Bio

Thomas Linger, multi-award-winning pianist and composer, was born in 1993 in the small Appalachian town of Waynesville, North Carolina. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he quickly took the music scene by storm by winning first place in the American Jazz Pianist Competition, and moving to New York City in 2017. He is one of five laureates in the 2023 American Piano Awards, a jazz piano competition with the highest value grand prize of its kind worth over $200,000. Thomas is now one of the most sought-after performers, composers, and teachers worldwide, having performed in jazz’s most heralded and prestigious venues including The Village Vanguard, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Dizzy's Club, and he has held longstanding residencies at the iconic Smalls Jazz Club, Mezzrow, Ornithology, and many more. In addition to his skill as a natural bandleader, he is also both a consummate solo pianist and sideman. He has performed alongside many current star luminaries including Peter Bernstein, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Peter Washington, Joe Farnsworth, Brandon Lee, Joe Magnarelli, David Williams, Tyler Mitchell, Doug Weiss, Francisco Mela, Terell Stafford and many others. Thomas's most recent album Out In It is available from Cellar Records, reviewed on All About Jazz and reaching the top of the JazzWeek charts.