Tranceformation

In Tom Sharpe's music, East meets West meets North meets South as he draws together classical sounds, tribal rhythms, improvisational verve and a bit of theatrical flair.

A classically trained musician from Oswego, Sharpe dramatically blends his orchestral background with world music instrumentation, creating music that is both wildly emotional and technically precise.

His compositional prowess has even caught the ear of judges at the international John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Sharpe received the grand prize for world music for the title track of his 2002 debut, Like Setting Myself on Fire.

A talented percussionist and pianist, Sharpe sometimes performs solo, playing instruments with almost frantic speed as he layers sound upon sound. But he occasionally collaborates with other musicians, allowing him to more fully explore the possibilities of his composition.