From Rock to Blues & Jazz – A Musical Journey of Rediscovery

Tom Coal's musical story is one of evolution, passion, and the return to his roots. At the age of 15, he discovered the guitar and rarely put it down. It fueled his passion and dedication, spending hours practicing each day and diving deeper and deeper into the world of music.

In the 80s, he formed the Tom Köhler Band, writing songs and bringing a dynamic German rock sound to the stage. Articles from that time capture the energy and ambition that drove him and his band.

In the mid-90s, Tom’s life took an unexpected turn when he lost his mother at a young age.
“It was a profound experience that made me deeply aware of the fragility of life.”

Music faded into the background. He turned his creative energy to another craft - woodworking. Tom became a master carpenter and later a certified designer. In his woodshop and interior design studio, he created high-quality furniture and living spaces – always guided by a strong sense of craftsmanship, artistic sensitivity, and attention to detail.

In 2016, another turning point occurred when his father passed away. This brought back memories and emotions that needed an outlet.

Once again, he turned to music – after more than 20 years of silence. Inspired by blues legends like B.B. King, Albert King, and Freddie King, Tom reconnected with his musical roots and picked up the guitar again. Together with his former bandmate from the Tom Köhler Band, he formed the blues cover group
“T.W. Coal & Double 49“, diving deep into the blues that had reignited his passion.
After that, he found his way into jazz. As a young man, he had been fascinated by guitarists like Pat Metheny, George Benson, Larry Carlton and others – but now he wanted to understand their music on a deeper level.

So, with the curiosity of a student, Tom enrolled at RPJAM in Gießen from 2017 to 2020, studying complex musical structures, expanding his skills on the guitar, and gaining profound insights into songwriting and arrangement.
“I was 55, and my fellow students were in their early 20s. But continuing education and lifelong learning are like an elixir of life for me – if you stop learning, you’re dead.”

One thing became clear: Music had found its way back to him.

In late 2023, Tom closed his carpentry business to focus entirely on his music. However, he kept a small workshop as a personal space and still uses it occasionally for his own projects.

In his self-built studio in the solitude of the Bird Mountains, he created his debut album, Back from the Woodshop – a project that reflects his life experiences, memories, aging, and the search for meaning. Musically, he blends blues and jazz with a strong West Coast feel, inspired by artists and bands like Steely Dan, Chicago, Larry Carlton and the late Beatles – music with sophisticated harmonies and arrangements.

“My songs work great in a singer-songwriter setting with minimal instrumentation, but I love crafting rich arrangements – with layered horn sections, intricate vocal harmonies, and extended instrumental parts. With modern studio technology and online collaboration, I can work with musicians across the globe – and I made full use of that while creating the album.”

The album was completed in May 2026, with mixing and mastering together with Uli and Hartmut Pfannmüller. At the same time, Tom began bringing his music to a wider audience through his own music videos, YouTube, social media and a growing series of releases.

At 64, he has entered a new chapter. His songs and videos are now finding their audience beyond the Bird Mountains, while Back from the Woodshop is already available on CD. The official release of the complete album on all major streaming platforms is planned for early December 2026.

What comes next?

Following the album release, the next step will be to bring Back from the Woodshop to a wider audience, while continuing to release music, films and stories online. Live performances with the new material are planned to begin in autumn 2027.
“Today, being an independent musician means doing much more than writing and recording songs. I’m filming and producing videos, building my presence online and learning something new almost every day. The album may be finished – and the journey certainly isn’t.”