Tom Wetmore, a pianist, composer and bandleader based in New York City, is considered an asset to modern music. Tom has been an NYC regular since 2005. He performs in clubs from Harlem and Brooklyn (and everywhere in between). He also leads a number of top-flight bands, including his jazz trio and the genre-defying sextet the Tom Wetmore Electrical Experiment. The Desired Effect, Tom’s debut album, was released by Crosstown Records in 2011. It showcases his eclectic musical sensibilities. Tom draws inspiration from Miles Davis and Bach, but he has always sought out that rare form of musical expression that transcends musical boundaries. Although he is well-versed in jazz, having studied with Harold Mabern and Mulgrew Miller, Tom has also explored the experimental aspects of improvised music. He has extensive work with modern innovators like James Weidman. Blake, the Avant Garde legend and the one who in fact invented the idea of jazz and classical music blending (in the 1950s), was Tom’s work. He challenged Tom to see beyond stylistic limitations and to use extensive ear training to remove any disconnect between his musical ideas, and his ability to play the piano. Tom is equally comfortable performing and composing, so writing has been an integral part his creative process. Tom studied jazz composition under Cecil Bridgewater, Jim McNeely, and modern classical composition under Jeffrey Kresky. He has since developed a style that blends the rhythm and advanced harmony of jazz and classical music with the visceral groove and funk of popular music. He was a finalist in the ASCAP Young composers award. Tom has recorded or performed with many top musicians, including Jaleel Shaw and Michael League, Garrett Brown and TK Blue, Clark Terry as well as Slide Hampton, Brad Williams, Justin Sabaj and Bernard “Pretty” Purdie. He has a bachelor’s degree in music from Cornell University, and a master’s in jazz studies from William Paterson University. He also attended Berklee College of Music, and the New England Conservatory. from http://www.tomwetmore.com
