Tom Collier
Bio

"Collier ... is so well-equipped academically that his sleight-of-hand solos already are a fascinating study." 
-Leonard Feather, Los Angeles Times-

"Tom Collier ... one of the best jazz vibraphonists on the planet." 
-Scott Mercado interview, Modern Drummer Magazine-

"Collier turns phrases and builds lines that set a new musical standard for the vibraphone."
-F. Michael Combs, Percussive Notes/Percussive Arts Society-
"(Collier) makes vibes and marimbas the expressive and emotional equal of piano keyboards." 
-Robert Carlberg, Keyboard Magazine-

"Speaking of technical brilliance, the show was opened by an impressive set by vibraphonist Tom Collier and electric bassist Dan Dean." 
-Patrick MacDonald, Seattle Times-

A sampling of the many accolades accorded to vibraphonist/marimbist Tom Collier during his 50 years in music is a reflection of his international reputation in jazz, classical and pop circles. Collier celebrated his first public performance at the age of 5 in 1954 and marked the 50th anniversary of that performance with a concert at Brechimin Auditorium in Seattle in April of 2004.


Tom has appeared in concert and on recordings with many important jazz and popular artists including Eddie Daniels, Ry Cooder, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Roger Kellaway, Emil Richards, Don Grusin, Frank Zappa, Victor Feldman, Howard Roberts, Ernie Watts, Dave Holland, Cal Tjader, Shelly Manne, Joe Porcaro, Laurindo Almeida, Buddy DeFranco, Diane Schurr, Peggy Lee, Natalie Cole, Morganna King, Herb Ellis, Bill Mays, Bobby Shew, Ernestine Anderson, Mannheim Steamroller, Sammy Davis, Jr., Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Olivia Newton-John, The Beach Boys, The Mills Brothers, Della Reese and many more.

In the classical arena, Collier has appeared as guest soloist with the Seattle Symphony, The Denver Symphony, The Bellevue Philharmonic, The Northwest Chamber Orchestra, The Everett Symphony and The Olympia Symphony. He was timpanist in the Los Angeles Repertoire Orchestra in 1976, vibraphonist in L.A. Contempo Four, 1975-77(a modern music ensemble), timpanist with the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, 1972-73 as well as the Federal Way Chorale.

Collier has released several albums as leader or co-leader beginning with Whistling Midgets (with long-time musical cohort Dan Dean) for Inner City Records in 1981. Other albums include Illusion (1988, T.C. Records), Pacific Aire (1990, Nebula Records) and Mallet Jazz (2004, Origin Records). Collier and Dean's 2005 album, Duets on Origin Records, was nominated for "Album of the Year" by Earshot Magazine.

In addition to the above, Tom Collier has been director of Percussion Studies at the University of Washington since 1980. He has recorded several educational albums for Music Minus One and Studio 4 Music and has presented over 300 jazz concerts in public schools around Washington State for the Arts In Education Program of the state Arts Commission. In 1980, Collier was presented with an "Outstanding Service To Jazz Education" award by the National Association of Jazz Educators, and over the past twenty years, he has won sixteen ASCAP Popular Panel Awards for his various jazz and percussion compositions.