This month, the Jazz Journalists Association named Tom Guralnick one of its 2016 Jazz Heroes, individuals of positive influence on their musical communities. Since he arrived here in 1976, Tom has created, or helped to create, three thriving local organizations, the New Mexico Jazz Workshop, the New Mexico Jazz Festival, and Albuquerque's Outpost Performance Space.
While Tom didn't have a "grand vision" for his role as a music presenter, he has always been dedicated to making jazz "part of the cultural spectrum" here in New Mexico.
Tom explains how his early career as a musician led to, and affected, his later work as a music presenter, and shares his thoughts about the future of the local music scene, in this more complete version of the interview.
