Born: May 3, 1974 Primary Instrument: Sax, tenor
Tom Tallitsch is a Saxophonist, Composer, Music Educator, and Radio Host. He currently lives in New York City.
He performs throughout NYC, Philadelphia, the Northeast, and regularly tours throughout the U.S. at clubs and festivals.
Tom's newest release is 'Heads or Tales' (4/12) on Posi-Tone Records. Featuring Jared Gold (Hammond B3), Dave Allen (Guitar), and Mark Ferber (Drums).
The self release album Duality (11/05) marked Tom’s debut as a recorded leader, and features guitarist Dave Manley in an intimate duo setting. It received fantastic critical reviews and is on jazz play lists throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States. He has performed live broadcasts and interviews on Philadelphia’s WRTI Temple public radio.
Tom's second album 'Medicine Man' was released 2/19/08 on the Seattle based Jazz Label Origin/OA2 Records, featuring Philadelphia musicians, Tony Miceli (vibraphone), Victor Baker (guitar) , Paul Gehman (bass) , and Dan Monaghan (drums). It has received critical acclaim and is on radio playlists throughout the United States and abroad. During Medicine Man's first month after it's release, it rose up the Jazz Week Radio Charts from to #107 in the United States. It is currently on radio and internet playlists throughout the world. On December 2nd, 2008 Tom's composition 'Yellow' from 'Medicine Man' was featured at the 2008 IFP Gotham Film Awards in NYC.
His third album 'Perspective' was released with Origin/OA2 Records (2009 JazzWeek Label Of The Year), on November 17th, 2009. It features Philadelphia greats, John Stenger - Piano, Paul Gehman - Acoustic Bass, Victor Baker - Guitar, Justin Leigh - Drums, and Tom - Soprano and Tenor Saxophones. Like his previous two albums, it explores his own compositions.
In addition to having his compositions and arrangements played by vocalists and musicians throughout New York and Philadelphia, Tom has had his works performed by individual dancers from the Martha Graham Dance Company at various choreographer showcase venues.
Tom owns a highly recommended music tutoring business in Princeton, NJ and is a popular jazz educator and clinician. He is the founding director of the Central NJ Homeschool Bands, works as a piano tutor to students with autism at The Princeton Child Development Institute, and was a member of the artist faculty at Mercer County Community College from 1999-2006. He has taught at The Westminster Conservatory, Philadelphia Clef Club, Creative Music Studios, The Groove Academy, and many more. He is a gifted music educator who has given lectures and clinics at many top high schools including The Lawrenceville School and The Pennington School. He has had students continue on to pursue professional careers at conservatories throughout the country.
He hosts his own jazz radio show titled “The Modern Jazz Radio Show” on the Mercer County Jazz Station WWFM Jazzon2 89.1 HD2. The show features Tom's own personal jazz picks and commentary, and airs every Thursday evening from 8:00 to 10:00 pm.
Tom is originally from Cleveland, Ohio where he began his musical training on the piano, clarinet and saxophone. He has a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM), and has participated in clinics with Joe Henderson and Chris Potter. He has studied with saxophonists Rick VanMatre, Ernie Krivda, Mike Lee, Ben Schachter, Seamus Blake, and pianist Phil DeGreg.
“An interesting set of original compositions from frontman Tallitsch, Perspective takes some time giving the full ensemble room to stretch out with long, flowing pieces galore. The album opens with “Swirl,” using the full ensemble to signal movements in tone while letting pianist John Stenger twinkle throughout. In “Conscious Contact,” the pace quickens a bit and the band begins to separate for bits of collective improvisation, but the key figures remain Tallitsch and Stenger soloing and comping back and forth ably -- this is one of the best chances on the album to hear Tallitsch's sensitivity to the music as he alternates quick, strong passages with more tender cuts. “Propellerhead” provides an outstanding solo from Stenger, “Red Giant” builds into a tight groove after a bit of buildup, and “Slippery Rock” eventually builds into a casual groove of sorts. “Tall Order” gives guitarist Victor Baker a chance to lay out a quiet, casual solo at length, and ”Dark Before the Dawn” makes a nice interlude of sorts before the finale. “In a Whirl” provides a little bit of modality, a little bit of Miles' classic sounds, and a constantly roving piano-and-sax combination that enlivens the proceedings just enough to close out the album with some energy. The show tends to focus specifically on Tallitsch and Stenger, but the album and the performances (all around) are entirely solid.” --Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide
“Tallitsch is a Philadelphia-based saxophonist with a sound that shows both restraint and passion. His tunes are modern jazz through and through, not adhering to genre or style in any significant fashion. The tune “Conscious Contact” is an introspective minor melody that lets Tallitsch’s soprano speak in cohesion with his group. Piano, guitar, bass, drums and reeds build to a crescendo, and Tallitsch doesn’t let loose until the tune is good and ready to speak up. His use of dynamics and his restraint make his songs come alive. Some swirl and eddy, as on the circular “Propellerhead,” while others bubble under, like “Red Giant.” His tone is emotive and his compositions allow him to take us on short musical journeys with his more than able band. Here’s a guy to watch in the future.” --Kyle O'Brien, Jazz Society Of Oregon
Heads Or Tales
Posi-Tone Records
4/16/2012
Tom Tallitsch: Tenor Saxophone
Dave Allen: Guitar
Jared Gold: Hammond B3 Organ
Mark Ferber: Drums
Perspective
OA2 Records
11.17.09
Tom Tallitsch: Tenor & Soprano Saxophones
Victor Baker: Guitar
John Stenger: Piano
Paul Gehman: Acoustic Bass
Justin Leigh: Drums
Medicine Man
OA2 Records
2.19.08
Tom Tallitsch: Tenor
Tony Miceli: Vibraphone
Victor Baker: Guitar
Paul Gehman: Acoustic Bass
Dan Monaghan: Drums
Duality
Tom Tallitsch Productions
11.05
Tom Tallitsch: Tenor
Dave Manley: Guitar
Disclaimer: All About Jazz is not responsible for the accuracy of the discographical data at the website(s) provided. If a link is no longer valid, please contact discography@allaboutjazz.com. Thank you.
Primary Instrument:
Sax, tenor
Location:
Hamilton, NJ
Credentials/Background:
Saxophone - Clarinet - Flute - Piano - Jazz Improvisation - Clinician
With over 15 years of individual and classroom teaching experience, and as a
graduate of the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati
(CCM) in Jazz Studies, Tom offers an inspired approach to childhood-adult
musical instruction. His highly recommended music tutoring business is
based in Mercer County New Jersey, and instructs motivated students in
Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Piano, and Jazz Improvisation/Composition. Tom
is an experienced high school and college clinician, and has been an artist
faculty member at Mercer County College since 1999. Tom is also active in
tutoring adult students with Autism through the adult program at the
Princeton Child Development Institute (PCDI). In 2004 he organized the
Central New Jersey Homeschool Bands, which provides home-schooled
students the opportunity to rehearse and perform in an interactive musical
environment.
Tom has been an educator or clinician at these following schools and
institutions:
Mercer County College - Jazz Saxophone and Woodwinds
Central NJ Homeschool Bands - (founding director)
Princeton Child Development Institute (PCDI) - Piano
Westminster Conservatory - Saxophone and Clarinet
Creative Music Studios - Saxophone, Woodwinds, Piano
NJMTA Concerto Adjudicator - Saxophone
Philadelphia Clef Club for the Performing Arts - Saxophone
The Groove Academy - Saxophone
The Lawrenceville School - Guest Jazz Artist and Clinician
Bay Village High School - Guest Jazz Artist and Clinician
The Pennington School - Guest Jazz Lecturer
