Tomohiro Mori is a drummer, composer, and educator who was born in Fukuoka, Japan in 1992. He began playing the drums at the age of three and started learning the piano at age five. Growing up in a musical family, Tomohiro was exposed to music from a very young age. His parents, who played the piano and guitar, formed a family band and performed Beatles covers, with Tomohiro actively participating. Initially, Tomohiro’s interest was forming a band with friends of a similar age. However, he was later persuaded by a pianist friend to join a jazz band. Eventually, he developed a strong passion for jazz and formed a jazz band with his friends when he was thirteen years old performing at gigs and music festivals in his hometown. After studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, he released three albums under his name: “Grand Slam”, “Uptown Bound”, and “Prana”. Tomohiro has since established himself as one of the most promising artists in New York City and plays a significant role in connecting the jazz scenes of New York and Japan.
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tomo had to temporarily return to his hometown of Fukuoka, Japan, from his base in New York. During this time, he worked on creating music with local musicians and further developed these compositions through performances on domestic tours. After returning to New York in 2022, Tomo collaborated with his close musical friends, including trumpeter Benny Benack III, to refine each track, leading to the creation of his upcoming album. He explored the expressive potential of the classic jazz style, bebop, and was responsible for all aspects of the album, including performance, composition, string arrangements, and production. Additionally, internationally highly regarded percussionist Keita Ogawa, known for his work with the Grammy Award-winning band Snarky Puppy, contributed to the album. The title track, “Prana,” meaning energy or life force, highlights Tomo’s vibrant work, influenced by his experiences in Japan and New York over the past few years. The album is set to be released on November 15th.
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