Welcome to website of jazz bassist and educator Fumi Tomita

Thank you for taking the time to visit my site.  You can learn about me, my music, my teaching, and my research.  I am currently the  Assistant Professor of Jazz at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Celebrating Bird concert, October 6, 2021

My faculty recital at UMass Amherst on Wednesday October 6 was live-streamed and available on the video page.  With Jeff Holmes (drums), Thomas Giampietro (drums) and special guest David Detweiler (tenor saxophone)

October 2021 gigs

It's been a busy couple of months and there have been lots of nice gigs this summer, including a Jazz in July outdoor concert on July 30th and a pair of concerts at the Amherst Historical Society in August.  

This month I have a number of shows that I am excited to tell you about.  First off is a pair of shows on Thursday Sept. 30 at New City Brewery in Easthampton, MA  6-8pm and then Friday Oct. 1 at Pulaski Park in Northampton, MA as part of the Northampton Jazz Festival.  Both are with Jon Fischer on drums and Evan Martzen on saxophone and clarinet.  We'll be joined on Oct. 1 by guitarist Matt Munisteri.

The following week, tenor saxophonist David Detweiler will join me from Florida State University for my faculty recital on Wed. October 6 at Bezanson Recital Hall at UMass Amherst in Amherst, MA at 7:30pm and we'll perform material from our 2020 release, Celebrating Bird: The music of Charlie Parker.  We will joined by my colleagues Jeff Holmes on piano and Thomas Giampietro on drums.  This concert will be streamed live on Youtube and can be accessed from this page.  Afterwards, David and I travel to Rochester, NY where we will perform at the  College Music Society National Conference on Friday October 8 at 11am where we will play excerpts from the album duo.  

Guest artist at the University of Northern Iowa's Bass Jamboree

On September 24-25, I visited Cedar Falls, Iowa where I was a guest at UNI's Bass Jamboree which took place on Saturday the 25th.  It was fun day filled with concerts and masterclasses.  It was a pleasure working with the students as well as with fellow bassist Dr. Alex Pershounin.  The concert was with UNI jazz faculty: Chris Merz (saxes), Michael Conrad (piano), and Joshua Atkinson (drums).  On the 24th, I gave a rhythm section masterclass to UNI students.  

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University of Northern Iowa Bass Jamboree

The Shape of Bass to Come: ISB Presentation with Dr. Robert Sabin on June 10th at 2pm

International Society of Bassists Virtual Conference happens June 8-12.  I'm presenting with Dr. Robert Sabin and my portion features analysis of Haden's performance on "Ramblin'".  Once registered our video is available for viewing.  The question and answer session happens on Thursday June 10 at 2pm.  

Click on the picture below for more information.  Click HERE for my other work on Charlie Haden.

Clinic at the Jazz Education Network, January 7, 2021

Clinic @ Jazz Education Network

Jazz rhythm section 101

Great organization with lots of great clinics, presentations, and performances.  Enter promo code 'tomita' for a $10 discount on registration.

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Northampton Jazz Festival, etc.

News

April 20, 2021

 

Hi folks!  I can't keep up here!  Lots of stuff going on.  I was recently featured on Northampton Jazz Festival's Up Jumped Spring Jazz Series.  Link on the video page!  I'll be uploading a few UMASS Amherst video-recordings with Jazz Ensemble 1 that will be released around the end of the month.  I'm also presenting at the International Society of Bassists' conference in June and will present my work on Charlie Haden and Oscar Pettiford.

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New album coming in August 2020

Fumi Tomita featuring David Detweiler

with Art Hirahara and Jimmy Macbride

Celebrating Bird: A tribute to Charlie Parker

Coming in August 2020 on Next Level Records!

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Interviews from September 2020!

I was interviewed for a few podcasts:

Contrabass Conversations, episode 736, hosted by Jason Heath.
Great podcast by a great guy, check it out here

 OverHERE, the podcast by Outside In Music.
Thanks to Nick Finzer and Alan Blanchard, check it out here

New Album on Summit!

Upcoming Shows