16th October, 2024
I Am Schuman - Tom Schuman
Lest one be uncertain about the man behind the album, American smooth jazz keyboardist (Thomas William) “Tom” Schuman makes a statement by calling his 9th and latest album, ‘I Am Schuman’, which has been released on Bengaluru-based music director Sandeep Chowta’s Namma Music.
For those yet not familiar with Schuman, he was the co-leader, composer, and arrangerof the 13 time Grammy-nominatedcontemporary jazz group Spyro Gyra, becoming the band’s keyboardist while 16 years old (even prior to the release of the band’s debut album).
Schuman has written or co-written over sixty Spyro Gyra compositions since the band’s 1980 album, ‘Catching The Sun’. On 19th December, 2022, the band announced on Facebook that Schuman planned on moving to Europe (with wife Yvonne) and would be playing his final shows with the band in February 2023. For the trivia-minded, Spyro Gyra has played in India with the band’s last appearance being on 24th November, 2008 at Mumbai’s Bandra-based St. Andrew’s auditorium.
On his 9th solo release, Tom Schuman acts as a one-man band, performing all keyboards, piano, keyboard bass, rhythm programming, and sample editing, supported by two guest appearances: Kevin Whalum on rhythmic vocal breath on Loose Change, and our very own Abhay Nayampally playing guitar on Comfortable Silences, which has been described by Schuman as a “an emotional performance that enhances the tune beautifully”.
For those yet uninitiated with Nayampally’s talent, he explores the complex art of Carnatic classical music through guitar. He is a disciple of Mandolin Vidwan, late Padmashree U Srinivas, and is presently a disciple of violinist Vid. A Kanyakumari.
Most of the songs on the album have been described by Schuman as “conceived from an impromptu keyboard solo without any pre-conception or intent,” adding that “some of them may have been inspired by a rhythmic groove or a synthesizer patch (while) others grew from a solo piano improvisation”.
Indeed, on careful listening, Schuman does not allow the production to smother his spontaneous musicianship. Though much of ‘I Am Schuman’ is relevant to smooth jazz, it is also commercial music with integrity and substance. This is especially evident on How Sensitive which draws on both bossa nova and modal jazz…after all, it is a homage to late Brazilian Antionio Carlos Jobim.
While this album release is by no means the work of a jazz purist, it is definitely an album with a jazz mentality. And, much like Schuman’s previous efforts, the album demonstrates that he iscapable of providing substantial, intelligent music when he puts his mind to it. It may be album nine for Schuman but, quite like his previous efforts, ‘I Am Schuman’is worthy of the waittoo as the album’s ten tracks prove.
Click on the link below to listen to Tom Schuman’s I Am Schuman:
Reviewed by Parag Kamani
Parag Kamani has been part of the media and entertainment industry across 35 years, having worked for licensors such as Warner Music and EMI/Virgin in music, as well as Warner Bros, Universal Pictures, and Paramount Pictures in the field of films. Parag continues pursuing his passion as a profession.
