The Jazz Bandit

The Jazz Bandit's Biography

Born in Michigan (near Detroit) and brought up on Mo-town music, Ray Charles, Aretha, Stevie Wonder..

Tom

Took lessons on the blues from a gentleman who took lessons from Ray (so he told me and I believe him cause my Ray Charles licks were better than anyone else's). Did classical concerts as a teenager, but soon became enamored with all the blues and R&B all around me, so I started playing that stuff, picking it up off of records, grabbing a few tips from local keyboard guys.

Played a few warm-up gigs with some big Mo-Town folks (including Stevie), then got interested in rock/jazz fusion in the 70s . Played in two small bands (Connor and Evans with Dan Connor, and the Funky Duo with Bill Metros) and ran an after hours jam session in a small club in Lansing (Michigan) for a few years, while I picked up a PhD. in psychology , which has provided my bread-and-butter day gig all these years. Then moved to Wisconsin, met some musicians who sometimes did road gigs with Prince got interested in writing in the 80s, since I didn't have time to play gigs anymore. Moved to Oklahoma in the 90s, and did a Songwriters night at a local club in Norman (near the University of Oklahoma) for a few years. I've collaborated with a few excellent female vocalists along the way, stayed in touch with my old friends from the small band days (Dan and B). I work with a lady in my home studio (Linda) who has the voice of an angel, she does back up singing mostly, which is the only thing pretty you'll hear on my tunes. My voice is a bit raspy and harsh, but I soften it up now and then. The instrumentals are all me, cause its hard to find musicians who will work on your originals on my schedule (for little or no money)

Tom

So I'm the keyboard, percussionist, simulated guitar, simulated flute, etc. Sometimes it works out, sometimes I wish I had my old friend B on the drums, and Danny on the guitar they both put me in a real creative mood when they are around..

Linda

What I spend my musical time on these days is trying to write and record songs about people, relationships, the challenges we face in being human. My psychologist background probably influences my choice of subject matter, since I have written songs about drug abuse, infatuation, bad choices, etc. although most of my stuff is about men and women and sex, and how we manage to mess it up most of the time instead of enjoying it.

So listen to a few bars. If you like the tune, buy the CD or MP3. If you are a musician and you would like to do one of these songs with your band, on your own CD or whatever, drop me a call/email, and well chat. I love it when other musicians want to do my tunes!

Musicians/songwriters -- If you like any particular tunes , if they reach inside, let me know. That is why I write the songs, hoping that someone will feel what I felt when I put it together. If you like the lyrics but want to go a different way with the tune/progression/arrangement, I'm always open to collaboration/co-authorship.

Remember, I'm just the Jazz Bandit, Navigatin' the Blues with some Tomfoolery. Most of what you'll hear musically is semi-jamming, i.e. I don't take the time to get it tight and refined. Probably because I like the almost jamming kind of sound. But I'd love to have some of you talented full time musicians take it up a notch, refine it, make it better. Just give me a buzz, we'll talk.