About

Tomoko Omura is a visionary jazz violinist, composer, and educator whose distinctive sound blends classical technique with the improvisational energy of jazz. Born and raised in Japan, Tomoko began playing the violin at the age of four, building a strong classical foundation. Her love for jazz, however, developed later in her life during her university years, where she became a self-taught jazz violinist, drawing inspiration from recordings, live performances, and her own exploration of the genre. This unique journey led her to become one of the most innovative voices in modern jazz violin.

A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Omura has seamlessly bridged traditional jazz structures with bold harmonic explorations and intricate rhythms. Her compositions often reflect a blend of Eastern and Western influences, drawing on her Japanese heritage and her rich experiences in the New York jazz scene, where she is based today.

Her Roots project, which began with the album Roots (2014), is a profound exploration of blending modern jazz with the cultural essence of Japan. Roots was the starting point of a series that culminated in the Branches albums—Branches Vol. 1 (2020) and Branches Vol. 2 (2021). These albums, following the conceptual thread of Roots (2014), continued her exploration of merging Japanese culture with contemporary jazz sounds. The Branches series has received widespread acclaim, with Branches Vol. 2 being named one of the best jazz albums of 2021 by Bandcamp. The albums are a testament to her growth as a composer and bandleader, showcasing her sophisticated fusion of jazz improvisation, traditional melodies, and modern rhythms. Tomoko’s violin work is often praised for its lyricism and emotional depth, which acts as a bridge between the intellectual and emotional realms of her music.

In recognition of her exceptional talent, Tomoko Omura was named the #1 Rising Star Violinist in the 2021 DownBeatMagazine Critics' Poll. Her groundbreaking contributions to jazz violin have also earned praise from the New York Times, which described her as 'a leader with a fine future.' She has been featured in a wide range of media outlets, including Strings magazine, WBGO’s The Pulse and United, as well as GRAMMY.com.

Throughout her career, Tomoko has collaborated with an impressive array of musicians, including the renowned vocalist Aubrey Johnson, as well as Fabian Almazan, Camila Meza, Linda Oh, and Paquito D'Rivera. She was also the former members of Guy Mendilow Ensemble and the Celtic group, RUNA. Her collaborations reflect her commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring new musical territories, continually elevating her sound within the global music community.

As an educator, Tomoko teaches at Jazz House KiDS, where she is the leading faculty for their STRiNGS ensemble. In this role, she teaches jazz improvisation to young string players and composes and arranges music for the ensemble, nurturing the next generation of jazz musicians and helping to shape the future of jazz violin.

Whether performing, composing, or teaching, Tomoko Omura continues to redefine the role of the violin in jazz, leaving an indelible mark on both the genre and its future.