TOM ZLABINGER is an instructor of music at York College/CUNY and is the director of The York College Jazz Workshop , The Blue Notes , and The Summer Jazz Program . He is a professional bass player and an ethnomusicologist with a focus on jazz. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology at the CUNY Graduate Center and his dissertation topic is on the contemporary jazz scene in Vienna, Austria.
After finishing an International Baccalaureate Diploma at the American International School of Vienna in Austria, Tom completed a B.A. in music at Grinnell College and an M.A. in jazz performance at Queens College/CUNY . His bass teachers have included Bob Anderson (Minnesota Orchestra), Dan Breeze, Terry Burns, Anthony Cox, Leon Lee Dorsey, Mark Dresser , Henry Grimes , Rich Mollin, Gary Raynor, and Jay Young.
Tom established himself as a professional bass player in Minneapolis, MN, working most notably with Bobby Stanton and The Willie August Project .
Since relocating to New York in 2000, Tom has worked with a wide range of people, including Richard Augustin , Lewis Barnes, Glenn Branca , Daniel Carter, Steve Dalachinsky, Shayna Dulberger, Marc Edwards, Marco Eneidi, Billy Ficca, Lukas Foss, Eddie Gale , Wycliffe Gordon, Antonio Hart , Jason Hwang, Matt Lavelle, Emeline Michel , Ravish Momin , Ras Moshe , Todd Nicholson, William Parker, Mario Rechtern, Dave Ross, Tom Shad , Jeff Shurdut , Catherine Sikora , Trudy Silver, Blaise Siwula , Tor Snyder , Federico Ughi, Booker T. Williams , and Kali Z . He has performed at 5C Cultural Center, ABC No Rio, Bowery Poetry Club, The Brecht Forum, Carnegie Hall, Freddy's Bar & Backroom, Goodbye Blue Monday, Gramercy Theatre (in the Off-Broadway R&B/soul review From My Hometown), Lincoln Center, The Lion's Den, The Living Theatre, Otto's Shrunken Head, Smoke, Stain, Trinity Church and the Yippie Museum. He has also performed internationally in Vienna, Austria at Blue Tomato and Celeste.
TOM'S CURRENT PROJECTS
The FREE JAZZ COALITION is an informal group of musicians, venues, and organizations intended to help free jazz musicians connect with one another and promote performances. The Free Jazz Coalition is based in New York, NY but encourages people around the world to register and submit gig information. For more information, click here .
The JAZZ PROJECT is an educational program run by the Kupferberg Center for Visual and Performing Arts at Queens College, that sends professional jazz musicians into New York city public high schools to work with music students.
The MERCURIAL TRIO is a post-rock, improv trio featuring Tom Shad (piccolo bass), TZ (5-string electric bass w/ effects), and Television's Billy Ficca (drums).
The TOM ZLABINGER QUARTET is an improv group featuring Nonoko Yoshida (alto), Dave Schnug (flute/alto/tenor), TZ (bass), and Dave Miller (drums).
The TOM ZLABINGER SOMETHING is an open project that is not completely defined until the performance. The only stable ingredient is Tom.
The TOM ZLABINGER STRING TRIO is a tonal improv group featuring Carolin Pook (violin), TZ (bass), and Dave Miller (drums).
YORK COLLEGE ENDEAVORS
The JAZZ FORUM brings world-class jazz musicians to York College to perform and work with students. The series is co-produced by the York College Performing Arts Center and the York College Performing & Fine Arts Department. To date, featured artists have included Roy Ayers, Cecil Bridgewater, Carla Cook, Jimmy Cozier, Antonio Hart , Patience Higgins, Bill Jacobs, Oliver Lake , Arturo O'Farrill, Gino Sitson, Sue Terry, Steve Turre , Ray Vega , Lenny White , and Rachel Z .
The YORK COLLEGE BLUE NOTES are a high school big band in residence at York College. The Blue Notes are alumni of the York College Summer Jazz Program sponsored by College Now at York College. They have performed at the Afrikan Poetry Theatre , Baruch College, the Daytop Madison Ave. Festival, FIGMENT* imagination island , the Forest Hills Jazz Festival, the Jamaica Arts & Music Festival (JAMS), John Jay College, Make Music New York , the Louis Armstrong House , the St. Albans Jazz Festival, and the Sutphin Boulevard Concert Series . For more information on The Blue Notes, click here .
The YORK COLLEGE COMMUNITY JAM SESSION is held most Monday nights (Wednesdays over the summer). The jam session is open to the greater York College community (students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the community). Musicians are encouraged to perform and meet other musicians. Non-musicians are also invited to listen to the music making. Tunes are usually called from The Real Book, Sixth Edition (Hal Leonard). Check the above schedule for date changes.
The YORK COLLEGE JAZZ FACULTY TRIO consists of members of the jazz faculty at York College. The trio currently features Yoichi Uzeki (piano) and George Gray (drums).
The YORK COLLEGE JAZZ WORKSHOP is the college ensemble at York College. The Jazz Workshop is a 2-credit course that meets Wednesday evenings and is open to all York College students who have basic proficiency on their instrument and can read music. In addition to various events on campus, the Jazz Workshop has performed at the CUNY Jazz Festival, the Forest Hills Jazz Festival, Make Music New York , Medgar Evers College, and Queens College. For more information on the Jazz Workshop, click here .
The YORK COLLEGE SUMMER JAZZ PROGRAM is a tuition-free, six-week intensive program in jazz history, jazz performance, and music theory for New York City public high school sophomores and juniors made possible by College Now at York College. Students prepare big band repertoire, develop soloing skills, and explore the history of jazz. In addition to full-time rhythm section faculty (pianist Yoichi Uzeki, TZ, and drummer George Gray), past guest faculty have included trombonist Dick Griffin, saxophonist Antonio Hart, saxophonist Matana Roberts, trumpeter Ray Vega, drummer Wally "Gator" Watson, and pianist Rachel Z. For more information on The York College Summer Jazz Program, click here .
