Percussionist Tom McGrath resided for 25 years in New York City, where he performed
in a variety of musical settings, from theatrical stages, to premier music clubs.
Since the Summer of 2005 he has been living in Central New York State and continues to perform live (see calendar) and teach (see apple on home page). Tom's last CD, "Ten Shades of Blue," was released in December, 2003.
"Pictures at the Family House," his first CD, was released in September, 1999. |
 |
As a freelance percussionist, Tom has performed the music of John Cage, Lou Harrison, and other composers at the Bang on a Can and A Day of Percussion music festivals in New York City. He has toured nationally and internationally with the Manhattan Ballet Company, the Mimi Garrard Dance Company, and the David Parker Dancers, and he has also performed in several Broadway and off-Broadway productions. |
 Click to view a scene from Svengali featuring Tom! |
Tom has performed both live and/or in the studio with numerous singer/songwriters or instrumentalists including the folk duo Minus Ted, Walter Egan, Carmin Turco, Cindy Bullens, McWray, DMC, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin (see pics) and the graceful and kind, Odetta. Other talented singer songwriters include, Grant King, Andy Monroe, Steven Keene, and Dave Hall. Guitarists, Carlos Alomar, Michael Ross, Dan Wray and rappers Melle Mel and Afrika Bambaataa. He has also played on jingles for advertising firms J. Walter Thompson and Fearless Music. In 1984, he appeared as a musician in the CBS movie "Svengali" starring Jodi Foster and Peter O'Toole. |
In addition, Tom has produced or co-produced the recordings of numerous
songwriters, singers, and instrumentalists including Sandy Smyth; McWray;
Minus Ted; David McGrath; Carmin Turco; mandolinist/composer Terry Pender;
the cello/percussion duo Cellovision; and vocalists Elaine St. George, Patrick
Arena, Barbara Lowin and Leslie Hollis. In 1997 Tom was commissioned by the Mimi Garrard Dance Company to compose
music for two dance works entitled "Reflections on an Ecuadorian Jungle" and
"Animal Spirit." Both pieces premiered that year in New York City. A third
dance work, "Tactile," was added to this suite and performed at
The Kitchen in New York in June, 2000. He also wrote incidental music for
the film short "Casting Call" by Andy Hudson. In October, 2008 Tom was one of three
composers to contribute music to the Rich-Heape film release,
"Our Spirits Don't Speak English: Indian Boarding School". |
