Tom Botting is a double bassist and composer from New Zealand. After relocating from Auckland to Sydney in late 2011, Tom quickly forged a path into the Australian jazz scene. His impressive abilities as a sideman and bassist have led to playing opportunities with jazz luminaries as diverse as Roger Manins, Dale Barlow, James Muller Trio, Walter Smith III, Vince Jones, and The Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra. Tom also composes for Wild South, a composition project based around people and places in his homeland with a focus on trans-tasman collaborations and flexible ensemble sizes. In 2015, Tom placed third at the prestigious National Jazz Awards held as part of Wangaratta Jazz Festival. In 2019, Tom was awarded a PhD from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Recent highlights include a tour to South Korea with Wellington-based 8 piece ensemble The Jac, recording and releasing albums with The Earshift Orchestra and metal-jazz group Scoredatura, touring with trans-tasman collaborative band Antipodes, presenting his own music at the 2019 Wellington Jazz Festival, presenting new music for large ensemble as part of Wellington’s Arthur Street Loft Orchestra series, and releasing a solo double bass album in March 2020. Tom returned to New Zealand in early 2020 and is currently based in the Waikato.

“Botting has(…)a palpable rapport with Barry and drummer Tim Firth, ensuring an admirably cohesive ensemble sound.” – Jessica Nichols, The Age

“Long ranges, right into the high thumb positions, big drops to open strings and neat phrasing.” – Eric Pozza, Canberra Jazz