Tom Teasley

Tom Teasley is described in the Washington Post as a "percussionist in the widest, most exuberant sense of the word." Tom, an extremely versatile percussionist, is in the unique position of performing as a featured soloist and playing in a variety of ensemble settings including jazz and world music, chamber and symphonic orchestra.

Teasley presents over 100 concerts yearly of "The Drum: Ancient Traditions Today", a solo performance which traces the use of percussion through various hand drums, traditional percussion and electronics. Tom's music is frequently featured on NPR Radio stations. Tom was recently featured as percussion soloist with the National Symphohy Orchestra. He also served as percussion consultant and artistic collaborator for the musical work entitiled "DC Citypiece". Premiered on June 28, 2000 at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, the work is the focus of a documentary film. Tom continues to perform with his colleague singer/actor Charles Williams in "Word Beat" (a performance project combining original compositions by Tom and words by great authors). Tom collaborates with visual artist Michael Platt in a series of residencies for the Kreeger Museum of Washington, DC. Tom was just named Percussion Chair at the Levine School of Music.

"(Tom's) a creative bonanza - give Tom a bass drum, a snare drum and a djembe & he'll give you part Stravinsky, part Art Blakey. No instrument has limitation for him - the way he glides over his kit, hand drums and electronics, it looks simple and free. Just when you think you've got him figured out, he pulls another rabbit out of the hat. Of course, that's what makes good art."
  - Bruce Wittet, Modern Drummer Magazine