Tom McDermott

New Orleans-based Pianist and Composer

Pianist and composer born in St. Louis, MO, in 1957. He began studying piano at age seven, became a professional musician at 16, and received a Master of Music degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1982. Two years later he moved to New Orleans and became noted for the styles of jazz associated with that town, especially Traditional jazz and ragtime. He was in the group "Dukes Of Dixieland" through much of the 1990s. In 1994 he co-founded and wrote arrangements for The New Orleans Nightcrawlers. He has released 17 CDs as a leader. Since 2001 he has devoted much time travelling to Brazil, where he has studied and recorded choro music. McDermott is also a journalist, writing primarily about music and travel.