Tommy Carroll

Tommy Carroll (he/him) is a Chicago-based drummer and composer working primarily in the areas of modern jazz, folkloric percussion, and electro acoustic improvisation. He showcases his jazz compositions with the Tommy Carroll Quartet and explores groove-based improvisation with Prosthetic, an evolving group that features a combination of electronic and acoustic instruments. Tommy has released six albums as a leader and performed on more than 30 recordings as a collaborator in styles ranging from Puerto Rican folk to indie rock to hip hop. Described by the Chicago Reader as a “workhorse drummer”, Tommy can be found performing all around the city and the Midwest. As a totally blind musician, Tommy strives to promote the ingenuity of disability culture and joy of improvisation in all he does. 

Tommy organizes musical events and documents the development of new sonic concepts through his Calculated Discomfort production company. In January 2024, Calculated Discomfort presented a 90-minute multi-gallery activation at the Art Institute of Chicago’s Cripping the Galleries series. Tommy was subsequently asked to activate the museums grand staircase in December that same year, which resulted in two, hour-long jazz quartet performances in a majestic acoustic space. In September 2024, Calculated Discomfort presented a showcase in Navy Pier’s Grand Ballroom as part of the CHICAGO LIVE! festival. In August 2022, Tommy presented 90-minutes of music in collaboration with Momenta Dance Company with a public dance floor as part of the Chicago SummerDance series. In February 2019, Calculated Discomfort gave a concert as part of the Steppenwolf Theater’s LookOut Series. Tommy has presented music in most of the city’s clubs, bars, and galleries. He served as host of the Golden Dagger Monday Night Jam Sessions from 2018-2023 and has previously been offered regular programming at Agitator Gallery and Café Mustache. Calculated Discomfort’s disability arts programming has been featured in many spaces including the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago Public Libraries, and Night Out in the Parks. 

Tommy’s albums as a bandleader focus on dance music and improvisation. Dances for Different Bodies (2021) and Not Amazing (2017) set narrative about disability culture to a groove-based backdrop. Listening (2019) is a collection of soulful vocal-based songs. Prosthetic (2022), Original Medicine (2021) and Calculated Discomfort (2018) highlight different approaches to instrumental improvisation. He is currently working on an album of compositions with the Tommy Carroll Quartet titled, Prosthetic II: Mind’s Eye, a sequel to the 2022 Prosthetic album. Tommy has recorded and performed drums for many bands, singers, soundtracks, and theatrical productions. He plays drumset, congas, bongos, dunduns, timbales, and various other percussion instruments. He currently performs with the improvising collective All the Wizards Were Here, a Puerto Rican folk act titled Piraguas y Piropos, alongside bassist / songwriter Lyn Rye, and with percussionist Victoria Djembe among many other bands and ensembles.