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Tom Lagana
As a jazz guitarist and bandleader, a classical guitarist, an educator, and a composer, Tom Lagana has garnered respect for his creativity, musical integrity, and devotion to his craft. After graduating from the Berklee College of Music, he worked as the guitarist for the Walt Disney Jazz Band in Orlando, Florida, before returning to his home state of Maryland where the Tom Lagana Trio became the house band at The King Of France Tavern in Annapolis.
Lagana went on to get a Masters in Music at Towson University where he was awarded second prize in the Sidney Lieberman Competition, the first guitarist ever to place in that competition. His analysis of the work of Pat Metheny was published by Just Jazz Guitar magazine and endorsed by Metheny himself. Lagana has participated in master classes with Ralph Towner, Dusan Bogdanovic, The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Roland Dyens, and the Brazilian Guitar Quartet. He was a guest artist at the First World Guitar Congress and was invited to play for guitarist/composer Carlo Domeniconi at the Long Island Guitar Festival. Lagana was featured with the National Symphony Orchestra in David Del Tredici’s work Final Alice and appeared again with the NSO and Eric Idle of the Monty Python troupe.
He has also performed with the York Symphony Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony, and recently with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in the John Waters’ Hairspray tribute and again as accompanist to singer Jackie Evancho. Lagana has played many festivals, shared the bill with jazz icon Herbie Hancock, and worked with George Garzone, Walt Weiskopf, Joel Frahm, Red Rodney,Craig Handy, Bob Mintzer, and Marvin Stamm. He is also a veteran of many theatre productions including the world premiere of Giant at the Tony Award winning Signature Theatre, as well as the 2022 smash hit Mean Girls written by SNL famed comedian Tina Fey. Kennedy Center productions of Little Shop of Horrors and Footloose are among many other highlights. Lagana’s guitar work can also be heard on the Fox Network show America’s Most Wanted.
He has taught at Towson University and is currently on the faculty at University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Howard University in Washington D.C. His recordings as a leader include Patuxent, Schematic and the most recent Vol.1.
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Take Five with Tom Lagana
by AAJ Staff
Meet Tom Lagana:Tom Lagana graduated from Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music in 1992 and began his career as a musician in the Walt Disney Jazz Band.Upon returning to Maryland, jazz legend Charlie Byrd took an interest in Lagana after hearing him play in a local coffeehouse saying, Tom Lagana is one of the most promising jazz guitarists in the area" and invited Lagana to sit in with Byrd on several occasions. Later that same year ...
read moreGuitarist Tom Lagana to Perform in Philadelphia at Chris' Jazz Cafe on Friday, May 21
Source:
DL Media
Guitarist Tom Lagana to Perform in Philadelphia at Chris' Jazz Cafe on Friday, May 21 Performance in support of Harvest TimeEntertainment release SchematicHarvest Time Entertainment announces a performance date for guitarist Tom Lagana atChris' Jazz Cafe on Friday, May 21. Lagana will perform music from his new CD, Schematic(release date: May 18). The all-star line up includes venerated saxophonist George Garzone, bassist Tom Baldwin and drummer Todd Harrison. It's an evening not to be missed!For ...
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Guitarist Tom Lagana Stakes His Claim on Second CD; Sax Legend George Garzone Guests on Schematic
Source:
DL Media
Guitarist Tom Lagana Stakes His Claim on Second CD; Sax legend George Garzone Guests on SchematicScheduled for May release on Harvest Time RecordsFor the past decade, guitarist Tom Lagana has been quietly carving out a niche on the D.C.-Baltimore-Annapolis jazz scene, with occasional forays into Richmond, Virginia and Philadelphia. On Schematic, the 40-year-old protg of guitarist Charlie Byrd makes a strikingly original statement with a potent rhythm tandem of drummer Todd Harrison and bassist Tom Baldwin ...
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