for bookings: 206-420-7671; tomcollier@tomcolliervibes.com
for audio: http://www.tomcolliervibes.com/listen/
for video: http://www.tomcolliervibes.com/videos/
"Collier ... is so well-equipped academically that his sleight-of-hand solos already are a fascinating study." -Leonard Feather, Los Angeles Times-
"Collier’s mellow reverberation on the vibes has a graceful, ruminative sway" -Scott Yanow, Jazz Historian and Journalist-
"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-
Tom Collier's career spans 65+ years from his first public performance at the age of five to his latest 21st century musical endeavors. Career highlights include:
1962: guest marimba soloist on the Lawrence Welk Show at the Seattle World's Fair
1967-71: recipient of a rare undergraduate Rockefeller Research Grant in Contemporary Music at the University of Washington
1971-74: extensive recording studio work in the Seattle area as a drummer, vibraphone, marimba, percussionist
1981-72: drummer, vibraphonist with pianist Walt Wagner Trio including several performances with bassist Dave Holland in Seattle and Spokane, WA
1971-74: drummer, vibraphonist in clarinetist William O. "Bill" Smith Trio; various multiple performances, Puget Sound area
1974-78: Los Angeles years: performances and studio work with many jazz & pop artists including Ry Cooder, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Roger Kellaway, Frank Zappa, Victor Feldman, Howard Roberts, Cal Tjader, Shelly Manne, Laurindo Almeida, Morganna King, Bobby Shew, Sammy Davis, Jr., Barbra Streisand, Johnny Mathis, Olivia Newton-John, Los Angeles Repertoire Orchestra (timpanist), vibraphonist in L.A. Contempo Four, (a modern music ensemble), and conductors John Williams, Henry Mancini, and Lalo Schifrin
1978: vibraphonist/marimbist with Ry Cooder; national tour including performances at Carnegie Hall, NY, and PBS television program, Soundstage in Chicago, IL; band included David Lindley (mandolin, dobro), Phil Bodner (clarinet, saxophone), and George Duvivier (bass)
1979-1981: vibraphonist with The Northwest Jazz Sextet featuring trumpeter Floyd Standifer, clarinetist William O. "Bill" Smith, pianist Stan Keen, bassist Dan Dean, and drummer Bill Kotick; performances throughout Washington State as well as The Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., DePaul University, Chicago, IL, and the the Centennial Museums and Planetarium Complex, Vancouver, B.C.
1979-82: drummer with guitarist Howard Roberts Quartet featuring pianist Bill Mays, and bassist Dan Dean, Seattle, Los Angeles, Nanaimo, B.C., and other west coast venues
1979-present: Collier/Dean Duo, hundreds of vibraphone and electric bass performances up and down the west coast; received "Outstanding Service To Jazz Education Award" from the National Association of Jazz Educators (NAJE) in 1980
1980-2016: Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Program, University of Washington, awarded Professor Emeritus status upon retirement in 2016: regional and national performances with many prominent jazz and popular artists including Larry Coryell, Eddie Daniels, Buddy DeFranco, Herb Ellis, Diane Schurr, Natalie Cole, Ernestine Anderson, O.C. Smith, Maureen McGovern, Mannheim Steamroller, The Mills Brothers, and Della Reese to name a few
2017-present: Tom Collier Quartet performances at various venues including Tula's Jazz Club, and Kenyon Hall, Seattle; performances with Marc Seales, various venues including The Royal Room, Tula's, etc.; performances with The Silver Tongued Devils, rhythm and blues band at various venues including The Spar (Tacoma), Grinders Restaurant (Shoreline), The Cliffhanger (Lynnwood), and Grumpy D's (Ballard/Seattle); performances with blues singer Patti Allen, R & B vocalist Valerie Rosa, and jazz singer Gail Pettis; also, classical performances with Jeffrey Cohan (flute), Ingrid Matthews (violin), Nathan Whittaker (cello), Linda Tsatsanis (soprano), and John Lenti (lute, theorbo)
Tom Collier Selected Discography:
1971: Walt Wagner At Sun Valley, Topaz records (drums, vibraphone)
1975: Nilsson That's The Way It Is, RCA records (timpani)
1978: Ry Cooder Jazz, Warner Brothers records (vibraphone, marimba)
1980: Howard Roberts Turning To Spring, Discovery records (drums)
1981: Collier & Dean Whistling Midgets, Inner City records (vibraphone, marimba) - featuring Ernie Watts (sax), Don Grusin (piano), Alex Acuña (drums, percussion), Gary Herbig, (sax)
1988: Tom Collier Illusion, TC records (vibraphone, marimba, synthesizer, drums) - featuring Gary Herbig (saxophone)
1991: Tom Collier Pacific Aire, Nebula records (vibraphone, marimba, synthesizer, drums) - featuring Bud Shank (saxophone, flute), Don Grusin (piano), Peggy Stern (piano), Michael Buono (drums)
2004: Tom Collier Mallet Jazz, Origin records (vibraphone, marimba) - featuring Emil Richards (marimba), Mike Lang (piano), Don Grusin (piano), Dan Dean (bass), Joe Porcaro (drums)
2005: Collier & Dean Duets, Origin records (vibraphone)
2010: Tom Collier Mallet Fantastique, Origin Classical records (Vibraphone, marimba)
2012: Tom Collier *Plays Haydn, Mozart, Telemann, and Others, Origin Classical records (vibraphone, marimba)
2014: Collier & Dean **Sleek Buick, Origin records (vibraphone, marimba) - featuring Ernie Watts (sax), Allen Vizzutti (trumpet), Don Grusin (piano), Alex Acuña (drums), Gary Herbig, (sax), Ted Poor (drums)
2015: Tom Collier **Alone In The Studio, Origin records (vibraphone, marimba, piano, synthesizer, drums)
2016: Tom Collier **Across The Bridge, Origin records (vibraphone, marimba) - featuring Larry Coryell (guitar), Bill Frisell (guitar), Dan Dean (guitar, bass), Ted Poor (drums)
2017: Tom Collier **Impulsive Illuminations, Origin records (vibraphone, marimba) - featuring Bill Frisell (guitar), Richard Karpen (piano), Wiliam O. "Bill" Smith (clarinet), Stuart Dempster (trombone), Ted Poor (drums)
2022: Tom Collier ***The Color Of Wood, Summit Records (marimba)
2023: Tom Collier Boomer Vibes, Volume 1, Summit Records (Vanderplas electric vibes, acoustic vibes, marimba, piano, synth bass, drums)
albums accepted for placement on first round GRAMMY AWARD ballot:
*Classical Album of The Year
**Best Instrumental Jazz Album
***Best Ambient/New Age Album
