I had to write something about my dear friend Tom, since we have been close friends for so many years already, going back to my 17th when we both joined All the king’s men. (not Maceo’s band, but a project of our school friend/producer Reyn Ouwehand). Still have the pictures of me, Lodewijk van Gorp and Tom being the horn section of the band. You have no idea how much I learned in these years together with these friends. I think we were at Lo’s house almost every week after our gigs or the jam sessions at the Duke in Leiden. Listening to music together while drinking tea and playing with Bari, (Lo’s bird).
Ever since I met Tom, he has been playing the tenor sax like a boss, and I have been massively influenced by his playing, especially in the early years. When Tom played, I smiled and listened.
We have always been playing together after that in many different occasions, with different time intervals, but always happy to be together again.
White and blue was one of Tom’s very first albums and I was proud to be part of it.
Years later I asked Tom to join my band Fingerprint, and while writing this I realize it’s time for a new album together….