Upcoming Shows

Sunday Brunch at Nosh
September 10, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Nosh by Concord Market
97 Lowell Rd. Concord MA

Cultural Center Of Cape Cod

Saturday, October 28, 7:30 pm

307 Old Main St., South Yarmouth MA

​MAC Fall Music Series 2023

Friday, November 17, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Website

​Homegrown Coffeehouse
Saturday, December 2, 8:00 pm
First Parish in Needham, Unitarian Universalist

Yo-Ki Swing is a joyful collection of mostly original swing tunes by Tomoko Iwamoto. Tomoko and her 440 band members unroll a sweet swing soundscape with beautiful musical colors; it is simultaneously exciting and relaxing to hear. Highly recommended CD! -- Dave Reiner, Director and Founder of Fiddle Hell Massachusetts

1st CD "Why Why"

Contact

Email: gypsyjazz440@outlook.com

facebook.com/440jazz

Click here to watch New Revival Coffeehouse performance on Stow TV

Label: CdBaby.

Label: CdBaby.

440 expands the gypsy jazz tradition of Django Reinhardt and Stephane  Grappelli with danceable swing standards from the era of Cole Porter,  George Gershwin & Benny Goodman as well as originals by the band.   Their toe-tapping, snappy, hot jazz, swinging style is a delight to experience. 

Tomoko Iwamoto, a leader of 440, has been in Boston jazz scene for more than 30 years. Being a "jazzy" violinist with a strong classical background, she expanded her repertoire in jazz, rock, pop to world music, toured with Hypnotic Clambake, while studying Jazz Composition and Arranging at Berklee College of Music. During her recent trip to Europe, she jammed with world renown gypsy jazz musicians; Tcha Limberger & the members of Les Violins de Bruxelles, and Chris & Julian Brunard. She appeared as a guest soloist with Mood Swings Orchestra and Women In World Jazz, and collaborated with modern jazz guitarist, Chris Mcdermott.

Tomoko has her own melodic vocabulary that she has created within the gypsy jazz context. Not an easy thing to do. It reflects the strength and bravery of her character. It shows she has lived some life and her stories are subtly silhouetted through her music. Such a pleasure!  -- Chris McDermott, guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer (www.chrismcdermott.com)

Jack Soref, graduate of Berklee College of Music,  became captivated by the music of Django Reinhardt after attending the International Django Reinhardt festival in Samois-sur-Seine France in 2002. Jack spent half a year living in Paris France in 2011, where he jammed with the legendary guitarist Boulou Ferré and violinist Florin Niculescu. Jack can be seen regularly in the greater Boston area playing Django's music, with a myriad of local musicians. Out in the wider world, he has performed as an accompanist for Jazz Manouche luminaries like Joscho Stephan, Tim Kliphius, Gonzalo Bergara, Jason Anick, Olli Soikkeli, Adrien Moignard, Ben Powell, Aurélien Bouly, and Titi Bamberger.

Photo taken by Richard Pasley

Toe-tapping Snappy Hot Jazz

New Release!

CD "Yo-ki Swing"

440 - Gypsy Jazz Quartet

Tomoko, the Jazzy Violinist

"Thank you so much for bringing the magic of 440-Gypsy Jazz to our 30th Anniversary benefit on Wednesday evening. Your music creates just the right mood for people to feel celebratory! One of our guests--an older gentleman at that--started to dance to the music, which is a testament to the power of your tunes." 

--Judy Katz, Director of Development, Primary Source

Jim Guttmann’s career spans 40 years and many musical idioms. As a founding member of the Klezmer Conservatory Band, he has toured the world and has performed & recorded with Itzhak Perlman and Joel Grey, worked with Richard Stolzman and Dan Stepner he was part of the Grammy Award winning ensemble on Yehudi Wyner’s “The Mirror.” In 2010 he released his first album as a leader, “Bessarabian Breakdown” a culmination of his experience to date, playing traditional klezmer music with small and large ensembles, and creating fusions of klezmer with traditional Afro-Cuban guajira and guaguanco, a nod to Tower of Power and calypso, a swinging jazz trio and a brief hip hop interlude. Find out more at www.jimguttmann.com.

We saw 440 at the Homegrown Coffeehouse and were blown away. I grew up in a Dixieland Jazz household and had never heard of Gypsy Jazz. I loved how beautifully the violin and clarinet blended together and I also loved the endings of their songs...and how they were so precise and tight. Tomoko's compositions were beautiful. 

--Voices from our audience

Mark Chenevert has been playing clarinet and tenor sax in the Boston area for some forty years now,  working with various projects including Limbo Race ( 1982 WBCN Rumble winners ) , Willie Alexander , and Hypnotic Clambake. Currently , besides 440 , he works with the Hot Tamale Brass Band , David Champagne , Bertrand Laurence and others . You can find out more by visiting his website: www.markchenevert.com . 

Here is what people say about the CDs...

​The blend you achieve with the clarinet is extraordinary. Your CD is very musical and very precise. Intonation is flawless. You must be very proud of your music.   — Christopher Baird

I listened to your CD on the way home. I love it!  It cheers me up.   — Kathy Larsen

Reminds me of music from Woody Allen’s film. This is the music I like and you guys executed very well. I want two more as presents for my friends!   — John Kloubcher

I just wanted to compliment you on your beautiful CD. I love all the music, but the pieces that you wrote yourself -- "Why Why" and "Reflections" -- are extraordinary! The passion and musicianship of your pieces remind me of the great Cuban music in Calle 54. It's a real treat this time of year with the chill in the air outside to have something warm and beautiful to listen to inside! Many thanks,   — Mary Beth Hagen

I listened to the CD yesterday, and I found it very enjoyable. I didn't grow up with 'gypsy jazz,' and in fact have scarcely been exposed to the idiom. I do remember a Stephane Grappelli duet with Paul Simon (called "Hobo's Blues," if memory serves) on an early Simon & Garfunkel album. I've always loved that tune -- the joy of the playing is so palpable. The same is true of your album, where all the tunes are played with great joy and brio. I know that your covers are 'standards' of the genre, but I was rather more excited to hear the original compositions. After all, the jazz classics are already out in the world, but this will be the first time people will get to hear your music.   — Bruce Sesnovich

As a Grappelli/Reinhardt fan, I can vouch for/heartily recommend this CD. Excellent music and I believe Tomoko's playing compares very favorably with Stephane's. The original compositions are especially nice.   — Dino LaChiusa

PAST SHOWS & VENUES

Corporate & Private parties, Fund raise events, holiday parties, wedding & baby shower,etc.

Concert Series:
​​Brick Hill House Concert in Orleans, MA

Cultural Center of Cape Cod, South Yarmouth, MA 

Cape Cod Museum of Arts, Dennis, MA

Fugitive Productions at Sanctuary, Maynard MA 

Music Mondays Series at Scandinavian Center, Newton MA

19 Carter Summer Concert Series, Berlin MA

The Homegrown Coffeehouse, Needham MA

Six String Music Company Concert Series, Marion MA

Fugitive Productions at Orange Door Kitchen in Acton MA
Loring-Greenough House in Jamaica Plain MA
The Cultural Center of Cape Cod in South Yarmouth MA

Brewster Ladies' Library in Brewster MA
Lifetime Learning at Temple Shalom in Newton MA
Newton Free Library in Newton MA
19 Carter Community, Berlin MA
FRS Coffeehouse, Carlisle MA

Dot Jazz Series, Dorchester MA

​Music & More at Cape Cod Museum Of Art, Dennis MA

Restaurants & Bars:
Aeronaut Brewing Company, Sommerville MA

Athan's Bakery, Brighton MA

Atwood's Tavern, Cambridge MA

Theory Wine Bar + Listening Room, Andover MA
Terry O'Reily's Irish Pub in Newton MA
The Plough & Stars in Cambridge MA
Down The Road Brewery in Everett MA

Festivals & Community Centers:
Chatham First Night

Primary Source event in Newton MA

Community Growing Center in Sommerville MA
Newtonville Jazz Festival
Brookline Village Fair
various assisted living & retirement homes