Press Bio
Tom Knific has performed with many of the great jazz and classical artists of our time on tour and on record. They include Gene Bertoncini, Billy Hart, Randy Brecker, Dave Brubeck, Fred Hersch, and others. He and Eric Marienthal co-led the “Dream Band” with Toots Thielemans, Kenny Werner and Harvey Mason in the first live interactive concert multi-cast over the Internet. As a classical artist, he has recorded with Pepe Romero, Andre Watts, Philippe Entremont, and the Merling Trio. He as appeared as a soloist with orchestras throughout the U.S. and has performed as principal bassist with orchestras and chamber orchestras in the U.S. and Europe. He has appeared at chamber music festivals throughout North America and Europe and is a founding member, bassist and composer for the contemporary music group, OPUS 21. Tom is professor of double bass and director of jazz studies at Western Michigan University. He has also taught at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Michigan State University, Cleveland Institute of Music, and has presented over a hundred master classes worldwide including The China Conservatory, Beijing, The University Of The Arts, Berlin, The Janacek Academy and The Paris Conservatory.
As a composer, Tom has written two dozen works in a variety of idioms. He has been commissioned by OPUS 21, the International Society of Bassists, and leading instrumentalists. He has received numerous grants and awards for his writing. His music may be heard on numerous CD’s, and is published by Editions Delatour, Paris, and ISB Publications, Dallas. In contemporary music, Tom has worked with John Cage, Donald Erb, Mario Davidovsky, Eve Beglarian, Daniel Bernard Roumain, C. Curtis-Smith, Chen Yi, Tania Leon, and others and has premiered dozens of works.
A renown educator, Tom’s students have toured and recorded with Betty Carter, Vincent Herring, Cedar Walton, John Scofield, and perform in orchestras on three continents. In addition, he received the Down Beat magazine Achievement in Jazz Education award in 2004. Tom is leader of the Western Jazz Quartet. The WJQ has appeared on five continents and has received rave reviews for their five CD’s of original music. He has appeared on 30 recordings including four solo CD’s, Home Bass, 1998, Siena, 2004, Lines of Influence, 2009, and The Muse, featuring Fred Hersch, 2011. He has recorded on the Universal, Mercury, Koch International, SMR, Centaur, Sea Breeze, Jazzheads, Azica, Blujazz, Cadence and Polonia labels. Tom is Past President of the International Society of Bassists and hosted the 2005 world convention in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Short Press Bio
Tom Knific has performed on tour and on record with Gene Bertoncini, Randy Brecker, Art Farmer, Dave Brubeck, Fred Hersch, The Merling Trio, OPUS 21, Philippe Entremont and others. He and Eric Marienthal co-led the “Dream Band” with Toots Thielemans, Kenny Werner and Harvey Mason in the first live interactive jazz concert multi-cast world wide over the Internet. A renown educator, his students have toured and recorded with Betty Carter, Vincent Herring, Cedar Walton, and perform in orchestras on three continents. He received the Down Beat magazine Achievement in Jazz Education award in 2004. Tom is professor of bass and director of jazz studies at Western Michigan University and leader of the WJQ. The WJQ has appeared on five continents receiving rave reviews for their five CD’s of original music. Knific appears on over 30 CD’s. His four solo CD’s, Home Bass, 1998, Siena, 2004, Lines of Influence, 2009, and The Muse, 2011, have received critical acclaim. Knific is a prolific composer in a variety of idioms, and is published by ISB Editions, Dallas, and Editions Delatour, Paris. Knific is past president of the International Society of Bassists.