About

Tom Caraher is a tenor saxophonist born in Bangkok, Thailand in 1990. After living there, Cambodia, and Pakistan as a small child his family moved to his father’s hometown of Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. From there, at 10 years of age, his family moved again to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It was there, in the land of bluegrass and fried chicken, that he discovered his passion - the saxophone.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in saxophone performance at Berklee College of Music studying with George Garzone, Frank Tiberi, Hal Crook and many others, and after a year long stint on Cruise Ships, he resettled in Ireland. He has performed with some of Ireland’s top musicians and bands including the RTE Concert Orchestra, Mick Flannery Band, Dublin City Jazz Orchestra, The Hot House Big Band, Paul Dunlea Group, ZASKA, The Connor McKeon Band, Aja, Phisqa, The Booka Brass Band, and many more. He has also performed in Ireland’s top venues, festivals, and shows including the National Concert Hall, The Late Late Show, The Pat Kenny Show, JJ Smyths, The International Bar, Cork Jazz Festival, Down with Jazz Festival, Sligo Jazz Festival and more. In addition to his focus on playing he has written arrangements for many top artists including CC Brez(of Republic of Loose), The Connor McKeon Band and others.

Between 2018 and 2020 he was based in Co. Kerry, working as a session musician around the country, but also taking inspiration from his surroundings for his compositions and improvisational approach, and ferociously practicing and studying music, further developing his sound. He recently moved back to Co Monaghan to be closer to Dublin for more playing and recording opportunities, and is now a saxophone lecturer at the highly regarded DCU Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance Programme.

Oh, and check out his photography portfolio, Outside the Frame.