Finding Aid for Thomas Paynter Music and Papers, 1982-2019 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

By Carol Berthold and Hollis Wittman

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Collection Overview

Title: Thomas Paynter Music and Papers, 1982-2019

ID: 26/20/230

Primary Creator: Paynter, Thomas (1969-2019)

Extent: 4.5 cubic feet

Arrangement: Arranged into five series: 1) Personal Papers and Photographs, 2) Music Scores, 3) Sound and Audiovisual Recordings, 4) Tom Paynter Digitized Tape Cassettes arranged by Jeff Machota, and 5) Electronic Keyboard and UIUC Jazz Band USSR Tour Memorbilia. Materials in series 1 and 2 are arranged alphabetically by title. 2023 acquistion (donated by Dorothy Martirano), present in Series 2, is arranged in reflection of the original order, with loose sheet music alphabetically by title. Materials in series 3 and 5 are arranged by material type. Materials in Series 4 were arranged sequentially using Jeff Machota's alpha-numeric code that he developed to arrange materials chronologically. Each series is divided into two subseries; the first subseries in each series contains physical/analog records, and the second subseries contains digitized and born-digital records.

Date Acquired: 08/14/2020. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Compositions-Music, Instrumental music, Jazz, Music -- Russia, Music - United States

Languages: English, Russian

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Consists of original music scores and parts, photographs, programs, posters, correspondence, scrapbooks, audiovisual recordings, a Korg Model X5D Electronic Synthesizer Keyboard, and memorbilia documenting Tom Paynter's career as a composer, band leader for his music ensemble, Ear Doctor, and music student at the University of Illinois between 1982 and 2019. Of particular note are Paynter's dissertation on Eric Dolphy and his original music compositions written for his band, Ear Doctor.

Biographical Note

Thomas Paynter (1969-2019) was composer, flutist, and jazz musician who earned his Bachelors in music composition and his Masters in flute performance and composition from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1990 and 1992. He completed his PhD in music composition at the University of Chicago in 2001. His thesis project was a detailed transcription and analysis of Eric Dolphy's "Miss Ann" Variants.

As a student at the University of Illinois, he performed with Illinois Jazz Ensemble for its 1990 tour of Russia, and was a member of the University's New Music Ensemble, Andean Ensemble, and the Russian Folk Orchestra between 1988 and 1993. Among the non-University ensembles her played for and directed include Ear Doctor, the Tom Paynter Trio, Quartet, and Quintet, and Desafinado.

Paynter was a frequent host of jazz programs for the WEFT public radio station. He also worked as a cataloging assistant for Chicago Jazz Archive in 1996 and as an assistant at the ACES Library at the University of Illinois. His music compositions include numerious jazz arrangements, and varied works for piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, percussion, violin, viola, cello, pipe organ, and stereo tape. His most unique music series was titled, "Map of a Hundred Luckiness H/A."

Subject/Index Terms

Compositions-Music
Instrumental music
Jazz
Music -- Russia
Music - United States

Administrative Information

Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

Accruals: Additional music donated by Dorothy Martirano, 9/27/23.

Acquisition Source: Jeff Machota

Acquisition Method: Gift

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Personal Papers and Photographs, 1982-2019],
[Series 2: Music Scores, 1986-2006],
[Series 3: Sound and Audiovisual Recordings],
[Series 4: Tom Paynter Digitized Tape Cassettes Arranged by Jeff Machota],
[Series 5: Electric Keyboard and UIUC Jazz Band USSR Tour Memorbilia],
[All]

Series 1: Personal Papers and Photographs, 1982-2019

Sub-Series 1: Physical Files, 1982-2019

Box 1

Folder 1: Photo Album 1 (1 of 6), ca. 1985-1991
Folder 2: Photo Album 1 (2 of 6), 1991-1993
Folder 3: Photo Album 1 (3 of 6), ca. 1990-1993: Includes a few photos from Russia trip.
Folder 4: Photo Album 1 (4 of 6), 1990: Includes photos from Russia trip.
Folder 5: Summer, 1990: Includes photos from Russia trip.
Folder 6: Photo Album 1 (6 of 6): Photo Negatives of Russia Trip, Summer, 1990: 3 rolls, 24 negatives on each.
Folder 7: Photos: Garden Party at Dan's with Justin and Chuck Lipp, Summer, 1992: Photos and negatives.
Folder 8: Photo Negatives: Yugoslavia and Russia Trip, Summer, 1990
Folder 9: Photographs, 1987-2006: Includes photos from Desafinado, 2006 in Millennium Park, Chicago
Folder 10: Photographs and Negatives, undated
Folder 11: Photographs and Negatives, undated
Folder 12: Photographs and Clippings, ca. 1998
Folder 13: Photo Album and Scrapbook 2 (1 of 3), 1984-1986: Photos, concert programs, clippings, awards.
Folder 14: Photo Album and Scrapbook 2 (2 of 3), 1986: Photos, commencement program, awards.
Folder 15: Photo Album and Scrapbook 2 (3 of 3), 1984-1991: Concert programs, commencement program, correspondence, awards,
Folder 16: Artwork, undated
Folder 17: Correspondence and Resume, 1999
Folder 18: Dissertation Notes, Student Papers and Notes, Curriculum Vitae, ca. 2001
Folder 19: Drawings, Sketches, Poster Design: Ear Doctor, undated
Folder 20: Music Notes, Comments and Observations, undated
Folder 21: Newspaper and Periodicals Articles, 1986-2005

Box 2

Folder 1: Notes and Correspondence, 1989-1992
Folder 2: Notes, Poster Designs, undated
Folder 3: Recital Programs, 1982-2008: Arranged in chronological order.
Folder 4: Tom Paynter Memorial Book (1 of 2), July 21, 2019
Folder 5: Tom Paynter Memorial Book (2 of 2), July 21, 2019

Sub-Series 2: Digital Files

Unless otherwise mentioned, the contents of Series 1, Subseries 2 are available through the University of Illinois Digital Library, found at the links attached to each description.

Contains Tom Paynter's personal and photographic digital records.

Folder 1: Ben_Taylor_files

Folder 1A: Ear Doctor

Folder 1A-1: Live at the Canopy Club October 14, 2001, October 14, 2001

Folder 1A-1A: Photos October 14, 2001, October 14, 2001: 11 photos taken by Ben Taylor at the Ear Doctor live gig at the Canopy Club in Urbana, IL on October 14, 2001. Photos are mostly unlabeled except two photos of the rhythm section and one of guest artist Russell Clark. 11 .jpg images.

Folder 1A-2: Live at the Highdive July 27, 2001, July 27, 2001

Folder 1A-2A: Photos July 27, 2001, July 27, 2001: Photos of a live Ear Doctor gig at the Highdive in Champaign, IL on July 27, 2001. Performers depicted include Tom Paynter, Dan Honnold, Jerry Shelato, and Dave Madden. For more information on the gig, see Series 3, Subseries 2. 28 .jpg images.

Folder 1A-3: Live at Zorba's June 28, 2001, June 28, 2001

Folder 1A-3A: Photos June 28, 2001, June 28, 2001: Photos taken by Ben Taylor at a live Ear Doctor performance at Zorba's on June 28, 2001. Performers include: Tom Paynter on flute, keyboards, and percussion; Dan Honnold on tenor and soprano saxophone; Pat Wright on tenor and alto saxophone; Nathan Hatcher on trumpet; Jerry Shelato on tuba; and Dave Madden on drums. 19 .jpg image files.

Folder 1B: Newspaper blurbs, July 5, 2002 - September 12, 2003

Two newspaper articles from 2002-2003 mentioning projects that include Tom Paynter. 3 .jpg photographs of the printed articles.

Folder 2: Paynter Scans

Contains scanned versions of documents produced by Tom Paynter or relating to his life and work. Two documents detailing a donation from a woman named Mary can be found here; the rest of the contents of the folder are divided into 11 subfolders based on subject groupings.

Folder 2A: Paynter_Scores_incomplete

Contains primarily scores (see Series 2 for detailed description), as well as some administrative documents.

Folder 2A-1: _Paynter_Admin, 1986-2006: Contains an Excel spreadsheet entitled "Paynter_charts_checklist" that lists a number of Tom Paynter's compositions, the year of composition for each, the instrumentation, and notes. Manuscript scans are also included in this folder, and are described in more detail in Series 2. 1 .xlsx file (described here) and 5 .pdf files (Series 2).

Folder 2B: TP recording notes, 2017-2019

Typed and handwritten notes and emails by Tom Paynter, Jeff Machota, and Ken Smith regarding recordings. 3 .pdf files.

Folder 2C: TP_Dissertations_Vitae, 1998-2001

Folder 2D: TP_Docs

Typed and handwritten documents pertaining to Tom Paynter's major academic work regarding Eric Dolphy and Paynter's own dissertation piece, Pulsars. Also contains two copies of Paynter's CV, from 1998 and 2001 and a list of Paynter's accomplishments prior to entering undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois. Indentical to the TP_Dissertation_Vitae folder excepting the addition of TP_College_Admission_resume. 8 .pdf files.

Folder 2E: TP_Flyers_Art, 1991-2002

Contains hand drawn and typed flyers advertising concerts, set lists, instructions for building PVC instrument, memorial card, funeral program, newspaper cuttings for and about Guido Sinclair, Ear Doctor website printout, sketches and visual art presumably by Tom Paynter in pencil, pen, colored pencil, pastels, and collages. 109 .jpg files.

Folder 2F: TP_memorial, July 21, 2019

Flyer for and guest book from Tom Paynter's memorial service on July 21, 2019. Includes handwritten memories of Paynter from attendees. 3 .jpg and 2 .pdf files.

Folder 2G: TP_Musings_etc, 1989-2012

Various writings by Tom Paynter including a letter to Flute Talk, notes to friends, a word search, and suggested improvements to the collegiate music program (presumably at UIUC). 5 .pdf files.

Folder 2H: TP_PHOTOS

6 folders of photos documenting various moments in Tom Paynter's personal and professional career.

Folder 2H-1: Desafinado_photos_by_Debra_Bolgla, June 13- July 8, 2006

Contains head shots and various artistic shots of the members of Desafinado, as well as environmental shots from the same days and photos of friends and family. 177 .jpg files plus two subfolders.

Folder 2H-1A: 1.simone.cj, June 13-July 8, 2006: Head shots from various distances and angles of two individuals outdoors. 44 .jpg and 3 .tif files.
Folder 2H-1B: contacts, July 8, 2006: Photography contact sheets compiling the photos found in the folder "Desafinado_photos_by_Debra_Bolgla". 10 .tif files.

Folder 2H-2: Desafinado_pictures 3-18-10, March 18, 2010

Photos from a live performance on March 18, 2010. Includes individuals playing flute (Tom Paynter), vibraphone, vocals, guitar, and drums. 18 .jpg files.

Folder 2H-3: Red Binder, 1984-1995

Scans of what appears to be a scrapbook recounting Tom Paynter's high school and college experiences. Items include newspaper clippings, concert programs, band schedules, competition information, photos of events and family, schedules, correspondence, and academic paperwork. 241 .jpg files.

Folder 2H-4: TP_misc_photos, c. 1992- c. 1995

Photos of various events from Tom Paynter's life, mostly early; includes a camping trip in the summer of 1992, a recital in 1995, a high school rock band, and various gigs with Paynter's jazz ensembles. 125 .jpg files.

Folder 2H-5: TP_misc_photos_2, 2008-2013

A collection of photos of Tom Paynter in various musical contexts, both alone with flute or piano or with an ensemble. 11 .jpg files.

Folder 2H-6: White_album, c. May 1985

Scans of photos from a white photo album; photos appear to primarily document several trips Tom Paynter went on, to the western United States, to Asia, and to Arkansas, as well as other locations. 148 .jpg files.

Folder 2I: TP_Press, April 1986- December 31, 2006

Magazine and newspaper articles covering Tom Paynter's ensembles, primarily Ear Doctor. 15 .pdf and 1 .jpg files.

Folder 2J: TP_recital_programs, March 18, 1982 - June 2008

Recital and concert programs for events in which Tom Paynter performed, from high school, college, and beyond. 32 .pdf files.

Folder 2K: TP_Setlists, June 19, 2003 - May 1, 2005

Typed and handwritten set lists, notes, and CD track lists. 6 .pdf and 2 .jpg files.