Tom is the 2017 Kenny Wheeler Prize winner. He was born into a musical family, and was surrounded by great music from Frank Sinatra through Louis Armstrong. Tom started playing the saxophone when he was nine years old. However, Will Osborne’s inspirational lessons led Tom to jazz a few more years later. Tom began the Junior Jazz Course at The Royal Academy of Music at age 16 and went on to earn a scholarship on the Academy’s Undergraduate Jazz Program in 2013. He also earned a First Class Hons Degree in 2017. Tom is now a well-known player on the scene and has been a member of the Academy’s Junior Jazz Course since he was 16. He has been performing and writing music throughout Britain for years and will soon release his debut album. In August 2018, he will also be co-leading and writing with a quartet that includes James Maddren and Alex Hitchcock. Previous performances include Ronnie Scott’s and Brecon Jazz Festivals, Cheltenham Jazz Festivals, Brecon Jazz Festivals, The Jazz Nursery as well as The Jazz Nursery, The Vortex and The 606 Club. Tom enjoys working with composers and music producers, as well as pop artists like Ian Livingstone, who composed the “LEGO Superheroes 2” and “LEGO DC Villains” soundtracks. He also appeared on Live Blue Peter with Tom Fletcher and was recorded by music producer TYRELL. Tom is proud to lead his own groups and also plays a part in groups such as The Barry Green Sextet. The Billy Marrows Octet. The Olli Martin Quintet. And occasionally, he’s also a member of the Gareth Lockrane BIG BAND and The London Super Sax Project with Sammy Maine, Nigel Hitchcock and Graeme Blevins. Tom is proud to have performed with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra at numerous venues, including the Royal Albert Hall as part the BBC Proms series. Tom also enjoyed touring the UK together with Jeff WIlliams and Bill McHenry, as well as playing at the Vortex alongside Evan Parker and Iain Ballamy, and for a series of gigs at Ronnie Scott’s along with the Guy Barker Big Band. Visit www.tombarford.com
