PROJECTS OVERVIEW

Tom Teasley is an award-winning composer, sound designer, and multi-instrumentalist whose work spans solo percussion, live film soundtracks, immersive installations, and audio-visual art. Known for his genre-defying fusion of global musical traditions with cutting-edge technology, Tom creates deeply engaging sonic experiences that expand the concept of what solo percussion can be. His signature approach — immersive percussion storytelling — invites audiences into soundscapes that are at once personal, cinematic, and universally resonant. He is equally known for his innovative duo performances, which explore a uniquely intimate musical dialogue across genres and cultures. Whether synchronizing music with abstract visuals, designing live scores, or collaborating on multidisciplinary experiences, Tom approaches sound as a narrative, expressive, and often communal force.

With a career recognized for its originality and impact — including critical acclaim and awards for solo percussion, education, and multimedia innovation — Tom has collaborated with visual artists, video creators, musicians, and dancers to bring stories to life through sound. His extensive and culturally diverse collection of instruments, along with his ability to fluidly blend composed and improvised elements, allows him to create work that is both technically masterful and emotionally resonant. From richly textured soundscapes to the visually expressive world of Sounds You Can See, Tom’s body of work invites audiences to experience rhythm and tone as visual, physical, and emotional phenomena.

At the heart of Tom’s creative process is a deep respect for the power of sound to shape perception, heal, and evoke emotion across different mediums. His international travels and immersion in diverse musical traditions continue to inform his work, infusing each project with a rich, cross-cultural sensibility. Beyond performance, Tom is committed to using sound as a tool for connection and restoration — whether through community-based workshops, wellness collaborations, or immersive musical environments that foster reflection, presence, and inner alignment.

01: Solo Percussion Concerts

Modern Percussion from Ancient Traditions

Join internationally acclaimed percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Tom Teasley for an exhilarating solo concert blending global rhythms with cutting-edge percussion techniques. Described by The Washington Post as “a percussionist in the widest and most exuberant sense of the word, a musical wizard and multi-instrumental genius,” Teasley takes audiences on a dynamic journey through African, Indian, and Middle Eastern traditions, seamlessly woven with the spirit of American jazz.

A recipient of numerous awards and honors—including collaborations with the National Symphony Orchestra and residencies at the Kennedy Center—Teasley brings a lifetime of global exploration to the stage. Through an extraordinary array of instruments, from ancient to futuristic, he creates a rich, contemporary soundscape that is both deeply rooted and refreshingly original.

These solo performances also reflect the essence of Tom’s larger innovative duo projects and his larger ensemble project, Global Standards—an ever-evolving collective dedicated to the fusion of jazz and world rhythms. Whether performing solo or with collaborators, Tom’s artistry bridges cultures and genres, inviting audiences into a vibrant, borderless musical experience grounded in improvisation, tradition, and innovation.

02: Global Standards

The Rhythm of Cultures, The Spirit of Jazz

Global Standards is a boundary-defying world jazz collective created by percussionist and bandleader Tom Teasley. The project explores the intersection of jazz repertoire, global percussion traditions, rhythmic concepts, and jazz-rooted improvisation.

The collective debuted to a sold-out audience at the Kennedy Center as part of the DC Jazz Festival’s Dis is ‘DA Drum series. Invited by festival Artistic Director Willard Jenkins, Tom was selected for his deep engagement with global rhythm traditions—bringing a fresh voice to the drummer-bandleader concept. For the performance, he assembled a distinctive trio that reflected his vision and ability to connect across cultures.

Tom introduced each instrument with concise, thoughtful context—linking its cultural roots to the music being played. Rather than lecture, he guided the audience with natural clarity and warmth, creating space for curiosity and connection. His leadership revealed how jazz and global rhythm traditions can inform and elevate one another in real time.

Future performances and video releases will continue to showcase evolving incarnations of Global Standards, each shaped by new collaborators and a shared commitment to uniting the rhythm of cultures with the spirit of jazz.

03: Film Score Concerts

Classic Cinema Meets Live World Percussion

Step into an immersive world where live music and classic film converge in an unforgettable experience. Tom Teasley’s Filmscore Concerts transform silent cinema into a vibrant sensory journey, blending world percussion, electro-jazz, and global rhythms with iconic films such as Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, Lotte Reiniger’s The Adventures of Prince Achmed, and avant-garde works by Hans Richter. In select programs, Tom explores the intersection of American physical comedy merged with American jazz percussion, drawing inspiration from the timeless films of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. The result is a syncopated, rhythm-driven dialogue between music and movement that highlights the deep kinship between early cinema and improvisational sound. Perfect for art galleries, movie houses, concert venues, and educational programs, these performances captivate diverse audiences through a dynamic fusion of image and music. Each event is a one-of-a-kind encounter, where Teasley’s masterful live scoring breathes new life into timeless visual art.

Beyond the performance, audiences are invited into a deeper dialogue with an engaging post-concert talkback, exploring the creative process, global musical influences, and the art of live sound design. Whether through the eerie resonance of Nosferatu or the rhythmic pulse of experimental Dadaist films, Teasley’s innovative approach turns each screening into a living, evolving performance. His unique artistry and cultural depth make these concerts not only a celebration of film and music but also an invitation to experience art in a profoundly interactive way.

04: Installations & Sounds You Can See

Immersive Audio Experiences & Music-Driven Visual Art

Tom Teasley’s work in sound installations and audio-visual art invites audiences into immersive environments where sound, space, and imagery converge. His sound installations are designed to transform physical spaces into living soundscapes—multi-layered compositions that blend ambient recordings with live or recorded instrumental performances. These installations are site-specific and deeply atmospheric, offering a meditative experience that enhances galleries, exhibitions, or creative environments. Whether accompanying a thematic art show or standing alone, each installation is crafted to engage the senses and expand how we perceive sound in space.

Sounds You Can See brings Tom’s artistry into the visual realm, where his original music is tightly choreographed with abstract video compositions. Inspired by movement, rhythm, and global cultural influences, these works explore the dance between sound and image. Drawing on inspirations from Dadaism, experimental film, and his own live performances, Tom creates a unique form of visual music—where sonic gestures are mirrored in shifting visuals, and the boundaries between what we hear and what we see dissolve. These pieces are ideal for galleries, performance art spaces, or any setting where multi-sensory exploration is celebrated.