All Music Guide describes saxophonist and woodwind specialist Tom Christensen as having “the goods to be a major force within the global modern jazz arena.” A mainstay in the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra since 1996, Tom has also recorded and performed with jazz masters  Joe Lovano, Paquito D’rivera, Maria Schneider, Darcy James Argue, Don Sebesky, John Hollenbeck and The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Tom’s solo project, New York School (Playscape) was named one of the Top Ten Albums of the year by All About Jazz. Tom can be heard with Cecile McLorin Salvant on her most recent project Ogresse, on Rufus Reid’s Grammy nominated CD Quiet Pride, David Liebman’s  A Tribute to Wayne Shorter, and Ryan Truesdell’s Grammy nominated The Gil Evans Project-Lines of Color. He is the author of several books on jazz pedagogy, co-founder of Sound Footing Records, co-leads the band Spin Cycle and teaches jazz at New York’s prestigious Fieldston School.