TOM BRECHTLEIN
Born
in East Meadow, Long Island, New York on May 10th, 1957. Tom picked up his first pair of drum sticks at the age of 5
after seeing marching bands at a Memorial Day Parade in which his father (a
veteran) participated. It was the drum section in the marching band that excited
young Tom. A short time after this,
his next influence was Ringo Starr after seeing him perform with the Beatles on
the Ed Sullivan Show, that capped his desire to perform as a drummer.
By age 12, his music teacher at Junior High School insisted he take private lessons as Tom was excelling much faster than his other students. He did this for 4 years with John O'reilly, a top Long Island private percussion educator. Tom could be seen, during his Summer vacations, evenings and whenever he had a free moment, practising drums in his bed room to the music and influences of Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Beatles, and Yes. Later on in his personal musical studies he started to listen to Miles Davis, drummers Steve Gadd, Harvey Mason, Chris Parker, Bernard Purdie, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams. When asked who was the key influence in his early studies, Tom says "Steve Gadd was the major influence on me personally, not because of his licks but because he could fit himself into any musical situation comfortably. He could play any style of music and I just said "Wow" that's exactly what I want to do, playing every style as my major style of music. After all that's what we're playing isn't it? Music."
Fortunately, East Meadow High School, which he attended, had an incredible music faculty and department that encouraged his talents and brought them to a fruition. He became the youngest player in the High School history to participate in the Jazz Ensemble A band for 3 years running. During his performances with the Jazz Ensemble he received the prestigious NAJE (National Association Jazz Educators) Award for Musical Excellence.
During his college studies at Hofstra University at age 20, he was asked to come and audition for jazz pianist Chick Corea. This was the commencement of a long-term musical and personal relationship that still exists today. Chick helped Tom celebrate his 21st birthday on stage in Sydney, Australia during his first major tour. This was certainly an exciting start to his career and an end to his college days.
In 1980, Tom moved to Los Angeles to further his recording & touring career. This proved to be a successful action. Said Brechtlein "I wasn't sure if it would be right to leave New York, it was a little scary for me but Chick had moved out there and since I was still working with him, it felt the right thing to do. Which it was, as a short time later I met my wife and it all fell into place". Tom went full steam ahead and developed a name for himself in the touring and recording areas as one can see by the discography attached.
In 1988 Tom joined Robben Ford's band and after several years of touring the band became a trio with Ford on guitar and Roscoe Beck on bass. They signed a recording contract with Stretch Records in 1992 and their first release was issued in September of 1992 entitled "Robben Ford & The Blue Line". This recording and their 2nd release 1995 “Mystic Mile” both received Grammy Nominations. Their 3rd album “Handful of Blues” also received acclaim and success in 1996.
In 1997 & 1998, Tom has took a break from the Blue Line and has joined bassist Roscoe Beck with guitarist Eric Johnson. After a long U.S. tour co-billing with Steve Miller they recorded Eric’s new record to be released later in 1999.
In 1999, Tom toured with Robben Ford and has just finished recording a track on Robben’s upcoming solo record. He is currently on tour with Manhattan Transfer.
TOURS:
YEAR: ARTIST:
|
1978 |
CHICK COREA |
WORLD TOUR 13 PIECE BAND |
|
1980 |
CHICK COREA |
TAP STEP WORLD TOUR |
|
1982 |
CHICK COREA |
TOUCHSTONE WORLD TOUR |
|
1982 |
CHICK COREA/ PACO DE LUCIA |
US & JAPAN TOUR |
|
1982 |
ALLEN VIZZUTTI |
US/ISRAEL TOUR |
|
1983 |
ALLEN VIZZUTTI |
ISRAEL TOUR |
|
1983 |
CHRISTOPHER CROSS |
US/EUROPE TOUR |
|
1984 |
CHICK COREA |
US TOUR |
|
1985 |
JOE FARRELL |
US TOUR |
|
1985 |
WAYNE SHORTER |
US/EUROPE TOUR |
|
1986 |
WAYNE SHORTER |
WORLD TOUR |
|
1986 |
JENNIFER WARNES |
US/CANADA TOUR |
|
1987 |
AL DIMEOLA |
US TOUR |
|
1988 |
AL DIMEOLA |
WORLD TOUR |
|
1988 |
ROBBEN FORD |
US TOUR |
|
1989 |
JEAN-LUC PONTY |
US TOUR |
|
1989 |
ROBBEN FORD |
JAPAN/EUROPE TOURS |
|
1989 |
CHICK COREA AKOUSTIC BAND |
EUROPE/US TOUR |
|
1989 |
ROBBEN FORD |
US TOUR |
|
1990 |
ROBBEN FORD |
US/EUROPE/JAPAN TOURS |
|
1990 |
PATTI AUSTIN & DON GRUSIN |
JAPAN/THAILAND |
|
1991 |
ROBBEN FORD |
WORLD TOUR |
|
1991 |
JOHN PATITUCCI |
JAPAN TOUR |
|
1991 |
CHICK COREA AKOUSTIC BAND |
WORLD TOUR |
|
1991 |
DAVID GARFIELD/ PHIL PERRY |
JAPAN TOUR |
|
1992 |
ROBBEN FORD & THE BLUE LINE |
WORLD TOUR |
|
1993 |
ROBBEN FORD & THE BLUE LINE |
WORLD TOUR |
|
1994 |
ROBBEN FORD & THE BLUE LINE |
WORLD TOUR |
|
1995 |
ROBBEN FORD & THE BLUE LINE |
WORLD TOUR |
|
1996 |
ROBBEN FORD & THE BLUE LINE |
WORLD TOUR |
|
1997-98 |
ERIC JOHNSON |
U.S. & JAPAN TOUR |
|
1999 |
ROBBEN FORD |
AUSTRALIA TOUR |
|
1999-2000 |
NATALIE COLE |
25TH ANNIVERSARY WORLD TOUR |
|
2000-01 |
MANHATTAN TRANSFER |
|
Tom has performed live shows with other artists such as: HERBIE HANCOCK, , AL JARREAU, ALAN HOLDSWORTH, KARLA BONOFF, BRANDON FIELDS, RICARDO SILVIERA, STEVE MILLER, ERIC MARIENTHAL.
RECORDINGS
|
1978 CHICK COREA
|
SECRET AGENT - POLYDOR |
|
1979 CHICK COREA
|
TAP STEP - POLYDOR |
|
1980 ALLEN VIZZUTTI
|
ALLEN VIZZUTTI - HEADFIRST |
|
1980 DOC SEVERINSEN
|
LONDON SESSIONS |
|
1980 ALLEN VIZZUTTI
|
SKYROCKET - TIECHIKU RECS. |
|
1981 OSAMU KITAJIMA
|
DRAGONKING - ARISTA |
|
1982 BUNNY BRUNEL
|
IVANHOE - INNER CITY |
|
1982 ALLEN VIZZUTTI
|
RED METAL - BAINBRIDGE |
|
1983 CHICK COREA
|
AGAIN & AGAIN - ELEKTRA |
|
1983 CHRISTOPHER CROSS |
LIVE RADIO SHOW |
|
1986 WAYNE SHORTER
|
PHANTOM NAVIGATOR - CBS |
|
1987 MAX BENNETT
|
FREEWAY - TBA RECORDS |
|
1987 AL DIMEOLA
|
TIRAMI SUE - MANHATTAN |
|
1988 RANDY BERNSEN
|
PARADISE CITIZEN - MCA |
|
1988 DAVE SAMUELS
|
LIVING COLORS - MCA |
|
1989 BRUCE WILLIS
|
IF IT AIN'T..... - MOTOWN |
|
1990 BRANDON FIELDS
|
OTHER PLACES - NOVA |
|
1990 DON GRUSIN
|
RAVEN - GRP |
|
1990 FRANK GAMBALE
|
THUNDER FROM DOWN UNDER - JVC |
|
1991 ALAN HOLDSWORTH/FRANK
GAMBALE |
TRUTH IN SHREDDING |
|
1991 DON GRUSIN
|
ZEPHYR - GRP |
|
1991 GIANLUCA MOSOLE
MAGAZINE |
SENTEMO/JVC RECORDS |
|
1991 BRANDON FIELDS
|
EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS - NOVA |
|
1991 BOB SHEPPARD
|
WINDHAM HILL RECORDS |
|
1992 KEI AKAGI
|
PLAY ROOM - TOSHIBA/EMI RECORDS |
|
1992 JENNIFER WARNES
THE HUNTER |
PRIVATE MUSIC |
|
1992 ROBBEN FORD & THE BLUE
LINE |
STRETCH RECORDS |
|
1993 ROBBEN FORD & THE BLUE
LINE |
MYSTIC MILE - STRETCH |
|
1995 ROBBEN FORD & THE BLUE
LINE |
HANDFUL OF BLUES |
|
1999 ERIC JOHNSON |
title - TBA |
|
2002 ROBBEN FORD |
BLUE MOON- CONCORD |
VIDEOS:
TOM BRECHTLEIN "BASIC BLUES 1 & 2" & "ROCK 1 & 2"
CHICK COREA "KEYBOARD WORKSHOP" - DCI VIDEO
CHICK COREA "ELECTRIC WORKSHOP" - DCI VIDEO
RAY GOMEZ (GUITAR) - STARLICKS VIDEO
BLUES & BEYOND (Robben Ford) - REH VIDEO
TV SHOWS:
DENNIS MILLER SHOW, PBS LIVE, MIDNIGHT SPECIALS, MERV GRIFFIN, SOLID GOLD, HBO, SHOWTIME, PAT SAJAK & NUMEROUS SHOWS AROUND THE WORLD.
ENDORSEMENTS:
YAMAHA DRUMS, ZILDJIAN CYMBALS, CALATO DRUMSTICKS, SHURE MICROPHONES.