Tommy Poole is Director of Jazz Studies and Associate Professor of Music at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. He is an active saxophonist and woodwind doubler in a variety of genres. He has recorded as saxophonist on numerous commercially available CDs ranging in style from classical, to jazz, to pop. He has performed professionally with Rosemary Clooney, Ramsey Lewis, Arturo Sandoval, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Andy Montanez, Glenn Monroig, Diane Schuur, Joe Williams, Mercer Ellington, and Dianne Reeves among many others.

 

Poole's arrangements/compositions have been featured on at least eight CDs. His first four CDs as producer received critical acclaim from All About Jazz, JazzEd Magazine, Outside in Music, and JazzTimes Magazine. Poole's latest produced album, Room 118 (2021) received four stars from All About Jazz. Jack Bowers of All About Jazz writes about Room 118, “There must be something special there, as the OSU ensemble is one of the most well-rehearsed university-level jazz ensembles you’re likely to encounter this side of the University of North Texas—and even that comparison marks a very close call.” Dan Bilawsky of JazzEd Magazine writes about Solid Gold (2017), "the OSU Jazz Orchestra ably demonstrates its might and musicality in a multitude of environments across Solid Gold... Poole's 'Out Front' (original composition) uses infectious lines in fifteen and four to serve as foundational material, his sweeping arrangement of Antonio Carlos Jobim's 'Discussao' is pure Brazilian beauty, and his spirited stab at 'After You've Gone' serves as the perfect send-off while further diversifying his portfolio."

 

Poole has presented recitals, workshops or served as guest artist, guest conductor, all-state clinician and/or adjudicator at Cal State Long Beach, Cal State LA, Eastfield College, Pittsburg State University, Slippery Rock University, Augustana University, Northeastern State University, Los Angeles City College, The University of Texas at San Antonio, The University of Arkansas (Fayetteville), and The University of Illinois (Urbana). He has served in similar fashion for countless national and international conferences and jazz festivals including the Jazz Education Network Annual Conference, the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference, and the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival. His research on metric modulations in jazz has been published in Jazz Inside Magazine. He served as President of OKJE for 2015-2017 and is a member of the Jazz Education Network, North American Saxophone Alliance, College Music Society, and Oklahoma Jazz Educators Association.

 

He received his B.M. and D.M.A. from The University of Texas at Austin and his M.M. from The University of Miami.