Tom Varner

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 ...

Tom Varner Nonet at Corish This Saturday

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene
February 2, 2012

Friday, February 4, 8:00pm Tom Varner Nonet Cornish College of the Arts (Poncho Theater) 710 East Roy Street 8:00pm, All ages. New music as well as music from the Heaven and Hell CD. this is part of the Cornish Music Series 2012. Tom Varner—french horn/compositions Thomas Marriott—trumpet David Marriott—trombone Steve Treseler—clarinet Mark Taylor—alto/soprano saxophones Eric Barber—tenor saxophone Jim DeJoie—baritone saxophone ...
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Recent Listening: Tom Varner

Source: Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
June 28, 2010

Tom Varner, Heaven and Hell (Omnitone). When Varner moved from New York to Seattle in 2006, he left behind none of his French horn virtuosity, compositional skill or avant-garde daring. Heaven and Hell is his meditation on changes in the world and in his life since the 9/11 attack, and on the evolution of his approach to music. The 15-part suite reflects a sensibility that is at home with the influences of, among others, Gil Evans and his fellow arrangers ...
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Seattle Times: Tom Varner Brings Jazz French Horn to a Sacred Space

Source: Seattle Jazz Scene
March 23, 2009

From The Seattle Times: At its best, jazz is hand-tailored music that can be shaped to fit just about any setting. For French-horn master Tom Varner, a concert in the intimate, resonant Chapel Performance Space at the Good Shepherd Center offers an opportunity to design a program calibrated for a sacred space. Saturday’s performance, part of the Wayward Music Series, features Varner in a variety of contexts, from solo to quintet, exploring a cross section of music he’s written since ...
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Tom Varner Quartet, Adam Lane Quartet, and John Hollenbeck's Claudia Quintet at Philadelphia's Tritone

Source: All About Jazz
September 3, 2002

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