Here’s what the press say…

“This fresh and thoughtful work is epic in scale, demonstrating outstanding compositional craft, many interesting, subtle and well-executed ideas. Now Noise reveals Tom’s deep listening of many styles of music synthesised into one skilled new work. A great vehicle for the excellent ensemble. ” – 2017 APRA Art Music Awards jury about ‘Now Noise’ (winner).

“What a virtuoso keyboard artist. His work is thrilling.” – Australian Stage, June 2015.

“Tom O’Halloran’s original jazz trio; masters of their art who had their audience members soaking up every note.” – ArtsHub, August 2012.

“The pianist is able to call upon various periods of jazz piano history at ease and incorporate them elegantly into a context that is uniquely his own.” – ABC Limelight Magazine.

“Gifted with big ears, formidable technique and a free-wheeling conception, pianist/composer Tom O’Halloran should be on the must-hear list of anyone interested in hearing the best of what current Australian jazz has to offer.” – Mike Nock, Jan 2009.

“.. Another piece of good news for anyone new to Tom O’Halloran…. Speaking as one who has seen him in some very varied contexts over the years, I know that as a ‘live’ performer he is consistently ‘right there, in the moment’. Some capable keyboardists occasionally remind me of typists; Tom never has.” – Doug Spencer, Producer-presenter, ABC Radio National’s ‘The Weekend Planet’.

“(Tom O’Halloran is)…retaining his own identity via his original compositions…there is a youthful buoyancy weaving intricate colours and textural contrasts.” – ABC Limelight magazine.

“… pianist, composer and conductor Tom O’Halloran led his trio in a sparkling set full of rhythmic teamwork, subtle or sudden gear shifts, zipping pace and dancing lyricism that has characterized the jazz piano trio tradition.” – John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald.

“At least as good as this trio’s excellent debut, but a different beast: We Happy Few is quirkier, more bracing, even more alert. Uncommonly intelligent electronic manipulations are an occasional element, but at core this is a splendid example of conversational music-making by three friends – ‘in the moment’ , listening keenly, playing ‘au naturel.’ Hats off to the sound engineers, too.” Doug Spencer producer- presenter, ‘The Weekend Planet’, ABC Radio National.

“(O’Halloran and Susnjar) played superbly together, with drive and lift, and the particular sparkling excitement that the best of this kind of jazz can generate.” – John Clare.

(about conducting)

“If O’Halloran’s handling of the piece on Saturday is anything to go by, this young musician has a lot going for him. His baton technique, devoid of superfluous gestures, was clear cut and purposeful, obtaining from his forces, which sounded more confident than earlier in the evening, a reading that generated and maintained intensity impressively.” – Neville Cohn, The West Australian.