Jazz Articles about Tom Tallitsch

Tom Tallitsch: Message

by David A. Orthmann
March 28, 2021

There is hard bop DNA in tenor and soprano saxophonist Tom Tallitsch's twelfth record as a leader, the third consecutive release for his TT Productions imprint. While it is always tempting to start making comparisons to classic sides from the genre, or to simply dismiss recognizable sounds as old hat in a world bursting with new ideas and concepts, Tallitsch and his associates warrant attention on their own merits. As on two recent recordings, Wheelhouse (Posi-Tone) and Ten ...

Tom Tallitsch: Ten

by David A. Orthmann
December 12, 2019

Ten is a recording that resides and functions well in a stylistic no man's land. Tenor and soprano saxophonist Tom Tallitsch and his clever band display little interest in paying homage to easily recognizable jazz styles; yet, they don't make a point of abandoning traditional practices either. Taking a stab at some basic descriptions of some of Tallitsch's six compositions--medium tempo swing, skewed jazz-funk, a deliberately paced jazz waltz, Latin-tinged jazz, etc.--amounts to something of a fool's errand. Suffice it ...

Tom Tallitsch: Wheelhouse

by David A. Orthmann
July 14, 2018

Tom Tallitsch's Wheelhouse is a recording in which something honest and genuine springs from the soil of a long established, familiar jazz style. Although pinning a hard bop label on the music is fairly accurate, ultimately it amounts to a quick, glib, descriptive fix that may distort or diminish the character of the record. The same applies to reflexively reaching for influences in the compositions, ensemble work and the soloists. In short, there's too much substance here to brood over ...

Tom Tallitsch: All Together Now

by Dan Bilawsky
April 14, 2015

All Together Now--the sixth overall effort from tenor saxophonist Tom Tallitsch, and his third for the Posi-tone imprint--is a well-balanced musical affair built around a surefooted and wholly capable sextet. Tallitsch works with a rhythm section and two other horns here, creating smart and uncluttered settings that showcase the musicians without boxing them in. He works various stylistic angles into his compositions, touching on myriad moods in the process. There's a driving tune that vacillates between swing ...

Tom Tallitsch: Heads Or Tales

by Bruce Lindsay
June 7, 2012

Tenor saxophonist Tom Tallitsch makes his Posi-Tone debut with Heads Or Tales, a welcome addition to that label's impressively strong roster of straight-ahead and swinging musicians. Tallitsch has a warm tone, a lyrical and flowing style and an ability to craft solos that add to the narrative of his compositions: qualities that make the tunes--all but one his own compositions--immediately accessible, yet capable of rewarding repeated listening with fresh revelations.While Heads And Tales is his label debut, it's ...

Tom Tallitsch: Heads Or Tales

by Dan Bilawsky
May 1, 2012

Jazz musicians are often lauded for how different they are from one another, but all of the most notable musicians who wear the jazz label actually have one thing in common: expertise in telling a story. When theory, technique and stylistic divisiveness are all removed from the equation, musicians are left with the not-so-simple task of creating aural narratives worth following, and plenty of them can be found on Heads Or Tales.Tenor saxophonist Tom Tallitsch put together a ...

Take Five With Tom Tallitsch

by AAJ Staff
April 17, 2009

Meet Tom Tallitsch: Tom resides in the greater Philadelphia/Central New Jersey area. As a saxophonist he works as a leader and sideman in Philadelphia, New York, and the Northeast.

Tom's primary instrument is tenor saxophone. His doubles include soprano, alto, clarinet, flute, and piano. His critically acclaimed albums include Medicine Man (Origin, 2008), and Duality (Self Produced, 2005).

His third album will be released in mid-to-late 2009 on OA2 Records. Tom has his own jazz radio show which airs on ...