Thomas O'Grady: The World-Class Keyboardist Elevating Resolution 88 with Their Latest Album "Vortex" and Electrifying Performances!  

INTERVIEW BY: GINA SEDMAN, WRITER/JOURNALIST & HEAD EDITOR 

Dynamic UK keyboardist, pianist, and songwriter Thomas O'Grady's musical journey has seen him perform alongside notable artists like Don Blackman, Underground Resistance, Eumir Deodato, and Clare Fischer. His recording experiences span prestigious locations such as Abbey Road Studios in London and Sunset Sound in Los Angeles. Thomas's music is heavily influenced by legends like Herbie Hancock, Don Blackman, Jerry Peters, and Matthew Larkin Cassell. 

In addition to his impressive solo career, Thomas collaborates with vocalist Myles Sanko and leads the innovative band Resolution 88. In the autumn of 2016, he showcased his versatility and skill by joining Incognito on their world tour as a keyboardist. His dynamic presence and musical expertise continue to captivate audiences around the globe. 

Hi Tom. How are you doing? Very well, thanks.  

That's great to hear, Tom. Before we dive into what you're doing now, I'd like to learn more about your background. Where are you from, and where are you currently based? I grew up in Leamington Spa, a town right in the middle of England. My parents met there while they were both teaching at the same school. Interestingly, they both hailed from Derbyshire, which is further north. It was quite a coincidence that they ended up meeting in Warwickshire and settling in Leamington Spa. This is where I spent my formative years.  

I attended the same school where my parents were teaching, so I experienced life as the child of educators. We moved house only once during my childhood. My parents still reside in the house we moved to when I was 11. Even now, returning home means going back to Leamington Spa, and I lived there until I was about 18.   

How nice, Tom! With both of your parents being teachers, did you feel there was a high standard set for you? What did they teach? My Dad is a math teacher, and he has many passions including mathematics, sport,photography, food & wine and of course music. Whilst it didn't turn out to be his career, Dad is a very accomplished pianist. We had a piano at home, and some of my earliest memories are of him playing it when he came home from school. I remember listening from the top of the stairs after I was supposed to be asleep in bed and hearing him play pieces by composers including Gershwin and Brahms. 

My mum, on the other hand, was a junior school teacher
covering most subjects. Her degree was in music and education, and she plays the organ and the piano. Nowadays she is very busy as an organist and a piano teacher. 

So, growing up in a musical household, was it your parents' influence that drew you to music, or was there another catalyst like a school experience or a particular band? What initially sparked your interest in music? The biggest influence was definitely being surrounded by music at home. My parents were constantly listening to piano and orchestral music, which was an integral part of our daily life. I feel very fortunate to have had such a musical environment. Their positive attitude towards music was also crucial. They would make the effort to attend concerts and performances, even if it meant getting up early for school the next day.  

Aside from this, discovering jazz-funk was a significant moment for me. A friend introduced me to Jamiroquai and Herbie Hancock’s "Headhunters." This was the first time I connected with music on a personal level, independent of my parents' influence. It marked the beginning of my journey into record collecting and discovering new music.   

Do you remember your first record? Yes, I do. We were lucky at school to have a CD library, where I borrowed "Headhunters" by Herbie Hancock based on a friend's recommendation. It had a profound impact on me. The first record I bought with my own money was Jamiroquai’s "The Return of the Space Cowboy." I saved up for it, which was quite a commitment at the time. Listening to it repeatedly allowed me to develop a deep appreciation for it.   

That's great, Tom! At what age did you start playing the piano seriously? I was fortunate to have a piano at home, and I began experimenting with it around the age of three or four. My parents noticed that I wasn’t just randomly pressing keys but was genuinely engaging with the instrument. They saw that I was taking it seriously, so I started receiving lessons at around four and a half years old.  

Wow! That was your gift. You were so young yet so focused. As you progressed from playing casually to pursuing a professional career, how did you transition into becoming a professional musician, especially playing with a band like Incognito? My journey to becoming a professional musician was quite roundabout. I always had a passion for music and wanted to be a musician. At 16, I reached out to Martin Shaw, a trumpeter with Jamiroquai, to ask about being a session musician. Despite the pressures to follow a different path, I pursued an engineering degree at Cambridge, while continuing to play music in my free time.  

After graduating, I worked in engineering and then as a math teacher. Throughout these years, I kept music at the forefront, playing in bands and taking every opportunity to perform. I started a band with Tiago, and this eventually led to significant connections in the music industry.   

The turning point came when Ric Elsworth, the drummer from Resolution 88, encouraged me to leave my math teaching job and focus on music full-time. My friends Myles Sanko and Rick Hudson were also heavily influential in guiding me to my decision. With Ric's encouragement I set up Resolution 88 with him, Tiago Coimbra, Afrika Green and George Crowley. 

My connection with Incognito came through Resolution 88. For my 30th birthday, we had a notable gig, and some dedicated fans recorded our performance. One of these fans had connections with Bluey from Incognito.  

He recommended our band to Bluey, who listened to our music and was impressed. This led to Bluey signing our second album, "Afterglow,” and later offering me a role as a keyboard player for Incognito’s world tour. 

So, my transition to becoming a professional musician involved a combination of connections, recommendations, and the support of friends and mentors who all played a part in guiding me towards making the best decision. 

How did you come up with the name Resolution 88? Thank you for asking that question, because it's quite an important one. The name has good connotations in some countries, especially in Asian countries like China, where the number 8 is considered very lucky. I wanted a name that sounded strong and didn't rely on a pun involving the word "funk." wanted our band name to be something I was proud of telling people. 

When considering a band name, we tried many ideas. Ric found this tool called a visual thesaurus, where you could input words meaningful to you and see related words. I tried words like "chords" and "harmony," and "resolution" came up as a related word. I liked its various meanings, particularly the idea of determination. 

The harmonic meaning was the first and most important aspect. It also paraphrases something Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner have said: it doesn't matter how far out you take something; it's how you resolve it that makes sense of it. This was part of the band's concept: like the Headhunters, with percussion, drums, bass, a lead instrument like sax, and keyboards, but no other harmony instrument. The 88 comes from the 88 keys on the piano. 

Thank you, Tom, for the backstory. Great story! So, where do you see the vision of this band going, considering current music trends and your vision for the band? When we started, it was evident that this was niche music, and many people weren't interested. But those who discovered it loved it, and we got strong reactions from fans. Everyone in the band is successful in their own careers, so it has to be worth their time and enjoyable. 

My ambition is for the band to be musically satisfying for everyone involved and for it to feel like it's progressing, whether that's through improving gig fees or playing at better venues. The primary aim is for everyone to enjoy it and be proud of it. We need new music periodically to keep things fresh and avoid stagnation. We are fortunate to have enough music to change up the set list often, and we enjoy the process of writing, rehearsing, and recording. My aim is to be still doing this in 10 years with the same friends and all of us enjoying it. 

Awesome. Let's talk about your amazing new project, "Vortex." Can you tell me about it? When I sat down to write, it was post-lockdown, and it took a while to get back into it. I tried hard to make the melodies memorable and simple, even if some parts were complex. We wanted to celebrate the band as it is, with Tom Smith guesting on saxophone since our regular saxophonist, Alex Hitchcock, was in New York. 

For this album, we kept it mostly to the four core members, plus Tom and my wife Vanessa guesting. All sounds are authentic; if you hear a tape delay, it's an Echoplex, and if you hear a Mellotron, it's because I recorded one in a studio. We aimed for simple melodies and authentic sounds. 

Influences from Jamiroquai and Herbie Hancock are evident, and we experimented more with lead synths, especially since Alex wasn't present. This pushed us towards celebrating the Mizell brothers' influence, who produced for Donald Byrd, Bobby Humphrey, and Johnny Hammond in the 70s. Vortex will appeal to fans of that era's music. 

That's awesome. You play the Fender Rhodes piano. Are you endorsed by them? I'm not endorsed by them. I use my own Rhodes from 1976. I have three: one for recording at home, one for gigs, and one at a friend's studio. The new Rhodes MK8 is great, and my friend Dan Goldman, the chief design engineer, is part of Resolution 88. Although I'm not endorsed, I've played the” MK8"at Union Chapel, Jazz Cafe, and Ronnie Scotts, and it's a fantastic instrument. 

Where can people buy your music, and where are you performing next? Physical copies are primarily available on Bandcamp directly from us. We might look into getting them into big record shops for international fans, but for now, Bandcamp is the best option. People often buy records or CDs at our gigs, which is a great opportunity. 

Your music is amazing, and I think you'll go far. Can you advise young people who are starting a band? Part of it is luck, but choosing your bandmates carefully is crucial. They need to believe in what you're doing. Everyone needs to contribute and believe in the vision. It's important to have fun, especially in the early stages. Play around with ideas, jam, and perform in front of people. 

Thank you for the advice. I'm sure you'll achieve great success. It's been an honor interviewing you. I look forward to seeing you win awards and continuing to bless the world with your music. May God bless and keep you safe. Thank you so much. It's been a pleasure talking to you. 

You're welcome. Have a great day. You too, Gina. Bye. 

End of Interview

resolution88.bandcamp.com