Thomas Chapin

For the American singer-songwriter/storyteller, see Tom Chapin.

Thomas Chapin (March 9, 1957 – February 13, 1998) was an American composer and saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist. Though primarily an alto saxophonist, he also played sopranino saxophone and various flutes.

Many of his recordings as a leader featured his trio with drummer Michael Sarin and bassist Mario Pavone, occasionally joined by guests.

Chapin studied with Jackie McLean and Paul Jeffrey. He played with Lionel Hampton.

Chapin died of leukemia three weeks before his 41st birthday. He last played two weeks before his death, at a benefit concert.

Biography

Alto saxophonist and flautist, Thomas Chapin was born on March 9, 1957 in Manchester, Connecticut. He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts where he studied classical music and jazz. He began his serious studies in the late 1970s, attending the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford in Connecticut, studying with saxophonist Jackie MacLean. In 1980 he graduated from Rutgers University where he studied with saxophonist Paul Jeffrey, pianist Kenny Barron and guitarist Ted Dunbar. From 1981 to 1986 he toured with the jazz grand master Lionel Hampton as lead saxophonist and musical director of the band. He also performed with Chico Hamilton’s band from 1988 to 1989. In the late 1980s he formed his own groups, most notably a trio with bassist Mario Pavone and drummers Steve Johns and later, Michael Sarin; as well founding Machine Gun, a quintet with guitarist/producer/engineer Robert Musso. For nearly ten years Chapin pursued his own music, working with the Thomas Chapin Trio at festivals and clubs around the world, and also arranging larger groups. And he spent a good deal of his time working with the more important names in various factions of jazz. He performed with Ray Drummond, Anthony Braxton, Tom Harrell, Sonny Sharrock, John Zorn, Walter Thompson, Dave Douglas, Marty Ehrlich, Ned Rothenberg and many more. Over his career he recorded more than fifteen albums under his name alone, including Sky Piece and Night Bird Song, the last releases with his trio. Thomas Chapin died of leukemia in 1998 at age forty. The New York Times called him “one of the more exuberant saxophonists and bandleaders in jazz” and “one of the few musicians to exist in both the worlds of the 'downtown' experimentalist scene, and mainstream jazz.” He is survived by his wife, Terri Castillo Chapin, who he married on October 15, 1997 in New York Hospital while being treated. He died four months later.

Discography

As Leader and Co-Leader (chronological by approximate recording date)

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simultaneously released as

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Note: Collects all 7 previous Knitting Factory Works releases by Chapin Trio. The eighth disc, "Live! On Tour UC Davis", only appeared in this box set

As Group member (alphabetically by artist)

reissued as..

later revised with additional players (John Zorn, Mark Feldman, Jamie Saft, David Licht) added and issued as..

reissued with bonus cut as..

still later reissued as..

reissued retitled as..

reissued retitled as..

reissued as:

As Guest (one or two tracks)

Tracks on 'Various Artists' albums

(Discography compiled by Emanuel Maris)

Books

Documentaries

External links