“Leighton Tendencies” is Tom’s most recent CD release, featuring his own compositions and arrangements. It's an eclectic mix of instrumentals, from evocative waltzes to upbeat jazzy solos, from haunting airs to rockin' jigs and reels, all with a Canadian/Celtic flare. Tom has assembled some of Toronto's top musicians for this exciting project which features accordion, piano, fiddle, cello, horns, bouzouki, mandolin, bodhran and even jaw harp. Everything but the "Kitchen Sink", as one cut best describes it. A multi instrumentalist, Tom brings to his music sophisticated colors and novel arrangements that few musicians can match. He plays piano, accordion, accordion bass, bouzouki, bodhran, whistles, jaw harps, mandolin and trombone— sometimes three of them at the same time! Tom is half of the celebrated Canadian duo Mark Haines & Tom Leighton. Haines and Leighton have three CDs, “Foot to Floor”, “Optimists Jig” and “Hand to Hand”, the latter two with Borealis records. Their third CD, “Hand To Hand”, won two PEI Music Awards and was nominated for an East Coast Music Award. Haines and Leighton have toured internationally and are frequent headliners in folk festivals throughout North America. As a recording artist Tom is present on a number of prominent recordings including Ron Hynes’ last three CDs, recordings by the Irish Descendants, Danny Bakan, Ron Nigrini, Nancy White, Jed Marum, Marie Lynn Hammond, Michael Cavan Kelly, Georgette Fry, Anne Lederman and many others. Tom also plays regularly with Anne Lederman, Conrad Kipping, Danny Bakan and others in many different genres including swing, light jazz, country, East Coast and lots of fiddle styles. Long active in musical theatre, Tom was co-writer (with Suzanne Pasternak and Marion deVries) and music director of “Ship of Fire” produced by the Festival Players of Prince Edward County 2009. He has also been musical director of numerous productions of the folk musical “Minerva”, which he co-authored with Suzanne Pasternak. Other music direction credits include the musicals “Exile”, “Picton Papers”, “Hank Williams, the Show He Never Gave”, “Fiddler On the Roof”, and “Urinetown”, and “RENT”. Tom has been music director for the Riverdale Share Concert, Toronto revue for the past 6 years. Other orchestration credits include the musical “Anne and Gilbert” (with Bob Johnston) and works performed by the Kingston Symphony and featuring guest artists Georgette Fry, Haines & Leighton and Ryan Malcolm - Canadian Idol winner. Tom is part of the music theatre team at Wexford School for the Arts, leading the pit band and co-teaching the vocal repertoire. He has also led community choirs at the Blue Skies Folk Festival and Summerfolk and a vocal music weekend in Pfferlaw, On called “Sing at Eaglewood”. Tom has been awarded the Cec McEachern Award as a diverse accompanist by CIUT FM. www.Tom Leighton.ca info@tomleighton.ca (416) 425-8233