Tomoko Omura
Tomoko Omura is among today's leading voices in jazz violin. “Roots”, her debut album for Inner Circle Music, is a compelling tribute to her native Japan, featuring original arrangements of ten classic Japanese folk and popular songs. In the words of fellow violinist Christian Howes, “'Roots' is a tremendous accomplishment, and undoubtedly one of the most important and creative jazz albums produced by a violinist in recent history.” Downbeat magazine calls Tomoko “a leader with a fine future”, awarding “Roots” 4 and a half stars. Her latest release, “Post Bop Gypsies” (Inner Circle, 2017), is a contemporary jazz trio album in the classic Gypsy jazz instrumentation of violin, guitar and bass. Through 2015-2019, she has been named a “Rising Star” in Downbeat magazine's prestigious Critic's Poll.
Strongly informed by the jazz violin tradition, her 2008 self-released debut album, “Visions”, is a collection of seven dynamic original pieces, each of which is dedicated to one of the greats of the instrument, from Stuff Smith to Zbigniew Seifert. Violinist Matt Glaser praises “Visions” as such: “Her playing here is uniformly amazing, with great ideas, great tone, perfect intonation and great feel...”. “Mark's Passion”, dedicated to Mark Feldman, was awarded an Honorable Mention in the 2008 International Songwriting Competition. The release of “Visions” also prompted Strings Magazine to name Omura a “Rising Star” in 2009. In 2014, she was chosen as a semi finalist of the 1st International Zbigniew Seifert Jazz Violin Competition in Krakow, Poland.
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Album Review
- Branches Vol. 1 by Friedrich Kunzmann
- Branches Vol. 1 by Nicholas F. Mondello
- Branches Vol. 1 by Mike Jurkovic
- Unraveled by C. Michael Bailey
- Unraveled by Dan Bilawsky
- Post Bop Gypsies by Dan Bilawsky
Interview
Album Review
Read more articlesOctober 12, 2008
-Downbeat Magazine by Joe Tangari
With a clear and sturdy violin attack, and an inventive voice as an improviser”
“A rising talent worth watching” - New York Times, July 2017
everything ceaselessly flows, oft breezy, swingin', be-boppy while wafting through the hip museum
- FAME review by Mark S. Tucker
no matter how complex and expansive things may get, she retains those qualities that made the songs memorable in the first place. It’s a hell of an accomplishment. It’s also a seriously exciting album
One of the best things to come out all year. It was my Pick of the Week when it first hit the shelves back in January… and it remains one of the best things on that shelf as the year comes to a close.
-Bird is the Worm
Her swooping lines and emotive outpourings are contemporary without losing the sense of tradition inherent in both Japanese folk and Western jazz - in other words she can swing!
- Bebopspokenhere
Omura masterfully injects her bold and contemporary blend of jazz into these Japanese standards to create a new and refreshing sound she can proudly call her own.
-Nextbop by Sebastien Helary
Roots is a tremendous accomplishment, and undoubtedly one of the most important and creative jazz albums produced by a violinist in recent history.
- Chtistian Howes
Roots reaches back for its source material but is most certainly contemporary music at its best.
- Step Tempest
At once, Tomoko Omura's Roots is stirring and melodiously captivating
Primary Instrument
Violin
Location
New York City
Willing to teach
Beginner to advanced
Credentials/Background
All levels are accepted. All lessons, workshops inquiry, please e-mail to: [email protected]

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