“Tom Erickson is in the vanguard of the most recent wave of jazz composers writing for large ensemble. With on foot in the big band tradition, his other foot is planted firmly in the future, drawing on a number of genres from all over the world of music. I really like what I hear from him now, and I believe that this CD is a harbinger of great things to come. Long story short: keep your ears and eyes on Tom Erickson!”
-Jim McNeely, pianist/composer
…on the evening I attended they performed an amazing composition ‘The Long Way Around’ written by local saxophonist and composer Tom Erickson. I was floored with the depth of his writing; it expressed a modernism that incorporated complex harmonic structures with the flow and energy of modern popular forms such as electronic music. The writing and arranging in this group is exquisite; every tune in the set was a colorful mosaic of harmonic and rhythmic textures.
- Paul Riola, Creative Music Works
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about
Tom recently arrived in the PNW from Brooklyn, NY where he was involved in the vibrant New York City music scene, most notably with his 17 piece large ensemble, Flying Dragon. Tom’s compositions and arrangements have been performed by Flying Dragon, HGM Jazz Orkestar Zagreb (Croatia), USAFE Jazz Ambassadors (Germany), Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge, 9th & Lincoln Orchestra, Yellowstone Big Band, and collegiate ensembles across the country including the William Paterson University Jazz Orchestra feat. Randy Brecker. In 2013 & 2014, Tom was a finalist for the BMI Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize.
Tom attended the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music (BM, 2004), and William Paterson University (MM, 2010). Tom studied woodwinds with Earnie Northway, Art Bouton and Mark Rose; jazz improvisation with Rich Perry, Eric Gunnison and Ron Miles; and composition/arranging with Jim McNeely, Rich DeRosa, Mike Holober and Dave Hanson.
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©2016 by Tom Erickson