Thomas Chapin

For the American singer-songwriter/storyteller, see Tom Chapin.

Thomas Chapin (March 9, 1957 – February 13, 1998) was an American composer and saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist. Though primarily an alto saxophonist, he also played sopranino saxophone and various flutes.

Many of his recordings as a leader featured his trio with drummer Michael Sarin and bassist Mario Pavone, occasionally joined by guests.

Chapin studied with Jackie McLean and Paul Jeffrey. He played with Lionel Hampton.

Chapin died of leukemia three weeks before his 41st birthday. He last played two weeks before his death, at a benefit concert.

Biography

Alto saxophonist and flautist, Thomas Chapin was born in 1957 in Manchester, Connecticut. He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts where he studied classical music and jazz. He began his serious studies in the late 1970s, attending Hartt College in Connecticut, studying with saxophonist Jackie MacLean. In 1980 he graduated from Rutgers University where he studied with saxophonist Paul Jeffrey, pianist Kenny Barron and guitarist Ted Dunbar. From 1981 to 1986 he toured with the jazz grand master Lionel Hampton as lead saxophonist and musical director of the band. He also performed with Chico Hamilton’s band from 1988 to 1989. In the late 1980s he formed his own groups, most notably a trio with bassist Mario Pavone and drummers Steve Johns and later, Michael Sarin. For nearly ten years Chapin pursued his own music, working with the Thomas Chapin Trio at festivals and clubs around the world, and also arranging larger groups. And he spent a good deal of his time working with the more important names in various factions of jazz. He performed with Ray Drummond, Anthony Braxton, Tom Harrell, Sonny Sharrock, John Zorn, Dave Douglas, Marty Ehrlich , Ned Rothenberg and many more. Over his career he recorded more than fifteen albums under his name alone, including Sky Piece and Night Bird Song, the last releases with his trio. Thomas Chapin died of leukemia in 1998 at age forty. The New York Times called him “one of the more exuberant saxophonists and bandleaders in jazz” and “one of the few musicians to exist in both the worlds of the downtown, experimentalist scene and mainstream jazz.”

Discography

As Leader and Co-Leader (chronological by approximate recording date)

• Thomas Chapin With GEORGE ALFORD/PETER McEACHERN/PHIL BUETTNER/NICK MAKROS/LUCIAN WILLIAMS/MARIO PAVONE/EMMETT SPENCER/MATT EMERZIAN : Bell Of The Heart (Alacra 1005; USA) recorded and released 1981 - LP

• THOMAS CHAPIN With RONNIE MATHEWS/RAY DRUMMOND/JOHN BETSCH et al : Radius (MuWorks 1005; USA) recorded 1984, released 1990 - CD, LP, CS

• MACHINE GUN [ROBERT MUSSO/THOMAS CHAPIN et al] + SONNY SHARROCK/KARL BERGER : Live At CBGB's Vol 1 : June 2 1987 (MuWorks 37 CR; USA) released 2008 - CD

• THOMAS CHAPIN With FRANCESCA VANASCO/SAUL RUBIN/THAD WHEELER/GEOFFREY GORDON : Spirits Rebellious (Alacra 1017; USA) recorded and released 1988 - LP

• MOTATION MARIO PAVONE/MICHAEL MUSILLAMI/THOMAS CHAPIN/PETER McEACHERN/GEORGE SOVAK/MIKE DUQUETTE] : Live at the Hillside (Alacra 1014; USA) recorded 1988, released 1989 - LP

• MACHINE GUN [ROBERT MUSSO/THOMAS CHAPIN et al] + SONNY SHARROCK : Machine Gun (Muworks 1001; USA) recorded and released 1988 - CD, LP, CS

• MACHINE GUN [ROBERT MUSSO/THOMAS CHAPIN et al] + SONNY SHARROCK: Live At The Gas Station : December 3rd 1988 (MuWorks 46 CR; USA) released 2008 - CD

• MACHINE GUN [ROBERT MUSSO/THOMAS CHAPIN et al] + SONNY SHARROCK: Open Fire (MuWorks 1003; USA) recorded and released 1989 - CD, LP, CS

• MACHINE GUN [ROBERT MUSSO/THOMAS CHAPIN et al] : Live From The Court Tavern : February 24th 1990 + December 8th, 1990 (MuWorks DR 03; USA) released 2008 - DVD

• MACHINE GUN [ROBERT MUSSO/THOMAS CHAPIN et al] + ELLIOTT SHARP : Live From The Court Tavern : September 7th 1991 ..plus Knitting Factory with Elliott Sharp : November 30th, 1988 (MuWorks DR 02; USA) released 2008 - DVD

• THOMAS CHAPIN TRIO With MARIO PAVONE/STEVE JOHNS : Third Force (KnitWorks 103; USA) recorded 1900-1991, released 1991 - CD

• MACHINE GUN [ROBERT MUSSO/THOMAS CHAPIN et al] : Live From The Webo Art Space : September 22nd 1991 (MuWorks DR 01; USA) released 2008 - DVD

• THOMAS CHAPIN TRIO With MARIO PAVONE/STEVE JOHNS : Anima (KnitWorks 121 B; USA) recorded 1991, released 1992 - CD

• THOMAS CHAPIN & BORAH BERGMAN : Inversions (MuWorks 1009; USA) recorded and released 1992 - CD, CS

• MACHINE GUN [ROBERT MUSSO/THOMAS CHAPIN et al] : Pass the Ammo (MuWorks 1011; USA) recorded and released 1992 - CD, LP, CS

• THOMAS CHAPIN TRIO With MARIO PAVONE/MICHAEL SARIN Plus BRASS: FRANK LONDON/CURTIS FOWLKES/PETER McEACHERN/MARCUS ROJAS/AL BRYANT : Insomnia (KnitWorks 132; USA) recorded 1992, released 1993 - CD

• THOMAS CHAPIN TRIO With MARIO PAVONE/MICHAEL SARIN : Night Bird Song (KnitWorks 240; USA) includes earlier recordings of 3 tunes debuted on Sky Piece; recorded 1992, released 1998 - CD

• THOMAS CHAPIN With RONNIE MATHEWS/RAY DRUMMOND/STEVE JOHNS : I've Got Your Number (Arabesque 110; USA) recorded and released 1993 - CD

• THOMAS CHAPIN TRIO With MARIO PAVONE/MICHAEL SARIN + JOHN ZORN/VERNON FRAZER : Menagerie Dreams (KnitWorks 167; USA) recorded and released 1994 - CD

• THOMAS CHAPIN With TOM HARRELL/PETER MADSEN/KIYOTO FUJIWARA/REGGIE NICHOLSON : You Don't Know Me (Arabesque 115; USA) recorded 1994, released 1995 - CD

• THOMAS CHAPIN TRIO With MARIO PAVONE/MICHAEL SARIN : Ride: North Sea Jazz Festival 1995 (Playscape 71595; USA) released 2006 - CD

• THOMAS CHAPIN QUARTETS With PETER MADSEN/KIYOTO FUJIWARA or SCOTT COLLEY/REGGIE NICHOLSON or MATT WILSON : Never Let Me Go: Quartets '95 & '96 (Playscape 111095; USA) Released 2012 - 3 CD set

• AVANTANGO [PABLO ASLAN/THOMAS CHAPIN/ETHAN IVERSON] : Y en el 2000 tambien: Tango & Jazz (Epsa 16020; Brazil) recorded 1996 - CD

• PEGGY STERN/THOMAS CHAPIN QUARTET With DREW GRESS/BOBBY PREVITE : The Fuchsia (Koch; USA) recorded 1995, released 1997 - CD

• THOMAS CHAPIN TRIO With MARIO PAVONE/MICHAEL SARIN Plus STRINGS: MARK FELDMAN/BORIS RASKIN/KIYOTO FUJIWARA : Haywire: Live At The Knitting Factory 1996 (KnitWorks 176; USA) released 1996 - CD

• THOMAS CHAPIN TRIO With MARIO PAVONE/MICHAEL SARIN : Sky Piece (KnitWorks 208; USA) recorded 1996, released 1998 - CD

• BORAH BERGMAN & THOMAS CHAPIN : Toronto 1997 (Boxholder 033; USA) released 2003 - CD

• THOMAS CHAPIN TRIO With MARIO PAVONE/MICHAEL SARIN or STEVE JOHNS et al : Alive: Third Force/Anima/Insomnia/Menagerie Dreams/Haywire/Sky Piece/Night Bird Song/Live! On Tour: UC Davis 1992 [8 CD Box Set] (KnitWorks 248; USA)  Note: The eighth disc, Live! On Tour, only appeared in this box set; released 1999. CD Boxed Set. - CD

As Group member (alphabetically by artist)

• CORINA BARTRA With THOMAS CHAPIN/ART LABRIOLA/SANTI DEBRIANO/STEVE BERRIOS/FRED BERRIHILL : Travel Log (Blue Spiral 81962; USA) recorded circa 1988, released 1991 - CD

• MICHAEL BLAKE With DAVE TRONZO/THOMAS CHAPIN/STEVEN BERNSTEIN/TONY SCHERR et al : Kingdom Of Champa (Intuition 3189; Germany) recorded 1996, released 1997 - CD

• Anthony Braxton/MARIO PAVONE QUINTET With THOMAS CHAPIN/DAVE DOUGLAS/PHEEROAN AkLAFF : Seven Standards 1995 (KnitWorks 168; USA) recorded and released 1995 - CD

• JOHN CARTER With BOBBY BRADFORD/MARTY EHRLICH/DON PRESTON/FRED HOPKINS/ANDREW CYRILLE/THOMAS CHAPIN/FRANK LONDON et al : Shadows On A Wall: Roots & Folklore V (Gramavision 79422; USA) recorded and released 1989 - CD, LP

• ARMEN DONELIAN With THOMAS CHAPIN/CALVIN HILL/JEFF WILLIAMS : Quartet Language: Live At Visiones 1992 (Playscape 50292; USA) released 2003 - CD

• RAY DRUMMOND With JOHN SCOFIELD/THOMAS CHAPIN/RANDY BRECKER/KENNY BARRON/STEVE NELSON/MARVIN 'SMITTY' SMITH/MOR THIAM : Continuum (Arabesque 111; USA) recorded and released 1994 - CD

• VERNON FRAZER With THOMAS CHAPIN/MARIO PAVONE/JOE FONDA : Sex Queen of the Berlin Turnpike (Woodcrest; USA) released 1986? - LP

• VERNON FRAZER With THOMAS CHAPIN : Song Of Baobab (VFCI 01; USA) released 1997 - CD

• KIYOTO FUJIWARA With THOMAS CHAPIN/KENNY GARRETT/PETER MADSEN et al : 60 Miles High (TDK; Japan) released 1993 - CD

• LIONEL HAMPTON & HIS ORCHESTRA With THOMAS CHAPIN/ALAN SIMON : Sentimental Journey (Atlantic; USA) released 1986 - CD

• LIONEL HAMPTON & HIS ORCHESTRA With THOMAS CHAPIN : One Of A Kind (Glad Hamp; USA) released 1989 - CD

• LIONEL HAMPTON & HIS ORCHESTRA With THOMAS CHAPIN : Ambassador At Large (Glad Hamp 1024; USA) recorded at Aurex Festival 1981, released 1990 - CD

• LIONEL HAMPTON & HIS ORCHESTRA With THOMAS CHAPIN : Made In Japan (Glad Hamp 1023; USA) released 1990 - CD

• LIONEL HAMPTON BIG BAND With THOMAS CHAPIN : Air Mail Special [1991] (ITM 920002; Germany) released 1991 - CD

• LIONEL HAMPTON BIG BAND With PAUL JEFFREY/THOMAS CHAPIN : The Lionel Hampton Big Band (West Wind 2404; Germany) recorded 1983 - CD

• WILLIAM HOOKER With THOMAS CHAPIN : Crossing Points [Ltd Ed of 500] (NoBusiness LP 30/31; EEC) recorded 1992, released 2011 - 2 LP set

or..

• WILLIAM HOOKER With THOMAS CHAPIN : Crossing Points [Ltd Ed of 500] (NoBusiness CD 28; EEC) recorded 1992, released 2011 - CD

• ANDY JAFFE With BILL LOWE/JOHN CLARK/THOMAS CHAPIN/PETER McEACHERN/MICHAEL MARCUS et al : An Imperfect Storm: The Large Ensemble Compositions Of Andy Jaffe (MMC 2132; USA) Chapin only on the six cuts by Bill Lowe-Andy Jaffe Repertory Big Band; recorded 1991-2002, released 2004 - CD

reissued as..

• ANDY JAFFE With BILL LOWE/JOHN CLARK/THOMAS CHAPIN/PETER McEACHERN/MICHAEL MARCUS et al: An Imperfect Storm: The Large Ensemble Compositions Of Andy Jaffe (Big Round 8907; USA) released 2010 - CD

• MISAKO KANO QUARTET With THOMAS CHAPIN/KIYOTO FUJIWARA/MATT WILSON : Watch Out (KnitWorks 219; USA) recorded 1996; released 1998 - CD

• MISAKO KANO QUARTET With THOMAS CHAPIN/RON McCLURE/JEFF WILLIAMS : Breakthrew (Jazz Focus 27; Canada) recorded 1996; released 1998 - CD

• DAVID LAHM QUARTET With THOMAS CHAPIN : The Muscle Memory Hoedown (Generation 203; USA) recorded 1990, released 1992 - CD

• DAVID LAHM With RANDY BRECKER/THOMAS CHAPIN/MARK FELDMAN/SKULI SVERISSON et al : Jazz Takes On Joni Mitchell (Arkadia 71011; USA) recorded 1993-1995, released 1998 - CD

• FRANK LONDON With THOMAS CHAPIN/MATT DARIAU/DAVID FIUCZYNSKI et al : Scientist at Work (self released; USA) released 1999 -CD

later REVISED and issued as..

• FRANK LONDON With THOMAS CHAPIN/MATT DARIAU/DAVID FIUCZYNSKI/MARK FELDMAN/DAVID LICHT/JAMIE SAFT/JOHN ZORN et al : Scientist at Work [Redux] (Tzadik 7167; USA) released 2002 - CD

• JOHN McCRACKEN & OUTLOUD With THOMAS CHAPIN/CHARLES BALDWIN/ABE SPELLER : Blood From A Tone (MuWorks 1010; USA) recorded 1991, released 1992 - CD, LP, CS

• PETER McEACHERN QUINTET With THOMAS CHAPIN : Shockwave (PMC; USA) recorded 1994, released 2011 - CD

• JOHN MEDESKI, BILLY MARTIN & CHRIS WOOD With THOMAS CHAPIN/STEVEN BERNSTEIN et al : Notes From The Underground (Hap-Jones 2921; USA) recorded 1991, released 1992 - CD

reissued as..

• JOHN MEDESKI, BILLY MARTIN & CHRIS WOOD With THOMAS CHAPIN/STEVEN BERNSTEIN et al : Notes From The Underground (Accurate 5010; USA) with bonus cut, released 2000 - CD

still later reissued as..

• JOHN MEDESKI, BILLY MARTIN & CHRIS WOOD With THOMAS CHAPIN/STEVEN BERNSTEIN et al : Notes From The Underground (Amulet 016; USA) same bonus cut as above, released 2004 - CD

• MICHAEL MUSILLAMI With THOMAS CHAPIN/KENT HEWITT/NAT REEVES/STEVE JOHNS : The Young Child (Stash 556; USA) recorded 1990, released 1992 - CD

reissued as..

• MICHAEL MUSILLAMI With THOMAS CHAPIN/KENT HEWITT/NAT REEVES/STEVE JOHNS et al : Archives (Playscape 120990; USA) re-released 2000 - CD

• MICHAEL MUSILLAMI With THOMAS CHAPIN/RANDY BRECKER/RAY DRUMMOND/KENT HEWITT/STEVE JOHNS : Glass Art (Evidence 22060; USA) recorded 1992, released 1993 - CD

reissued retitled as..

• MICHAEL MUSILLAMI With THOMAS CHAPIN/RANDY BRECKER/RAY DRUMMOND/KENT HEWITT/STEVE JOHNS : Mar's Bars (Playscape 120192; USA) re-released 2000 - CD

• MICHAEL MUSILLAMI With THOMAS CHAPIN/CLAUDIO RODITI/KENT HEWITT/CHARLES 'CHIP' JACKSON/STEVE JOHNS : Groove Teacher (Playscape 120694; USA) recorded 1994, released 1999 - CD

• ROBERT MUSSO With BILL LASWELL/THOMAS CHAPIN/AIYB DIENG/JONAS HELLBORG/BERNIE WORRELL et al : Active Resonance (MuWorks 1008; USA) recorded and released 1992 - CD, LP, CS

• MARIO PAVONE With THOMAS CHAPIN/MARTY EHRLICH/PHEEROAN AkLAFF et al : Sharpeville (Alacra 1012; USA) recorded 1985, released 1989 - LP

reissued retitled as:

• MARIO PAVONE With THOMAS CHAPIN/MARTY EHRLICH/PHEEROAN AkLAFF et al : Sharpeville (Playscape 90885; USA) released 2000 - CD

• MARIO PAVONE With THOMAS CHAPIN/MARTY EHRLICH/JOSHUA REDMAN et al : Toulon Days (New World 80420; USA) recorded 1991, released 1992 - CD

• MARIO PAVONE With THOMAS CHAPIN/PETER McEACHERN/BILL WARE/PETER MADSEN/STEVE JOHNS : Song For (Septet) (New World 80452; USA) recorded and released 1993 - CD

• MARIO PAVONE With THOMAS CHAPIN/MARTY EHRLICH et al : Dancers Tales (KnitWorks 205; USA) recorded 1996, released 1997 - CD

• NED ROTHENBERG DOUBLE BAND With THOMAS CHAPIN/JEROME HARRIS/KERMIT DRISCOLL/BILLY MARTIN/ADAM RUDOLPH : Overlays (Moers 2074; Germany) recorded and released 1991 - CD

• NED ROTHENBERG DOUBLE BAND With THOMAS CHAPIN/JEROME HARRIS/CHRIS WOOD/BILLY MARTIN/JIM BLACK : Real and Imagined Time (Moers 3006; Germany) recorded 1993, released 1995 - CD

• NED ROTHENBERG DOUBLE BAND With THOMAS CHAPIN/JEROME HARRIS/TONY SCHERR/MICHAEL SARIN/SAMM BENNETT : Parting (Moers 3012; Germany) recorded 1996, released 2004 - CD

• THE RUTGERS U LIVINGSTON COLLEGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE With CLIFFORD JORDAN/THOMAS CHAPIN et al : Music Of The Masters (Rutgers University; USA) recorded 1981 - LP

• DANIEL SCHNYDER With THOMAS CHAPIN/MICHAEL PHILIP MOSSMAN/JOHN CLARK/DAVE TAYLOR/JIM PUGH/ANDY McKEE/BOBBY SANABRIA : Tarantula (Enja 9302; Germany) recorded 1996, released 1997 - CD

• ALAN SIMON With THOMAS CHAPIN/ERNIE KRIVDA/PAT O'LEARY/TOM MELITO et al : The Present (Whispering Pines 120649; USA) recorded 1986, released 2005 - CD

• WALTER THOMPSON ORCHESTRA Featuring DAVE DOUGLAS/THOMAS CHAPIN/HERB ROBERTSON/JOE FONDA/FRANK LONDON/STEVE SWELL/STEVEN BERNSTEIN et al : The Colonel: Compositions & Sound Paintings (Nine Winds 205; USA) recorded 1995, released 1998 - CD

• UNDER COVER COLLECTION BAND [TOM CORA/SAMM BENNETT/THOMAS CHAPIN/BURKHARD STANGL/MAX NAGL] : HorFest (Knitworks 165; USA) recorded 1994, released 1995 - CD

• KEN VALITSKY With THOMAS CHAPIN/MICHAEL BRANDSON/JOHN THOMPSON/VINCENT TESE : Species Compatability (KnitWorks 135; USA) recorded and released 1993 - CD

• TOM VARNER With FRANK LONDON/THOMAS CHAPIN/STEVE SWELL/RICH ROTHENBERG/ED JACKSON/LINDSEY HORNER/PHIL HAYNES : Long Night Big Day (New World 80410; USA) recorded 1990, released 1991 - CD, CS

• AXEL ZWINGENBERGER With LIONEL HAMPTON/ILLINOIS JACQUET/THOMAS CHAPIN/RICKY FORD et al : The Boogie Woogie Album (Vagabond 044675/8.88008; Germany) recorded 1982, released 1992 - CD

As Guest (one or two tracks)

• MONIE LOVE [SIMONE WILSON] With AFRIKA BAMBAATAA/BOOTSY COLLINS/THOMAS CHAPIN et al : Down To Earth (Warner Bros; USA) released 1990 - CD

• BARBARA DENNERLEIN With THOMAS CHAPIN/DAVID SANCHEZ/FRANK LACY/JOE LOCKE/MITCH WATKINS/LONNIE PLAXICO/DENNIS CHAMBERS/DON ALIAS et al : Junkanoo (Verve; USA) recorded and released 1996 - CD

• VANDOORN [INEKE VAN DOORN/MARC VAN VUGT et al] + THOMAS CHAPIN : President For Life (VIA/PIAS; EEC) released 1996 - CD

• PAMELA FLEMING With THOMAS CHAPIN/LUIS BONILLA/CHRIS CUNNINGHAM/TOBY KASAVAN/MARK EGAN/MO ROBERTS or TODD ISLER et al : Fearless Dreamer (Infinite Room; USA) released 1998 - CD

Tracks on 'Various Artists' albums

• AUREX JAZZ FESTIVAL '81 [V.A. With ART BLAKEY/LIONEL HAMPTON/GERRY MULLIGAN/FREDDY HUBBARD/MILT JACKSON/THOMAS CHAPIN et al] : All Star Jam Session (East World 80208; Japan) released 1982 - LP

• REAL ESTATE [V.A. curated by ELLIOTT SHARP with ZEENA PARKINS/MACHINE GUN [ROBERT MUSSO-THOMAS CHAPIN et al)/COP SHOOT COP/CARBON et al] : New Music From New York (Ear-Rational 1015; Germany) recorded 1989, released 1990 - CD

• LIVE AT THE KNITTING FACTORY [V.A. With SHARP-ZORN-EPSTEIN/DOCTOR NERVE/THOMAS CHAPIN/BRANDON ROSS/NO SAFETY et al : Volume Three (KnitWorks 99/A&M 5299; USA) Chapin Trio recorded 1989; released 1990 - CD

• LIVE AT THE KNITTING FACTORY [V.A. With LAST EXIT/ROTHENBERG-CHAPIN/FELDMAN-DOUGLAS/TRONZO-BERNSTEIN et al : Volume Four (KnitWorks 100/A&M 5332; USA) recorded and released 1990 - CD

• KNITTING FACTORY [V.A. With SEMANTICS/THOMAS CHAPIN TRIO/JAZZ PASSENGERS] : What Is Jazz?: Festival Sampler 1991 (Knitworks 109; USA) released 1991 - CD

• KNITTING FACTORY [V.A. With DEFUNKT/THOMAS CHAPIN/TOM CHAPIN/SAMM BENNETT et al] : Goes To Vassar: Live At The Villard Room and The Cafe (KnitWorks 121 A; USA) two cuts taken from Third Force, released 1992 - CD

• KNITTING FACTORY [V.A. With JAMES BLOOD ULMER/SAMM BENNETT/THOMAS CHAPIN/GARY LUCAS et al] : Tours Europe 1991 (KnitWorks 105; USA) Chapin Trio recorded 1991, released 1991 - CD

• THE RAINBOW COLORED LOTUS [V.A. With KEITH JARRETT/PAT METHENY/CHARLES LLOYD/THOMAS CHAPIN/SEIGEN ONO/BILLY HART et al] : A Big Hand for Hanshin (Polydor; Japan) released 1995 - 2 CD set

• KNITTING FACTORY [V.A. With HORACE TAPSCOTT/MATTHEW SHIPP/THOMAS CHAPIN/DAVID S WARE et al] : What Is Jazz?: Live At Heineken Jazz Festival 1996 (Knitworks 195; USA) Pavone sextet cut, and Chapin Trio cut, recorded and released 1996 - CD

Books

• THOMAS CHAPIN : Ten Compositions (sheet music book) (Akasha; USA)

(Discography compiled by Emanuel Maris)

External links

• Thomas Chapin official site
• Jazz Archive at Duke University
• Thomas Chapin Papers. Rubenstein Library, Duke University