Since his arrival in New York in 1989, Tom Christensen’s saxophone voice has set him apart. All Music Guide says, “Christensen possesses the goods to be a major force within the global modern jazz arena.” Jazz composers from Toshiko Akiyoshi to Darcy James Argue to Rufus Reid have found fuel for their musical visions in Tom’s dynamic solos. His mastery of double reeds, flutes and clarinets led the Detroit Free Press to describe his work as “fresh, intelligent” music that “honors post-bop improvisation without falling into clichés associated with bebop, modal jazz or the superficial exotica of world music.” Jazz masters from Joe Lovano and Paquito D’Rivera to Don Sebesky have featured Tom on Grammy winning recordings, and he’s performed and toured with the Maria Schneider Orchestra, the John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, to name just a few. He can be heard with Cecile McLorin Salvant on her most recent project Ogresse and on Rufus Reid’s Quiet Pride, David Liebman’s A Tribute to Wayne Shorter, and on Ryan Truesdell’s The Gil Evans Project: Lines of Color. As bandleader and composer, Tom won a composition grant from Chamber Music America for an extended work based on the poetry of Frank O’Hara. Tom featured the piece on his third solo project, New York School (Playscape), a CD All About Jazz listed as one its Top Ten Jazz Albums of the year. Tom’s latest collaboration is Spin Cycle with drummer Scott Neumann. The band has performed at the Rochester and Toronto Jazz Festivals and garnered rave reviews in Downbeat magazine. Tom performs regularly in clubs and concert halls around New York City. He is also the author of several books on jazz pedagogy, the co-founder of Sound Footing Records, and teaches jazz at New York’s prestigious Fieldston School.
Discography
As A Leader
Gualala (NaxosJazz, 2000)
Paths (Playscape-Recordings, 2002)
New York School (Playscape-Recordings, 2005)
with Spin Cycle
Spin Cycle (Sound Footing Records, 2016)
Assorted Colors (Sound Footing Records, 2018)
Advanced Concepts in Rhythm and Harmony (Sound Footing Records, 2020)
Spin Cycle III (Sound Footing Records, 2022)
with Ryan Truesdell and The Gil Evans Project
Live at the Jazz Standard (Artist Share, 2014) Grammy Nominated
with The Kailash Trio
Americana (Nabel, 2003)
Kailash (Nabel, 2007)
with The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra
Monopoly Game (BMG, 1998)
Tribute to Duke Ellington (BMG, 1999) Grammy Nominated
Hiroshima: Rising from the abyss (BMG, 2001)
Last Live at the Blue Note (Warner Bros Japan, 2004)
In Shanghai (After Beat, 2011)
with Rufus Reid
Quiet Pride (Motema, 2014) Grammy Nominated
with Joe Lovano
Celebrating Sinatra (Blue Note, 1997) Grammy Nominated
Viva Caruso (Blue note, 2002)
with Cheap Trick
Sgt. Pepper Live (Big 3 Records 2009)
with Don Sebesky
I remember Bill (BMG, 1998)
A Joyful Noise (BMG, 1999) Grammy Winner
with Paquito D’Rivera
Portraits of Cuba (Chesky, 1996) Grammy Winner
with John Pizzarelli
Our Love Is Here To Stay (RCA, 1997)
with David Sanchez
Obsession (Columbia, 1998) Grammy Nominated
with Pete McGuinness
First Flight (Summit, 2007) Grammy Nominated
Strength In Numbers (Summit, 2014)
Along for the Ride (Summit, 2019)
with Michael Musillami
Spirits (Playscape-Recordings, 2004)
Dachau (Playscape-Recordings, 2005)
with Tim Sund
Butterfly Effect (Laika Records, 2018)
with John Hollenbeck
John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble (Omnitone, 2005)
with David Liebman and The David Liebman Big Band
The Seasons Reflected (Blacksaint, 2003)
A Tribute to Wayne Shorter (Summit, 2014)
