Tom's early professional experiences have included 3 years in the Army Band, several cruise line contracts, and freelance work as a performer and composer. Through these times, he's learned to excel in many styles. In May 2012, Tom graduated from NYU, where he was an adjunct faculty member. Here, he also performed and worked with a wonderful faculty including Kenny Werner, Brian Lynch, Chris Potter, Ralph Alessi, Tony Moreno, and trumpet guru Laurie Frink, who all inspire him as a musician and a teacher. While in New York, Tom was a faculty member at Douglaston School of Music and Art, where he worked with younger students.
About Perry Smith:
A creative musician with a positive and hard working attitude, guitarist Perry Smith combines his love for jazz with broad influences from rock and folk to create his signature style.
Perry is a founding member of the critically acclaimed New West Guitar Group and a member of jazz singer Sophie Milman's Band. Based in New York City he leads his own group, plays as a sideman with local jazz artists and has worked under legends such as Dave Brubeck, Diana Krall, Nancy Wilson, Pat Metheny, Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano, and Bobby McFerrin. Perry’s extensive performance resume includes notable venues such as the Blue Note Jazz Club, Village Vanguard, Dizzy's Club @ Lincoln Center, Montreal Jazz Festival, Hoffest (Berlin), The World Expo (Japan), and Yoshi’s Jazz Club.
As a composer, Perry was a finalist in the 2007 International Songwriting Competition and won the 2006 ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award. His debut album “Stars and Cars” features eight of his original compositions and Music Web Express called it "a thoroughly impressive mix of jazz and rock to create a bona fide fusion of modern jazz guitar styles."
In 2005 he received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Flora L. Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he studied guitar with jazz legend Joe Diorio and composition with renown bandleader John Clayton. In 2011 he completed his Masters in Music at New York University and was named the “Outstanding Graduate” in the Jazz Department.
http://www.tomgershwinmusic.com
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