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Tommy Cecil

Jazz bassist Tommy Cecil has been active in the Washington, DC jazz scene since 1976 when he moved from his hometown Baltimore, MD. He has established himself as one of the most in-demand players in the area.

Tommy has had long associations with many of DC’s favorite jazz greats, including John Eaton, Buck Hill, Charlie Byrd, Dick Morgan, Shirley Horn, Brooks Tegler, and the Redd Brothers. As a freelancer, Tommy has worked with Mose Allison, Tommy Flanagan, Joe Henderson, and many other star artists. Concert appearances have taken Tommy throughout the U.S. and overseas.

Tommy is featured on dozens of recordings as a sideman. As a leader, he has released four albums: “American Melodies” with guitarist Nate Najar,  “Our Time: Sondheim Duos Volume 2” and “Side by Side: Sondheim Duos” with pianist Bill Mays; and “Samba for Felix” featuring Tommy Flanagan, Billy Hart, Gary Bartz, Paul Bollenback, and Cyro Baptista. He released two albums with pianist Louis Scherr, including “The Song Is You” and “Warm Valley featuring Joe Henderson.”


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4
Album Review

Tommy Cecil: Our Time: Sondheim Duos, Volume 2

Read "Our Time: Sondheim Duos, Volume 2" reviewed by Dr. Judith Schlesinger


This is the follow-up to the 2012 Side By Side: Sondheim Duos by the same brilliant pairing of Tommy Cecil, bass, and Bill Mays, piano. From the opener, the jaunty “Everybody Says Don't" (from Anyone Can Whistle, 1964), it's clear that this 2013 session will unfold like the first--laced with superb technique, imaginative arrangements, feeling and wit. And also like Volume 1, this session neatly punctures the old cliché that Sondheim may be a gifted lyricist, but cannot write beautiful ...

3
Album Review

Tommy Cecil and Bill Mays: Side by Side: Sondheim Duos

Read "Side by Side: Sondheim Duos" reviewed by Dr. Judith Schlesinger


This is a brilliant collection of nine songs associated with composer Stephen Sondheim and delivered by the estimable pianist Bill Mays and excellent bassist Tommy Cecil. Cecil, who initiated and produced the project, is well-known in Washington, D.C., but his huge talent should bring him much wider attention. As for Mays, there's always the sense of a quick intelligence and ready humor behind those formidable chops; no pianist currently plying the trade makes more thoughtful and satisfying choices.The ...

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Performance / Tour

Blues Alley Presents, Chuck Redd, Nate Najar & Tommy Cecil

Blues Alley Presents, Chuck Redd, Nate Najar & Tommy Cecil

Source: All About Jazz

Blues Alley

Jazz Veteran Chuck Redd (Vibraphone) and Newcomer Nate Najar (Jazz Guitar) team up together along with Washington DC Veteran Bassist (Tommy Cecil) for a night of cool jazz at Blues Alley. Redd began performing internationally when he joined the Charlie Byrd Trio in 1980 at the age of 21. That year, he joined the Great Guitars (Barney Kessel, Charlie Byrd and Herb Ellis). To his credit are twelve extensive European tours and four tours of Japan. Najar is ...

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