This is an acoustic guitar/upright bass instrumental dedicated to a "notorious runaway" slave named Tom. I learned about him from an advertisement in the Virginia Gazette (pasted in below) while doing research for an article on slavery. This piece envisions Tom's successful escape. I am joined on bass by the legendary Viktor Krauss. This is the title cut from the upcoming "For Tom," set to be released this fall.

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Virginia Gazette and General Advertiser (Davis),
Richmond, January 14, 1795.

TEN POUNDS REWARD. RAN-AWAY from Bartholomew Stovall's, in the county of Powhatan, the 10th of August, TOM, a stout well set Negro fellow, of a very black complexion, about 25 or 26 years old, 5 feet 4 or 5 inches high, has a scar on his head, and a large one on one of his legs, and one on each wrist, ocassioned by handcuffs: his back much scarred by whipping; was raised by Coleman Brown, of Loudon county, passed through many hands, and was brought from thence by Peter Perkins.--He has a wife in the county of Prince William, the property of Joseph Asbury; it is therefore probable he will make that way. He is a notorious runaway, and lay some time in Dumfries jail in the summer of 1793.--Had on when he eloped, a felt hat, plains coat, and hempen rolls trowsers--Whoever takes up and secures the above run-away, and brings him to the above mentioned Stovall's, about 30 miles above Richmond, on James river, shall receive the above reward; or Fifty Shillings if secured in jail so that I get him again. JOHN ALLOWAY STRANGE. Buckingham County, November 14, 1794.