Tom Wolfe
Web Site
September 2000

Simple Peace
Self Produced
2000

Simple Peace
Reviewed By
Glenn Astarita

Tom Wolfe, director of jazz studies. M.M., Eastman School of Music; B.M., Capital University. Studied with Gene Bertoncini, Rayburn Wright, Bill Dobbins. Most recently awarded an Artist Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts for the year 2000. Wolfe is the first jazz musician to receive this honor. 1998 Kennedy Center/USIA Jazz Ambassador. Toured several countries of North and West Africa under the auspices of this prestigious program, including a performance at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage. Awarded by the Druid Arts Council the 1999 Musician of the Year. Currently Vice President (President-Elect) of the Alabama Chapter of the International Association of Jazz Educators. Commissions include the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve Jazz Band and other universities throughout the U.S. Tours and performances with artists, such as: Bob Hope, Englebert Humperdink, and the Guy Lombardo Orchestra. Performed throughout the U.S., El Salvador, and France. Former faculty member at University of Southwestern Louisiana, Kenyon College, Otterbein College. University of Alabama faculty member since 1994.

Most recently, Wolfe released a new CD, entitled "Simple Peace." Made possible by a fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, "Simple Peace" features all original material by Tom Wolfe. In a short period, the CD has met with wide acclaim. See the reviews below. Wolfe explains: “My music is based in the jazz tradition, but with all the other influences of my life mixed in. I grew up on rock, country, and gospel. It’s all there. The goal of the group and music is to be spontaneous with direction and fire. Jazz is improvisation: speaking from the heart at that time. It is art of the moment. The next time the audience hears us, we will still be tight and play the tunes they recognize, but the interaction and solos will be different, giving them a ‘new’ look into our creative process.”

Performing professionally since the age of 17, Tom Wolfe has had myriad experiences. From performing in theme park shows while still in high school, performing as a sideman for Bob Hope at age 19, to touring Africa as a Jazz Ambassador, he has been involved in music at a very sophisticated level. Having just completed his fifth year at the University of Alabama, Wolfe has established himself as one of the top jazz guitarists in the southeast region. Accustomed to the world of academia, Wolfe performs and offers masterclasses for both high school and college level students. He is in high demand to perform throughout the region in jazz clubs or as a sideman for touring artists, such as vocalist, Giacomo Gates and saxophonist, Jamey Aebersold. It is not uncommon to find him performing at City Stages or other music festivals in the region.

Wolfe is a core musician for the W.C. Handy Music Festival. At this week-long event, he performs with many talented musicians, such as: Mundell Lowe, Holly Hoffman, Bill Goodwin, Rick Bell, Victor Atkins, etc. He also teaches at the Handy Jazz Camp, a music camp for high school students which explores the music of jazz.

Recently, Wolfe was appointed to the 1998 Kennedy Center/USIA Jazz Ambassador program. Following in the footsteps of other Jazz Ambassador's like, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Dizzy Gillespie, Wolfe toured five countries in West and North Africa. For four and a half weeks, he performed concerts and gave masterclasses in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Morocco. With his duo partner, Rick Condit, they met with African musicians and performed for crowds as small as 35 people in a private residence to over 1,000 people in a town arena.

To kick off the tour, the duo performed a concert on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts. This concert was cybercast live and highlights of the concert are archived on the Kennedy Center's website: www.kennedy-center.org

Currently, Wolfe is performing and recording with his new trio. This group features the talents of drummer, Mark Lanter (Erik Essix, Vova Nova) and reknowned bassist, Oteil Burbridge (Aquarium Rescue Unit, Allman Brothers).