Danish pianist Thomas Walbum (b. 1965) grew up listening to his fathers jazz records, including artists like Duke Ellington, Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson ao. As a teenager Thomas was playing with local groups in his hometown Hjørring. He played with his jazz trio (formed when he was 11) and different funk groups. He played percussion in Hjørring Brass Band (1# price at the Danish Championship 1983). He also held a position as a church organist for three years.
After graduating from college (1985), Thomas and his best friend, went on a one-year trip around Europe in an old van that they had rebuild into a mobile home. It was during this trip Thomas decided to pursue a career as a professional musician. In 1987 he enrolled in a program at The Rhythmic Conservatory in Copenhagen and graduated in 1991. He teachers included Jørgen Emborg, Butch Lacy and Horace Parlan.
In 1993 Thomas moved to Australia for 8 months. He explored the country while playing occasional gigs. He worked for a while as a jam session coordinator at an Adelaide jazz club. In 1998 he relocated to Boston to complete a Masters of Music Degree in Piano Jazz Performance from the Cooperative Masters of Music in Jazz program at the Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music. He studied with Ray Santisi, the classical pianist Janice Weber, as well as the celebrated pianist Joanne Brackeen. During his three years in Boston he also played gigs and taught at various music schools in the Boston area.
Upon his return back to Denmark he continued playing with various groups, got involved with recording projects, at the same time as keeping a busy teaching schedule. He is presently teaching at Helsingor MGK and Music School.
In 2001 he recorded his debut cd ‘Thomas Walbum Trio -Boston’, with drummer Joe Hunt, a former member of the Bill Evans Trio (Stan Getz, Jim Hall, Barry Harris) and bassist John Lockwood (The Fringe, Pat Metheny,Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie and Joe Henderson, among others).
In 2009 he recorded with the Thomas Walbum Trio with Kazufumi Tsuchimura (b) and Shin-Ichiro Kamoto (d). The album is entitled ‘Tales from the Blue’ and contains seven original compositions as well as three standards.
In the fall of 2012 Thomas will be releasing a new album with the Walbum/Maintz Brazilian Quintet. The tunes are all originals, composed by Walbum and Maintz.
Thomas maintains an active touring schedule, from local jazz clubs in Copenhagen to clubs and jazz festivals around the globe. During the last few years Thomas has toured Japan five times with his Japanese Trio and with the Pekka Pylkkänen Quartet. He has toured Brasil four times with the groups Sinequanon, Walbum/Maintz Quintet and with the Walbum/Campagnol with Sizão Machado Group.
INTERNATIONAL PERFORMANCES:
UK
USA
Japan
Brazil
China
Australia
Turkey
Germany
Spain
Czech Republic
WORKSHOPS:
Souza Lima, São Paulo, Brazil
Merrimack Enrichment Center, Boston, USA
Koyo Conservatory, Kobe, Japan