Toms Journal

It’s been almost three weeks since my friend and fellow musician, Keter Betts, passed away and I still can’t adjust to life without him.  It seems as though the jazz world as I once knew it, is disappearing before my eyes!

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Mr. Betts when Spyro Gyra first played at BET studios in Washington, DC.  He must have been working there as a camera or lighting director because he sat down with me for a half hour before our show and meticulously sketched a punch list of all the solo changes and arrangements in our set.  At the time, I did not know who he was musically until our bassist, Scott Ambush pointed him out and said.  “You know who he is don’t you?”  I said “He’s the director right?”  Scott said “That’s Keter Betts, one of the greatest jazz bass players of all time…he used to play with Ella.”  I was floored!   Keter never said a word to me about his history.  He was so kind, congenial and funny.  I felt like a heel not knowing who he was.  But his personality made you feel like he was your uncle or friend of the family.

A few years later, our dear friend, Roscoe Dellums brought Keter over to our house in Bethesda, MD for dinner.  Keter brought his bass and we played duet for an hour or more.  It was one of the greatest musical experiences I have ever felt!  We connected on so many levels.  I was so honored and thrilled to have spent so much quality time with a jazz legend.   Roscoe, if your are reading this…thank you so much for that evening!

Later that same year, Keter called me to play a gig.   I was so excited, I immediately called him back and said “Sure man, I would love to do the gig…what tunes are you going to play?”  He said, “Hell, I don’t know what tunes I’m going to play yet”.   So I took a couple of his CDs and practiced all the music on them.   As it turns out, I learned an important jazz lesson from Keter on that gig.   Jazz music is all about the moment!  And there is no way you will know what to play until that moment arrives.  Keter didn’t play one tune from those Cds I practiced with that night.  Thank God I knew some of the tunes he did call and the other ones were in my fake book!   Mr. Betts taught me to have faith in the moment and my ability to seize it.  I felt like a beginner that night, but I learned a lot.  I only wish I had more opportunities to experience the musical genius of Keter Betts.

I will forever hear Keter’s voice in my head and the incredible sound of his bass in my heart.  God, how he loved that bass!

 I took this picture of myself while waiting in my room in Paris, France.  Spyro Gyra is scheduled to perform at The New Morning jazz club later on in the evening.  What we don’t know is when we can get in the club to set up and soundcheck.  I also have no idea what rental keyboards I will be playing.   My lower back is screaming with pain and I am trying to forget about it by updating this webpage.

 ”Life is uncertain, have desert first”!  Speaking of desert, I have lost 25-30LBS on a low carb diet (no desert…ever).  Can you tell?  But every time I try to lose weight, my back goes out…This is one of the reasons why my weight has fluctuated over the past 30 years.  Oh well, life goes on…

It has been exactly three years since the terrorist attacks in NY and DC.   And life, in general, is still going on regardless.  My mission remains the same.  Play great, adventurous  live music to as many people in the world as humanly possible…without fear.   We are jazz musicians traveling the world in order to remind other countries that America still stands for peace and freedom.   This music still brings people of the world together to share a common goal.  The fearless celebration of peaceful freedom through melody, harmony and rhythm.  

God bless all those who lost their lives or loved ones in the line of fire or actively fighting for freedom!

I am totally proud and excited to announce the anticipated release of my acoustic jazz piano trio CD, “Schuman Nature.”   This project was the most exhilarating experience of my career to date and is now available on JazzBridge Music.   It features myself on piano, Cora C. Coleman on drums and Dwayne Dolphin and Ameen Saleem on bass.

Cora C. Coleman is a young and fiercely talented drummer who recently graduated from Howard University.  She had been studying with the legendary jazz drummer and singer, Grady Tate.  She recently won a national competition as the best unsigned drummer in the country (that is until she later signed with JazzBridge Music).   I can’t say enough about Cora on this page. 

Dwayne Dolphin is a great bassist from Pittsburgh who is well known in the jazz community.  He has played with Stanley Turrentine, Wynton Marsalis, John Hicks, Hank Jones, Abbey Lincoln, Chico Freeman, Pharaoh Sanders, Clark Terry, Kenny Burrell, and Bobby Watson to name a few.  He has an intense swing factor that created an enormous foundation to play over.  We had a great time playing jazz standards such as Nefertiti (Miles Davis), Search for Peace (McCoy Tyner), Moon Germs (Joe Farrell), and Ruby, My Dear (Thelonious Monk).  We also played an original composition by Dwayne called “Portrait of Adrian,” which he wrote for his son.

Ameen Saleem is another young prodigy out of Howard University.  Cora recommended him to me so we got together at one of our Christmas “jam” parties and he tore my socks off.  He doesn’t speak very much so I have yet to get a detailed history on his musical upbringing.  All I can say is he plays a lot like Ray Brown.  My Dad and I idolized Mr. Brown and I feel as though both my Dad and Ray’s spirits are incarnated in Ameen’s performances.  Ameen played Bill Evans’ “Waltz for Debby” with me as a duet.  He also plays on two out of four of my original pieces.  I am amazed by Ameen’s silent demeanor and musical maturity.

The freedom of playing in this context was so rewarding and spiritually satisfying.  Everyone involved was a pleasure to hang with.  I can’t wait to get the next acoustic project underway!

A lot has happened in the past year.  I have been so thankful for the blessings that have been bestowed upon me that I have not had time to reflect.  I set up this page for me to speak my mind.  Now seems to be the perfect time.

JazzBridge Music has become a reality.  What was a dream is now a living, breathing entity that must be nourished and guided to its own destiny.  My new solo CD,“Into Your Heart”, has received rave reviews by all who listen including the critics.  I am in production of two completely different solo projects which keeps me busy between Spyro Gyra concerts. And now, we have released a new artist, Godwin Carmona, who has graced us with his talent by writing and performing “You Save Me” in memory of the victims and heroes of last years devastating tragedy.

This new single not only gives homage to the 9/11 victims and their families but is an anthem celebrating the power of unconditional love.  It sings praise to the gift of love which heals the heart and prepares us for our passing without fear.  What an incredible realization!  It sometimes takes a tragedy to help us see the key to life.  Love is what nourishes, cleanses and strengthens our souls.  It gives us purpose and meaning.  It delivers peace and understanding on the cruelest of nights.  And music is one of the few vehicles which can communicate this message clearly.  I hope you will join us at JazzBridge Music in honoring those who lost their lives and their families by following their lead by loving one another unconditionally and living your lives as though it were your last day.  You never know when that day will come! 

Yvonne and I will be updating this site more frequently.  So keep checking periodically for the latest developments.

God bless you all,

TOM

I’m proud to be an American!  Not only did this country give the world jazz, blues, bluegrass, rock, funk, soul, rap, hip hop and country music, just to name a few,    but it’s where all the arts and cultures of the world are shared and blended.  We are free to create new and exciting ways of expressing ourselves without fear.  And the opportunities for  making original creative works available to the rest of the world are stronger than ever.  I’m also very proud of how we as Americans have come together amid the tragic and senseless acts of terrorism which devastates us all.  I believe everything happens for a reason.  So, I believe there is something getting ready to happen that is more powerful and beautiful than we could ever imagine!

Human beings have been known to respond to tragedy in incredibly positive ways.  New music is just one form of positive response that will come as a result of September 11, 2001.  I have devoted my life to writing, performing and producing quality, heart-felt instrumental and vocal music.  JazzBridge will help make the music available to the world. 

Loving my wife and family and cherishing every moment that God gives me, is also a constant.  If there are any positive lessons to be learned from terrorism, they are the respect and appreciation for love, life and the gifts God gave us to help ease our pain.