As suggested by his name, Father Tom Vaughn is an ordained Episcopal priest, now retired. He began performing in his home state Michigan His performance and recording career spanned barely a decade beginning around 1965, except for a few cameos after he returned to a parish role in California. His trio for the first album included noted drummer Elvin Jones, who also worked in the John Coltrane Quartet and others, and Art Davis on bass. The liner notes suggest early influences: "He started to play piano at age seven and planned to become a classic concert pianist. But in his mid-teens he began listening to Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, Art Tatum, and Al Haig." His style is typically light and airy, sometimes funky, and very fast.

One of his notable recordings (on the 1976 album Joyful Jazz) is a jazz interpretation of Battle Hymn of the Republic. This is a spirited, multi-tempo jazz rendition, in which the drummer and bassist play a respectful background support to the piano - to the point some of Father Tom's fast, syncopated runs sound almost like a piano emulating a drum roll. This song is the lead theme music on Atlanta jazz show host H Johnson's Saturday evening broadcast (9 pm WABE 90.1 FM) None of his recordings have been issued on CD or .mp3 by his original record labels. No definitive discography appears to have been compiled, but but the 4 albums below were released on LP.

Greater detail on his life is available on Wikipedia.

Track List: Jazz in Concert at the Village Gate Oct 1, 1966 RCA/Victor
The "In" Congregation
I Get a Kick Out of You
I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face
Chim Chim Cheree
Mr. Cholly
Get Me to the Church on Time
Where Is Love?
Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise

Track List: Cornbread 1967 RCA/Victor LSP-3708
sideA:
Cornbread, Meat Loaf, Greens, & Devilled Eggs
Autumn Leaves
That's All
Cute
On Green Dolphin Street
sideB:
Stella By Starlight
It Might As Well Be Spring
Wanda
Goodness Gracious
I Think I Love You
Constance

Track List: Motor City Soul Feb 1, 1968 RCA/Victor
Girl Talk
Shadow of Your Smile
How About You?
So What
I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel...
Tenderly
Girl from Ipanema
Nearness of You
Motor City Soul
Party's Over

Track List: Father Tom Vaughn's Joyful Jazz Jan 1,1976 Concord Jazz
Misty
Fly Me to the Moon
Holy Smoke
Prayer for My People
Shadow of Your Smile
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
My Foolish Heart
Battle Hymn of the Republic


Dennis Tolsma Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.