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Blackwood Tom Schmidt

About Me

Born San Francisco, grew up in East Bay. Studied English at S.F. State, with private lessons from the altoist John Handy. Poet, English teacher at American River College, Sacramento, '65 to '76, musician since. Current main bands are The Washboard Wizardz and The Port City Jazz Band. Also in Uke 'n Reed and The Crawdad Poetry & Jazz Ensemble in Merced, current residence. Recorded with Joe Craven, Sourdough Slim and Backwoods Jazz. Primarily work in Dixieland/swing contexts, with forays in free jazz. Entertainers, The Washboard Wizardz are maestros of hillbilly jazz.