Saxophonist, Composer, Music Educator, and Jazz Radio Host, Tom Tallitsch currently lives in the Philadelphia/ Central New Jersey area, where he maintains a rigorous performance schedule as a leader and sideman. Since his arrival in 1996, he has established himself as on the Philly jazz scene and has played with many of the area's top musicians. His ensembles have regularly performed at such jazz clubs and festivals as Ortlieb’s Jazz Haus, Chris’ Jazz Café, Zanzibar Blue, Tritone, Mellon Jazz Festival, Berks Jazz Fest and many more.
The self release album Duality (11/05) marked Tom’s debut as a recorded leader, and features guitarist Dave Manley in an intimate duo setting. It received fantastic critical reviews and is on jazz play lists throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States. He has performed live broadcasts and interviews on Philadelphia’s WRTI Temple public radio.
Tom's second album 'Medicine Man' was released 2/19/08 on the Seattle based Jazz Label Origin/OA2 Records, featuring Philadelphia musicians, Tony Miceli (vibraphone), Victor Baker (guitar) , Paul Gehman (bass) , and Dan Monaghan (drums). It has received critical acclaim and is on radio playlists throughout the United States and abroad. During Medicine Man's first month after it's release, it rose up the Jazz Week Radio Charts from to #107 in the United States. It is currently on radio and internet playlists throughout the world.
On December 2nd, 2008 Tom's composition 'Yellow' from 'Medicine Man' was featured at the 2008 IFP Gotham Film Awards in NYC.
His third album 'Perspective'' is set to be released with OA2 Records (2009 JazzWeek Label Of The Year), on November 17th, 2009. It features Philadelphia greats, John Stenger - Piano, Paul Gehman - Acoustic Bass, Victor Baker - Guitar, Justin Leigh - Drums, and Tom - Soprano and Tenor Saxophones. Like his previous two albums, it will explore his own compositions.
In addition to having his compositions and arrangements played by vocalists and musicians throughout Philadelphia, Tom has had his works performed by individual dancers from the Martha Graham Dance Company at various choreographer showcase venues.
Tom owns a highly recommended music tutoring business in Princeton, NJ and is a popular jazz educator and clinician. He is the founding director of the Central NJ Homeschool Bands, works as a piano tutor to adult students with autism, and was a member of the artist faculty at Mercer County Community College from 1999-2006. He is a gifted music educator who has given lectures and clinics at many top high schools, and has had students continue on to pursue professional careers at conservatories throughout the country.
During the spring of 2009 Tom organized a non-profit arts organization called 'Living Arts Outreach, Inc.' This organization is committed to creating charitable fund raisers, educational programs, arts awareness events, performance opportunities, and community outreach programs for performing artists; including musicians, dancers and visual artists. More information about Living Arts Outreach events will be posted in the coming months.
He hosts his own jazz radio show titled "Modern Jazz " on the newly formed Mercer County Jazz Station WWFM 89.1 HD2. The show features Tom's own personal jazz picks and commentary, and airs air every Thursday evening from 8:00 to 10:00 pm.
Tom is originally from Cleveland, Ohio where he began his musical training on the piano, clarinet and saxophone. He has a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM), and has participated in clinics with Joe Henderson and Chris Potter. He has studied with saxophonists Rick VanMatre, Ernie Krivda, Mike Lee, and Ben Schachter, and pianist Phil DeGreg.
