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Zlabinger, Thomas

Zlabinger, Thomas

Associate Professor

Performing and Fine Arts

Phone: 718-262-2412
Office Location: AC-1A12D
Email: tzlabinger@york.cuny.edu

Personal Website

Dr. Tom Zlabinger is Associate Professor of Music at York College / CUNY, where he teaches popular music, ethnomusicology, and directs the York College Jazz Band. As a bass player, Dr. Zlabinger has performed with a wide range of musicians, including Marshall Allen, Glenn Branca, Lukas Foss, Eddie Gale, William Hooker, Lukas Ligeti, Emeline Michel, Butch Morris, Bern Nix, William Parker, and Sarah Weaver.

Curriculum Vitae

Office Hours

DayTime
Tuesdays9 a.m. - noon

Education

DegreeInstitutionFieldDates
PhD Graduate Center / CUNY Ethnomusicology 2013 
MA Queens College / CUNY Jazz Performance 2001 
BA Grinnell College Music 1996 

Areas of Expertise

  • bass (electric & upright)
  • blues
  • conducting
  • depiction of musicians in media franchises
  • ethnomusicology
  • improvisation
  • jam sessions
  • jazz education
  • jazz history
  • jazz performance
  • music industry
  • pedagogy of improvisation
  • psychedelic music
  • rock
  • telematic performance

Publications in Field Of Expertise

Books

Articles

Chapters

  • Zlabinger, Tom. "Jazz: Come On and Let's Get Free." The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Imperialism and Anti-Imperialism. Revised online edition. Edited by Immanuel Ness and Zak Cope. New York: Macmillan, 2020: (peer-reviewed).
  • Zlabinger, Tom. "I Often Feel like a Unicorn." Specialists: Passions and Careers. Edited by Cristina Artenie and Dannielle Joy Davis. Montreal: Universitas Press, 2017: 56-59 (peer-reviewed).
  • Zlabinger, Tom. "Jazz: Come On and Let's Get Free." The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Imperialism and Anti-Imperialism. Vol. 1. Edited by Immanuel Ness and Zak Cope. New York: Macmillan, 2016: 494-507 (peer-reviewed).

Refereed Proceedings

Other

Presented Papers, Lectures, and Exhibitions and Performances

  • "Pure Love: Alice Coltrane and Openness" April 2021: Co-presented with Ashley Jackson (Hunter College). The Power of an Antiracist Academy: Reimagining Systems and Structures. CUNY Faculty Diversity & Inclusion Conference. The City University of New York. New York, NY. Hosted on Zoom.
  • "Beginning Improv…Have No Fear!" May 2013: Sponsored by the Music Educators Association of New York City (MEANYC), United Federation of Teachers (UFT) Headquarters.

Professional Honors, Prizes, Fellowships

  • Transformative Learning in the Humanities (TLH) Faculty Fellowship, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation: May - December 2021.
  • "Protodelic Sounds - The Foundational Blues Repertoire of Psychedelic Music," Faculty Fellowship Publication Program (FFPP), Office of the Dean for Recruitment and Diversity / CUNY: December 2018 - May 2019.
  • Provost’s Award for Enhancing Student Research: May 2019.
  • Distinguished Faculty Award, York College Alumni Association: May 2016.
  • Keeping Jazz Alive Award, Bartlett Foundation: September 2015.
  • Outstanding Leadership Award, York College Student Government: June 2015.
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, Sigma Alpha Pi: The National Society of Leadership and Success: May 2014.
  • Dean’s Award for Enhancing Student Research: April 2014.
  • President’s Award for Enhancing Student Research: April 2013.
  • Provost’s Award for Enhancing Student Research: April 2012.
  • Finalist, York College Blue Notes, Charles Mingus High School Competition: February 2012.
  • Presidential Award for Outstanding Service: September 2011.
  • Finalist, York College Blue Notes, Charles Mingus High School Competition: February 2011.
  • Finalist, York College Blue Notes, Charles Mingus High School Competition: February 2010.
  • Community Service Award, Eta Theta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity: February 2008.

Grants-In-Aid

  • Daniel Dromm (District 25) and Speaker Corey Johnson, New York City Council, "‘A’ Train @ 80: Celebrating Billy Strayhorn and his Legacy," in collaboration with Ebonie Jackson (Women’s Center): series of events including screening of documentary Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life (2007), virtual panel discussion with invited guests, and virtual concert of Strayhorn’s music. November 2021: $7,000.
  • Department of Performing & Fine Arts, "Drivin’ that Protodelic Train: Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Smokestack Lightnin’’ as Psychedelic Vehicle," International Conference on the Blues, Delta State University, Cleveland, MS. October 2019: $946.
  • Office of the Provost, "Widening the Spectrum of Taught Musical Improvisation: The Story of the York College Creative Ensemble," Guelph Jazz Festival & Colloquium, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada. September 2013: $500.