Influences are Jerry Hahn, Pat Metheny, Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino, Robin Ford, Mike Stern, Steve Vai and many others. For vocals, Mike Finnigan ranks as number one.
Tom DeMasters (1957) has been playing guitar since the age of 10.
Tom studied for 4 years with jazz guitar great, Jerry Hahn at Wichita State University where he received a BME degree in 1980. DeMasters moved to Los Angeles in 1980 and attended USC for one year studying with Duke Miller.
While in Los Angeles DeMasters also studied with Steve Vai, for 1 1/2 years, Ted Greene, and one lesson with Johnny Smith.
DeMasters has been back in Kansas City since 1983 and made his mark playing with Mama Ray and the Rich Van Sant band at Harlings in Westport.
Tom put out his solo CD, On the Bright Side, which can be purchased on many onsite locations. Tom can be heard on many different CDs. He can be heard with the Big Woody Blues Band, Heather Thornton debut CD, Joe Cartwright's, Best of Kansas City II, Bradley Allen and Jim Laforte to name a few.
Tom is currently working in many different musical situations. He performs with the Joe Cartwright quartet, Retro Inferno, Tim Whitmer and KCguitar4 featuring 4 of KC's best jazz/blues guitarists-Rod Fleeman, Bill Dye, Dan Bliss and Tom.
Hi Tom, I knew when I read that Jerry Hahn was not only an influence but a teacher too and that you sometimes work with Dan Bliss, I knew you were going to be good...and boy was I right!!! Great stuff!!!
If you're not working Saturday September the 19th I'll be at Aquarius Books in Kansas City at 8PM.
Thanks so much for adding me to your circle of friends!!
I hope you have a Happy New Year as well. I can't wait to see you and the family at the wedding too. I am looking forward to it. AND hoping it won't be cold! :)
Tom, It is a small world Those were some fun learning days. Still learning but nothing like those days. Hope to see you playing somewhere as would like to compare notes. All the best and please keep up that fine music. All the Best Vince
