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Tom Wetmore
Borrowing just as much from Bach as from Miles Davis, Tom has long embraced the pursuit of that rare breed of musical expression that defies musical boundaries. Though well- grounded in classic jazz--having completed studies with such traditional masters as Mulgrew Miller and Harold Mabern--Tom has delved even deeper into the more experimental elements in improvised music, completing extensive work with such modern innovators as James Weidman and Ran Blake.
His work with Blake--the Avant Garde legend who practically invented the notion of combining classical music with jazz (in the 1950s)--challenged Tom to look past all stylistic boundaries and, through exhaustive ear training, strive to eliminate any disconnect between his musical ideas and his ability to express them on the piano.
Just as comfortable composing as performing, Tom has made his writing an integral part of his creative process. Having studied jazz composition with Cecil Bridgewater and Jim McNeely and modern classical composition with Jeffrey Kresky, Tom has developed a style that combines the advanced harmony and rhythm of jazz and classical with the visceral groove of funk and other popular music. He has been a finalist for the ASCAP Young Composers award.
Tom has performed or recorded in various formats with such leading musicians as Jaleel Shaw, Michael League, Garrett Brown, TK Blue, Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Brad Williams, Justin Sabaj, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, and many more.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a Master’s in Jazz Studies from William Paterson University. He has also studied at Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory.
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Tom Wetmore: The Desired Effect
by Dan Bilawsky
A wide gulf often separates a composer's intent in the creation of his/her work and a listener's interpretation upon hearing it. While musicians try to capture or convey a certain sound, mood, spirit or energy in their recorded work, they can't control the environment and circumstances surrounding a consumer's exposure to it, and pianist Tom Wetmore seems to understand this better than most. Wetmore's self-penned liner notes shrewdly allude to this issue and, rather than spell out what he's trying ...
read moreTom Wetmore: The Desired Effect
by Mark F. Turner
Here's a sophisticated and hip debut from up-and-coming pianist Tom Wetmore. His studies with well-noted composer/improviser Ran Blake and influences that cite Brad Mehldau and Stevie Wonder speak volumes about his openness to create music that is versed in classic jazz but stretches beyond its confines. Since 2005 he's been thick in the New York City music environment, whether performing, writing or leading his own traditional jazz trio. But his alternate ego is plugged in and materializes with The Desired ...
read moreJazz Pianist/Composer Tom Wetmore Debuts with "The Desired Effect," Jan. 17
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Terri Hinte Publicity
The buoyant grooves and graceful melodies heard on the forthcoming CD The Desired Effect serve to introduce a fresh new voice in jazzTom Wetmore, whose Crosstown Records will release the pianist/composer's exceptional debut, The Desired Effect, on January 17. The 29-year-old Massachusetts native has been active on the New York scene since 2005, leading his own traditional jazz trio as well as his eclectic sextet. He's also performed and/or recorded with Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, T.K. Blue, Bernard Purdie, and ...
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From: The Desired EffectBy Tom Wetmore