Tom B is one of the UK’s most exciting young talents. Although only in his twenties, he has already made a name for himself as an outstanding pianist and is often described as “a young Jools Holland”. His music reflects influences of Daniel Barenboim, Vladimir Horowitz and Keith Emerson, through to more modern artists such Jools Holland and Axel Zwingenberger.
Tom combines dazzling, virtuoso classical with thundering, foot stomping boogie woogie. Formidable technically, his intense and creative approach to music is demonstrated in his ability to produce inspired works across the whole of the Blues/Classical spectrum. Whether performing a Chopin Ballade or some of his excellent original material, his command over both genres demonstrates a unique spin on the traditional concert experience, setting him apart as an exceptional performer and boogie pianist without parallel.
In August 2016, Tom released his acclaimed debut album, “Face To Face”, which features a unique combination of classical and blues, including some of Tom’s excellent, original compositions. The CD has attracted attention from some of the world’s leading critical sources as well as celebrity personalities, including, International Piano Magazine, Fanfare Magazine (USA) and Blues Matters Magazine. Fanfare described Tom’s playing as “balm to the soul… delivered by a young man of much talent”; and of his his recording of Chopin’s fourth Ballade, “a beautifully nuanced reading, incredibly tender at heart; yet he has all the technical arsenal at his command”. In the January/Feb 2017 edition of International Piano Magazine, Tom’s album is featured alongside Angela Hewitt OBE, Maurizio Pollini, Danlil Trifonov and Emil Gilels. The magazine’s critics were fascinated by Tom’s unique combination of genres as described his album as, “an intriguing disc, which at first glance looks as if it shouldn’t work, but does… Well recorded, this is something of a treat”. Impressed by his boogie playing, they also wrote, “the frivolity is infectious, the atmosphere closer to a live performance than the studio; but underlying all of this is Tom’s rock solid sense of rhythm”. Over the coming years, Tom is expected to establish a reputation as the UK’s No.1 Blues/Boogie Pianist.
"the frivolity is infectious, the atmosphere closer to a live performance than the studio; but underlying all of this is Tom's rock solid sense of rhythm"
"balm to the soul... delivered by a young man of much talent... beautifully nuanced, incredibly tender at heart; yet he has all the technical arsenal at his command"
"Tom B is beyond exceptional. To conceive and achieve such mastery of the piano shows a talent beyond his years; his music allowed me to explore, dream and discover"
"A versatile and unique performer… his lightness of touch gives a most pleasurable experience"
"Tom B has the 88 keys from a wonderful musical world, where the beauty of boogie woogie and the lyricism of a sonata sound like heaven's bells"
"I’ve reviewed more than 1900 albums in the last eighteen or nineteen years, and I have to say that I’ve never heard one quite like Tom’s Face to Face... What an inspiring and amazing discovery Tom is! Face to Face is an album that needs to be heard to be believed"
"Tom B: The Face of Classical Blues"
"A talented pianist, writer and arranger, this is a CD that I’ll be playing for a long while. Whether you’re a classics fan, a blues fan, a boogie piano fan or even a jazz fan, I think there’s something here for everyone who likes classy piano music, played superbly"
"I was immediately struck by the brilliance of his playing and I marvelled at his outstanding keyboard skills"
