About the author
A graduate of The Eastman School of Music, Tom Christensen is an established saxophonist, woodwind specialist and composer in New York City. He is a member of The Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra and has performed with them throughout the world. He can be heard on their latest recordings as well as on Grammy winning albums with Joe Lovano, Paquito D’Rivera, David Sanchez and Don Sebesky. Christensen has also performed with The Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, David Liebman, John Hollenbeck, the BMI Jazz Composer’s Orchestra and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra as well as with pop acts such as Cheap Trick, Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross. He has also recorded cast albums for and performed with many Broadway shows. In 2003 Christensen was awarded a composition grant from Chamber Music America to write and perform an extended work based on the poetry of Frank O’Hara. This piece is featured on his 3rd CD “New York School” on Playscape Recordings which was listed as one the top ten jazz albums of 2005 by All About Jazz. Christensen’s latest project “The Kailash Trio” featuring Tim Sund and Tomas Ulrich released its second CD on Nabel records in 2007 and recently completed a tour of Germany and the US in 2010. Tom can also be heard on Rufus Reid’s recently released Album “Quiet Pride” and on the most recent release by The Dave Liebman Big Band “A minimalist view of Wayne Shorter”. He is currently on the faculty of The Fieldston School and Nyack College.