick Trio, Timeless CD SJP 44, 1998

Rein De Graaff Timeless Label Volume I & II “Now’s the time” and “Ornithology” 1990

Focus – Ned Otter Quintet, Two and Four, TF001CD, 1988

Playing the Masters, with the Italian Super Saxes, featuring Tom Kirkpatrick, 1999

Jonn Del Toro Richardson is a Texas Blues blues guitarist through and through. This Albert King ward winner has roots in the Houston music scne where he was first inspired by his uncles, and continued to play with many Texas blues greats.

Winners of the 2011 Cincy Blues Challenge!!!

Rooted in old school tradition and steeped in passion- Miss Lissa & Company specialize in delivering blues with dynamic power and genuine feeling. Originally founded in 2007 in Dayton, OH- this Company has been focused on producing blues music that either brings you to your feet or keeps you at the edge of your seat- all while staying true to the musical roots with their emphasis on tone and form. Melissa “Miss Lissa” Young’s soulful vocal emotion and stage presence combine with the double shot of irrepressible guitar of Eric Henry and his “Little Big Brother in the Blues”- the “Mighty” Casey Ott, along with “Big Joe” Edwards on Bass and Aaron “the Hammerhead” Hemmert on drums- this Company brings you an intense blues experience you will not forget!

Jazz recording artist, composer, arranger, and producer Kim Pensyl has been twice among Billboard’s Top-20 Contemporary Jazz Artists of the Year. Kim is both pianist and trumpeter, with four Top-10 albums on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart.

He has recorded with jazz legends such as Toots Thielemans, and modern greats like Joey Calderazzo, Bob Mintzer, Chiele Minucci, Andy Narell, Will Kennedy, Steve Rodby, and Alex Acuna. He has performed at such esteemed jazz venues as The Blue Note, Blues Alley, Caravan of Dreams, Scullers, the Beacon Theatre, and the Great American Music Hall. He has also appeared at the Clearwater Jazz Festival, Sunfest, Summerfest, Stone Mountain Jazz Festival, and Pacific Jazz Festival among others. Also, Kim has toured with the Woody Herman Orchestra and Acoustic Alchemy. He has more than 100 published works recorded and over 150 compositions and arrangements in his catalog. Great reviews from DownBeat, Jazziz, Jazz Times and others have followed him during his career, echoing the feelings that fans have about his music.

Kim is currently Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. He is the featured artist in the WJZA Smooth Jazz Trio around Central Ohio and also performs at various clubs and concerts. In addition, Kim performs with the faculty and guest artists at CCM, including Arturo Sandavol, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Mulgrew Miller among others, along with several big bands in the Cincinnati area.

Randy Villars brings his  jazz trio to Gillys March 8th 2012. Villars is a classically trained pianist and saxophonist (recently playing sax on tour funk with artist Bootsy Collins) Villars is also very active in the Cincinnati music scene and has a collection of smooth jazz cds.

Randy Villars has performed and recorded with Maynard Fergusen, Sonny Stitt, James Moody, John Scofield, Eddie Harris and Mulgrew Miller among others.