Tom Vincent Trio with Branford Marsalis CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

 

The support act for Branford Marsalis’ tour was Hobart pianist, Tom Vincent with Leigh Barker and Hugh Harvey. I’ve written this band up several times on CJ. They are an interesting trio with real historical jazz leanings, a readiness to play loose and improvise readily, and a great feel for an easy swing. Tom leads whole gigs with no charts and no set list, moving freely through medleys of standards and playing outrageously with the tunes, arbitrarily syncopating and reharmonising as the muse takes him. It’s a rare experience. Despite the location (Sydney Opera House, no less) and the environment (supporting Branford Marsalis), he presented a set with the same degree of reckless immediacy, although he seemed to have a clear Monk theme on this outing. It was brave (he could have taken a safer path) but it worked and he was well received. Well enough for the trio to be called out to play with Branford as part of the encore. Congrats to Tom, Canberra boy Leigh and Hugh. http://canberrajazz.blogspot.com/2010/03/branford-thereabouts.html

Tom Vincent is hard to place within the spectrum of Australian jazz piano stylists. He is engaging, and he means to be. He reaches for the audience, unlike some who, through no particular intention, seem to stand behind their impressive work paring their fingernails. Tom Vincent seems almost anxious that you will like him. He projects something self-mocking, something very personal: a wry quality. He has at his fingers a range of techniques and styles, including elements that have been considered avant garde. When Tom Vincent plays them they are all - the old timey, the experimental - entertaining, engaging and sincerely felt. He swings. He is engaging, He is whimsical. He is in his way quite original.
Tom Vincent at the piano is a good show and an intimate, intriguing and never entirely predictable experience.
John Clare, Sydney Jazz Critic - Feb 2010

Tom Vincent Trio presents a spontaneous, swinging, erudite and unpredictable take on jazz. It's a game of follow the leader where bass and drums try to anticipate where the intrepid piano is heading. If they guess right it's tight, if they guess wrong it's a glorious train wreck where the only casualty is convention. Either way the listener is the clear winner.”

Brian Ritchie, Violent Femmes, December 2009

 

A wonderfully talented pianist and composer, Tom Vincent is truly a musician who plays in the moment, giving us the rare privilege of being included in the process of his artistic creations.

Spontaneity rules!

Mike Nock, Jazz Pianist, Sydney, December 16th 2009