Maine is not the state one usually looks to as a breeding place for jazz musicians. Aside from guitarist Lenny Breau, there are not many other who immediately come to mind. Now comes pianist Thomas Snow with an outstanding musical education and performing credentials. Exposed at home to music running from the rags of Scott Joplin to the modern piano of Ahmad Jamal, Snow attended jazz camps during his Middle and High School years. There he met and took lessons from Benny Carter pianist, Chris Neville. Also during this period, Snow had his first professional gig with A Cool Shade of Blue, a Maine based orchestra playing at hotel chains and private business functions throughout the State. After graduating (cum laude) from Berklee School of Music in 1991, Snow embarked upon a series of tours, appearances at concerts and festivals, as well as beginning his work as a music educator. He did a stint with the Fred Petra band. Rapidly expanding his activities since then, Snow worked on the "Legends of the Sea" Jazz Cruise, as the pianist for the Freddie Guerra and Rick Erwin Orchestras and shared the stage with such luminaries as Nick Brignola, Larry Coryell, and Herb Pomeroy. He also been on recordings by blues guitarist Troy Turner and the group, Motor City Affair. October 1997 saw the release of his first album Northern Standard Time with his septet playing a set of classic standards. That Snow has listened to and learned from such pianists as Chick Corea, Oscar Peterson, Nat King Cole and his major influence fellow New Englander, Dave McKenna, is obvious from his musical approach.. He combines a the modern and traditional resulting in a unique and refreshing playing style. Snow continues to perform at jazz venues in the New England area, serves as the Music Director for Cheverus High School in Portland and is a member of the Portland Conservatory of Music. ~ Dave Nathan