About
Saxophonist, composer, arranger, recording engineer/producer Tom Washatka has been performing, producing and recording music for over 4 decades.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Washatka started playing piano at age nine, picked up the clarinet 4 years later then saxophone. Graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1981 and immediately opened a recording studio Steel Moon Recording. Releasing his 1st album in 1983 “Island Dancer” along with pianist/composer John Harmon. In 1999 he released his CD “Easy To Love” gaining rave reviews. His latest recording is “Nascent” with his trio. Tom currently performs with his quartet DADDIO.
An acclaimed producer and recording engineer for Stellar Records/Steel Moon recording studio he has recorded over 35 CDs for Stellar Records with his wife/vocalist Janet Planet. As well as over 25 CDs for independent artists singer/songwriters including guitarist Gene Bertoncini, pianist John Harmon, cellist Matt Turner and vocalist Nancy King. He enjoys producing backing tracks for artists recording demos. His passion is in realizing the music of others. Tom won a WAMI in 2018 for Best Studio Engineer/Producer. And another WAMI in 2022 for saxophone.
Tom is owner and composer for one of the most popular music libraries Narrator Tracks Music. Starting as a composer with the library in 1989, over 135 CDs and 1000 compositions later he now owns the company. His award winning music has been featured in movies and documentaries nationally as well as world-wide.
You can also find his music at royaltyfreemuzic.com.
The diversity of what Tom does invigorates his curiosity and keeps things fresh. Whether performing, recording, writing or arranging all the parts contribute to the sum.
Discography: Performance
1972 John Marshall High School Symphonic Band
1979 Big City Bob And The Ballroom Gliders
1980 UW Oshkosh Jazz Band
1981 Rose Canyon Band – Destiny
1981 Fire & Ice – Island Dancer
1986 Chris Swansen – Sweet Thunder
1987 Janet Planet – In The Stars
1990 Janet Planet – Just One More Night
1996 Janet Planet – Can’t Take That Away
1996 Janet Planet – Live At Cactus Jacks
1999 Madisalsa – Del Caribe Al Corazon
1999 Big Band Reunion – Frank’s Place
1999 Matt Perkins – All That I Need
1999 Tom Washatka – Easy To Love
2000 Tom Theabo – A Fine Sample
2001 Clambake – Live At Champagne Charlie’s
2002 Janet Planet – Passion From The Wreckage
2002 Janet Planet – All I Want For Christmas
2002 Matt Turner – Outside In
2003 Madisalsa – Sie Piermite Bailar
2004 Janet Planet – Get Happy
2004 Janet Planet – Strings Attached
2004 Donna Ruzicka – Song Of Songs
2005 Janet Planet – Just Above A Whisper
2006 Janet Planet – Evidence
2005 Lisa Roti – Comes Love
2009 Janet Planet – Of Thee I Sing
2009 Janet Planet – Love & Happiness
2009 Drew Fase – Tonight, The Moon Belongs To You
2010 Matrix – Proud Flesh
2010 Janet Planet – Sings The Bob Dylan Songbook Vol 1
2010 Janet Planet – Love Letters From Cary Bluff
2015 Janet Planet – Just Like A Woman: The Music Of Bob Dylan Vol 2
2016 Richard Stiles – Autumn To May
2018 Kyle Knoke – Kyle 50
2018 Tim DeMaster – The Way Of The World
2019 Mike Sullivan – Little Bird
2019 Janet Planet & John Harmon – Da Capo
2019 Richard Stiles – Maybe Something
2020 Scott Dercks & Tom Washatka – When Friends Speak
2021 Tom Washatka, Noah Harmon & Zach Harmon – Nascent
Discography: Recording Engineer/Mixing/Mastering/Arranging
1987 Janet Planet – In The Stars
1995 Janet Planet – More Beautiful Than Planned
1996 Janet Planet – Can’t Take That Away
1998 John Harmon – Rite Of Passage (Mastered)
1998 Matt Turner – Chum (Mastered)
1999 Tom Washatka – Easy To Love
2000 Tom Theabo – A Fine Sample
2000 Janet Planet – CO2
2000 Nancy King & Steve Christofferson – Dreamlands Vol 1 (Mastered)
2001 Africa West – Africa West (Mastered)
2001 Clambake – Live At Champagne Charlie’s
2002 Janet Planet – All I Want For Christmas
2002 Nancy King & Steve Christofferson – Dreamlands Vol 2 (Mastered)
2002 Matt Turner – Outside In
2002 Janet Planet – Passion From The Wreckage
2004 Janet Planet – Get Happy
2004 Janet Planet – Strings Attached
2004 Donna Ruzicka – Song Of Songs
2005 Lisa Roti – Comes Love
2005 Janet Planet – Just Above A Whisper
2006 Janet Planet – Evidence
2008 Virginia Rodgers – Chansons pour mon Chaton
2009 Janet Planet – Of Thee I Sing
2009 Janet Planet – Love & Happiness
2009 Drew Fase – Tonight, The Moon Belongs To You
2010 Janet Planet – Sings The Bob Dylan Songbook Vol 1
2010 Janet Planet – Love Letters From Cary Bluff
2012 Michelle Korb – Ab Origine
2013 Janet Planet – Live At The Metropolitan
2015 Janet Planet – Just Like A Woman: The Music Of Bob Dylan Vol 2
2015 Jim Olsen & John Harmon – The Great Plains
2016 Cynthia Bane – Clearly
2016 Madie VandenHeuvel – Untethered
2016 Richard Stiles – Autumn To May
2018 Tim Buchholz – I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
2018 Kyle Knoke – Kyle 50
2018 Tim DeMaster – The Way Of The World
2019 Gabe Wilson – A Break In The Clouds (Mix & Mastering)
2019 Mike Sullivan – Little Bird (Mix & Mastering)
2019 Janet Planet & John Harmon – Da Capo
2019 Cody James – Start Climbing (Mix & Mastering)
2019 Richard Stiles – Maybe Something
2020 Scott Dercks & Tom Washatka – When Friends Speak
2021 Tom Washatka, Noah Harmon & Zach Harmon – Nascent
2021 Janet Planet – Under A Venus Moon
2022 Michele Korb – A Night at Moonlight Gardens
2023 Pegasis – Four
2023 DADDIO – Live In Scandinavia
2023 Janet Planet – Hope Springs
