I was born in Finland and it's my given name. I use it these days but I've had several stage names in the past which I've used. Some of you might be familiar with one...Tom Summers. It was a name given to me back in the late sixties as folks just seemed to keep calling me by that name. Another one is Mark Hammond used in the days when I played the Hammond organ on the road.

no. I'm retired these days. Special moments? wow! well.....just having an opportunity to play with some known jazz recording artists in the past is enough to give you chills running down the spine. Most musicians will never have that chance.

I've been playing for well over 5 decades. As I look back at my career in music I've had the pleasure to perform with countless bands and recording artists. I won't get into a big ego thing and list them all. I feel that much of the past is water under the bridge.

I studied music at the Ontario conservatory of music in Canada. Later I received a degree in music education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. My studies included vocal training, playing all orchestral and band instruments, band administration, conducting, orchestration and performing. My main instruments were flute and piano. My favorite instruments were cello and bass viol (upright bass).

Although I began playing guitar when I was 17, it wasn't until later that I became a serious jazz guitarist. Today I simply create jazz at home or in a studio with many of my jazz musician friends and students I've had the pleasure to know in the past. They are always eager to see what I'm up to musically and wanting to add their talents to my creations.

There have been several who had been my jazz influences but on guitar, Kenny Burrell, Howard Robert , George Benson, Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, Melvin Sparks, Barney Kessell, Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, Luiz Bonfá, Charlie Byrd, Russ Freeman (guitarist), Pat Martino, Phil Upchurch,

Sydney, Australia

My main guitar is a 1967 Goya RangeMaster which I traded a Farfisa Organ for back around early 1970's. I use D'Addario XL, warm/mellow flat wound strings. I use an original Pignose 7-100 practice amp for a pre-amp for all of my playing and recording.

I began a blog about a popular music software program recently as I wanted to explore it and do an unbiased in depth review of it, a musicians point of view. I try to focus on various styles of jazz from fusion, traditional, swing, smooth etc. of the program since after all I am a jazz musician. Many a musician come by to take a look at it and leave a comment and come back again. The great thing about it is that you don't have to sign up for anything to comment...some comment anonymously while others leave a first name only. I have a player there as well along with some free downloads.

Stop by and take a look/listen and feel free to comment if you like. It's all free! No ads! Here's a page to start from:

my blog