Photo by Charlie Mak

Tom Gershwin is a composer and trumpeter whose music blends detailed composition and open, expressive improvisation. Rooted in jazz and shaped by long-form listening, his work emphasizes patience, collective texture, and moments where structure gives way to shared discovery.

After more than fifteen years performing in New York and Denver, Gershwin relocated to Danville, Vermont, where a slower pace of life allowed his compositional voice to deepen. Immersed in landscape and sustained periods of writing, he developed a body of work centered on melodic clarity, evolving harmony, and ensemble interaction that unfolds gradually over time. 

Gershwin leads the Tom Gershwin Quintet, a long-standing ensemble of trusted collaborators. Their latest album, Wellspring, was recorded over four days at The Clubhouse in Rhinebeck, New York, and has become the centerpiece of a repertoire designed for deep listening. 

Earlier releases include Our Season, Live at Mighty Fine, and Sweet Pastimes, tracing a steady arc from intimate chamber writing to expansive ensemble forms. Across these projects, Gershwin’s work balances rigor and openness, technical demand and emotional accessibility.

As a performer, Gershwin has appeared with artists across jazz, pop, and experimental music, including Chris Potter, Jon Batiste, Kenny Werner, The Temptations, Father John Misty, Portugal. The Man, DeVotchKa, and Jayme Stone. He is a recipient of the Jazz Road Tours grant, the Vermont Creation Grant, and the Pathways to Jazz Grant.