Tennessee-born jazz trumpeter Thomas Heflin has been hailed as "a fluent trumpeter with a bright tone and a forward-looking style" by jazz writer Scott Yanow. He has been featured or mentioned in Italy's Jazz Magazine, Pittsburgh Tribune Review and The International Trumpet Guild Journal among others. He is a co-author of the book Understanding Music: Past and Present.

A recording artist for Blue Canoe Records, Heflin has released three albums on the label. His 2007 debut album "Symmetry" was dedicated to the memory of pianist James Williams, who is featured on half of the recording. In 2009, Heflin produced and performed on "Introducing the New 5" by the cooperative group, The New 5. In 2011, he released his third album, a collaborative CD with Ron Westray, former lead trombonist with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. The album also featured drummer Adonis Rose and bassists Eric Revis and Neal Caine. Heflin’s most recent album, “Morning Star” features saxophonist Gregory Tardy and presents all original music in the guise of a late-night radio show. Heflin has also recorded five albums with the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra as well as toured Europe with the ensemble, performing in France, Spain and Switzerland.

Heflin is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, where he studied with jazz education pioneer, Jerry Coker. He received his masters degree from William Paterson University and his doctorate in Music Performance (Jazz Emphasis) from the University of Texas, Austin.

He has served as an instructor or lecturer at Roane State Community College, the University of Texas Jazz Department, the University Outreach and Continuing Education Program at the University of Tennessee, the Manhattan School of Music Summer Music Camp and The Jefferson Center Jazz Institute. Heflin also served as the Central Greenough Artist-in-Residence in Western Australia as well as the Always on Stage festival in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

From 2009 to 2014, Heflin lived in New York City where he performed with a variety of ensembles including the Smoke Big Band, led by trumpeter Bill Mobley. During his time there, also served as Program Manager and Jazz Faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division. In 2014, he moved back to the south to take the position of Assistant Professor of Jazz at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA. Heflin currently serves as Associate Professor of Jazz Brass at the Miles Davis Jazz Studies Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Thomas is an exclusive Bach trumpet artist and clinician. He performs on Greg Black Mouthpieces.