Tomoko, the Jazzy Violinist
Toe-tapping Snappy Hot Jazz
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.
"You were wonderful! The more we hear your music, the more addicted we become! thank you for yet another exciting, energetic and inspiring concert!"
--Voices from our audience
Contact
Email: gypsyjazz440@outlook.com
facebook.com/440jazz
Label: CdBaby.
PAST SHOWS & VENUES
Corporate & private parties, fund raise events, holiday parties, wedding & baby shower, etc.
Concert Series:
The Dance Hall, Kittery ME
Homegrown Coffeehouse, Needham MA
Menino Arts Center, Hydepark, MA
Cultural Center of Cape Cod, South Yarmouth, MA
Mandorla Music Summer Concert Series at Eustis Estate
19 Carter Summer Concert Series, Berlin MA
New Revival Coffee House, Stow MA
Brick Hill House Concert in Orleans, MA
Music & More at Cape Cod Museum Of Art, Dennis MA
Fugitive Productions at Sanctuary, Maynard MA
Music Mondays Series at Scandinavian Center, Newton 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
Brewster Ladies' Library in Brewster MA
Lifetime Learning at Temple Shalom in Newton MA
Newton Free Library in Newton MA
FRS Coffeehouse, Carlisle MA
Dot Jazz Series, Dorchester MA
Restaurants & Bars:
Nosh by Concord Market
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
and various assisted living & retirement homes
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.
Photo taken by Richard Pasley
John Clark is the founder of the Wolverine Jazz Band and has been a fixture on the New England Jazz scene for many years. He has played professionally in the Boston area with numerous traditional jazz and big bands, including the High Society Dance Orchestra, Dan Gabel's Abeltones, Commonwealth Jazz, the New Black Eagle Jazz Band, and the Paramount Jazz Band of Boston. Clark also regularly appears with Dave Whitney and His Orchestra, the Swing Legacy, and the Mood Elevators, among others. John is an acknowledged authority on the history of jazz and has recorded extensively. He also holds a PhD. in Musicology and has published books and articles on the foundations of Early Jazz.
440
"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
1st CD "Why Why"
In the style of hot club jazz, 440 presents their toe-tapping original tunes and Django's music arranged with beautiful harmony with violin and clarinet.
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)
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
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 is a mainstay of Django Festivals Django in June, where he has taught since 2009, and the Midwest Gypsy Swing Fest, where he has performed as recently as 2023. Throughout his career Jack 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, Henry Acker, Samuel Farthing, Max O'Rourke and Titi Bamberger.
"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
New Release!
CD "Yo-ki Swing"
- Why Why1:15
- Reflection1:15
- C'est Si Bon1:15
- Lulu Swing1:15
- Waltz For You1:14
- Topsy1:15
- Yo-Ki Swing1:45
- Endless Stream1:29
- Story Teller1:23
- Bean Town1:16
- Painted Lady1:07
- Haboob1:29
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
Tomoko, the Jazzy Violinist © 2013