As a jazz pianist and pop keyboardist, and a longtime active member of the Chicago music scene, I’ve had the opportunity to perform in a variety of musical settings ranging from solo piano and vocal duos to small groups and larger ensembles, including the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and Symphonic Jazz International.
I am available for solo piano performances, sideman work, studio sessions, and live events. Whether performing jazz standards, pop and R&B classics, blues, or Latin music, I am committed to bringing versatility, creativity, and decades of experience to every performance.
Featured Projects
Solo Jazz Piano
As a solo pianist, I perform in a variety of settings including jazz clubs, restaurants, cocktail hours, receptions, and private events. I strive to perform music that meets my own musical expectations while adapting each performance to the occasion and the audience. My repertoire includes jazz standards, blues, Latin music, and pop classics.
The Jazz & Soul Connection
The Jazz & Soul Connection is my collaboration with vocalist Deborah Powell. Accompanying singers has always been one of my favorite roles as a pianist, especially when working with a singer as incredibly musical and responsive as Deborah.
Bill Boris Trio
In the Bill Boris Trio, I combine the roles of a traditional jazz organ player and a contemporary keyboard player, supplying bass lines with his left hand while blending modern keyboard sounds and synthesizer solos to evoke the sound of classic jazz fusion bands.
Q&A
What Kind of Pianist am I?
I perform on both acoustic piano and electronic keyboards.
From an early age, my musical interests developed along three paths.
One was rooted in the traditional jazz piano styles of Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans.
Another was inspired by the keyboard innovations of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Jeff Lorber.
A third grew out of my love for Jimmy Smith and gospel music, which introduced me to the Hammond B3 tradition.
Together, these influences have allowed me to feel equally at home in a wide variety of musical settings.
What Genre Do You Prefer?
I enjoy many different kinds of music, but I have always gravitated toward contemporary styles with strong jazz influences and exiting groove. This includes traditional and modern jazz, blues, Latin music, funk, soul, and genres that combine elements of these styles, such as the fusion music that emerged in the 1970s.
The simple fact is that I love so many different musical genres and could never imagine limiting myself to just a few.
What Experience Do You Have?
Throughout my career, I have performed and recorded with bands and ensembles of all sizes and instrumentations in both Europe and the United States.
As a young musician, I sought out every opportunity to learn and grow, participating in numerous masterclasses and workshops and studying privately with some of the finest musicians and educators, including Jamey Aebersold, David Berger, Bill Dobbins, Jim McNeely, J.J. Johnson, and Chuchito Valdés.
In my twenties, I was the keyboardist for the German pop band ZigZagZoo. The band earned second place in Yamaha’s International competition for the best up-and-coming pop band in Germany, missing qualification for the final round in Japan by just one place. Since this was long before social media, very little footage exists, but you can hear us perform in the video below.
In addition to my work with ZigZagZoo, I remained active as a jazz pianist, performing with several German groups, including Lubber Blue, which I co-founded with my longtime musical partner and saxophonist Peter Lehel. For our second CD together, The Windy City, we traveled to Chicago and recorded with an American rhythm section featuring trumpeter Orbert Davis.
Shortly afterward, I moved to Chicago and became the principal jazz pianist with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble. We toured throughout Europe and the United States, performing in renowned concert halls and legendary jazz clubs, including Birdland in New York City.
At the same time, I formed my own groups, The Thomas Gunther Trio Plus and Thommy Gunther’s Taste of Chicago Band, which I later took to Germany for an extended tour through the German-American Institute.
Over the years, I have also recorded, produced, and arranged a wide range of original music spanning jazz, pop, fusion, Latin, and contemporary styles.
Working with Singers
Thomas with vocalist Ines
(way back in the days)
I have accompanied many singers throughout my career. In addition to performing with them in a duo setting, I have also served as their musical director and arranger for live shows and studio recordings. My work has ranged from intimate vocal–piano duos to jazz trios and large ensembles across many musical genres.
The Intimacy of the Vocal–Piano Duo
There are few musical settings more intimate than a vocal–piano duo.
Singer and pianist constantly listen and react to one another, feeding off each other’s energy while shaping every phrase together. It is this musical conversation that makes each performance feel unique, personal, and alive.
Thomas with
show band HONEY PIE,
Stuttgart/Germany 1996
I have played in almost any setting you can think of. This includes solo piano, duos (with singers and instrumentalists), and all the way to huge ensembles, including symphony orchestras with a jazz band. I love it all.