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Thomas Wendt

Thomas Wendt has been playing the drums professionally since the age of 14. A graduate of The Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, he has studied with master drummers Roger Humphries, Joe Harris, and Kenny Washington. Thomas maintains a busy freelancing schedule with Pittsburgh’s top jazz artists such as Dwayne Dolphin, Joe Negri, Sean Jones, David Budway, Kenia, the Latin jazz group, Salsamba, and the newly re-formed Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra. He has also played with many visiting international artists like David “Fathead” Newman, Donald Byrd, James Moody, Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Phil Woods, Freddy Cole, Monty Alexander, Bill Watrous, Paquito D’Rivera, Curtis Lundy, Wycliffe Gordon, Ann Hampton Calloway and Javon Jackson. In 2008, Thomas played on the Emmy Award winning soundtrack for the PBS documentary, “Fly Boys” and in 2010 he recorded an album featuring trombonists Jay Ashby and Steve Davis, entitled Mistaken Identity. Thomas has also recorded albums with Gene Ludwig, Sandy Staley, Salsamba, David and Maureen Budway, and Joe Negri. Recently, he has been working with Jazz legend Hubert Laws and has appeared with him at the Litchfield Jazz Festival and the Miami Jazz Festival. In 2013, Thomas performed with pianist Alan Broadbent for the Nyack NY Library Concert Series. Thomas has been on the faculty at the Afro- American Music Institute in Homewood since 1998 and Duquesne University since 2016.

Paul Cosentino's Boilermaker Jazz Band: Everything is Jumpin'

Read "Everything is Jumpin'" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
March 26, 2026

An Artie Shaw songbook with “Grabtown Grapple" and “Jumping on the Merry Go Round" but without “Begin the Beguine" or “Stardust?" Well, anything is possible. On Everything Is Jumpin'!, Paul Cosentino's six-member Boilermaker Jazz Band from western Pennsyvania pays tribute to the legendary clarinet maestro with new versions of 18 numbers recorded either by Shaw's Gramercy Five or his jazz orchestras. “Frenesi" is here, along with “They Say" and “Thanks for Everything," which reached the top of the ...

Album Review

Gloria Reuben: Perchance To Dream

Read "Perchance To Dream" reviewed by Mike Perciaccante

by Mike Perciaccante
August 15, 2015

Based on her performance (back in the day) on NBC's ER, when she sang Green Day's “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)," it was obvious that Gloria Reuben had the chops. Reuben's character Jeanie Boulet, sang a stunning version of the song, which, don't let the title fool you, is actually a plaintive ballad, as a farewell to a young boy who had died in her care. On her new light jazz CD Perchance To Dream (MCG Jazz, ...

Event

Pittsburgh’s newest jazz club Con Alma announces two exciting music series

Source: Mackenzie Horne
September 20, 2019

Con Alma is excited to announce Latin Jazz Sundays and All-Pittsburgh Wednesdays. Starting in September, Con Alma will open its doors every Sunday from 5:00PM-11:00PM. Pittsburgh musicians will perform selections from the Latin music tradition from 7:00PM-10:00PM. The club will spin handpicked Latin vinyl selections on the house turntable between sets. The featured menu will include critically-acclaimed Latin-inspired food and original cocktails. All-Pittsburgh Wednesdays, a new residency series celebrating the Steel City’s place in jazz history, will feature repertoires comprised ...
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Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

Pittsburgh

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

I am on the faculty of: The Afro-American Music Institute (1998 - present) Duquesne University (2016 - present) West Virginia University (2018) I also teach privately out of my home