Jazz Articles about Tom Varner

Samo Salamon Ra Kalam Bob Moses Orchestra: Dream Suites vol. 1

by Alberto Bazzurro
July 21, 2025

Basta scorrere i nomi dei musicisti coinvolti nell'operazione per capire di quale rappresentatività per una data scena della più creativa e verace attualità jazzistica “unga" questo assolutamente notevole album cofirmato dal chitarrista sloveno Samo Salamon e dal batterista newyorchese Bob Moses. Lo compongono tre soli ampi brani (dai tredici minuti alla mezz'ora appena scarsa) incisi nel novembre 2023 e fondati sulla pratica della libera improvvisazione (non si parla neppure di conduction, in questo caso), raggiungendo una dimensione formale assolutamente invidiabile, ...

Jim Knapp Orchestra: It's Not Business, It's Personal

by Jack Bowers
December 12, 2021

The Jim Knapp Orchestra's CD It's Not Business, It's Personal, recorded in February 2009, was set to be released on November 19, 2021—six days after Knapp died at age eighty-two in Kirkland, Washington. Apart from his role as bandleader, Knapp was a trumpeter, composer, arranger and longtime faculty member at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. Described by Grammy-winning composer/pianist Jim McNeely as “a brilliant musician, great teacher and a humble, sweet [and] generous man," Knapp was widely recognized ...

Tom Varner: Second Communion

by Glenn Astarita
June 14, 2002

French hornist Tom Varner's previous OmniTone release, Swimming was considered by many as one of the finest modern jazz releases of 1999. On his follow-up, the artist renders a keenly perceptive tribute to the late trumpeter Don Cherry. Part of the beauty resides within Varner's ability to interject a sense of duality into his compositional forums and renditions of works by luminaries such as Cherry. He straddles modern jazz and avant-garde type improvisational areas while also nurturing a mainstream approach.

Tom Varner: Swimming

by Glenn Astarita
December 1, 1999

Other than being a top flight and much in demand session musician, french hornist Tom Varner has rapidly established a reputation as being a formidable composer-leader resulting from a string of highly successful solo recordings. Here, on Swimming Varner helps inaugurate the promising newOmniTonelabel which has jumped out of the gate rather quickly with excellent new recordings by Frank Kimbrough/Joe Locke, Ron Horton (see Nov 99 AAJ reviews) and Joe Morris.Matters get off to a rousing start with ...

Interview with Tom Varner

by AAJ Staff
June 29, 1999

From the 1995-2003 archives. This article was first published at All About Jazz in June 1999,When I mentioned to a friend and fellow jazz fan that I had an upcoming opportunity to interview Tom Varner, I was met by his momentarily puzzled expression which suddenly gave way to a pleased recognition and an enthusiastic... Oh yeah! That French horny guy! Well... not exactly. Despite the slip of his tongue, I probably shouldn't have been too surprised ...

Tom Varner: Martian Heartache

by Glenn Astarita
March 1, 1999

Released by Soul Note in 1997, “Martian Heartache” is a poignant and multifaceted project led by Tom Varner who is perhaps the preeminent French Hornist in jazz. Here, Varner gets optimum support from some of New York City’s finest.

All compositions are by Varner. “Keep It Up” is a Funk-R&B induced thriller, which evolves into a hard driving swing romp. The brilliant sax work from young titan’s Ellery Eskelin (tenor) and Ed Jackson (alto) provide the soulful heartbeat as Varner’s ...

Tom Varner: The Window Up Above (American Songs 1770-1998)

by Glenn Astarita
March 1, 1999

Tom Varner’s “The Window Up Above-American Songs 1770-1998” showcases Varner’s impeccable chops and sharp musical sense as he traces the history of American Song from the Revolutionary War through Bruce Springsteen’s contemporary “With Every Wish”.

The title cut-“The Window Up Above” was composed by famed Country & Western crooner George Jones while “Thirsty” Dave Hansen vocalizes in typical C & W fashion with all the sentiment and heartfelt rendering that one would expect. Here, Violinist Mark Feldman churns out some ...