Tomas Fujiwara was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. At the age of seven, he fell in love with music while listening to the classic drum battle record, Rich vs. Roach. After two years of studies with Joyce Kauffman, Tomas began an eight-year course of study with legendary drummer and educator, Alan Dawson.
In 1994, Tomas moved to New York City. Since then, he has worked as a leader of and composer for various ensembles, as a sideman, as a composer for theatre, film, and dance, and as a teacher and clinician.
In 1997, Tomas formed Unified Quest (UQ, 1999) with saxophonist James Mahone and bassist Chris Pistorino.
"An appreciable patience and economy inform the trio's playing and there's definitely something affirming about three young improvisers in the raw, unadorned state of creative development."Tomas has led ensembles featuring some of today's brightest young musicians including Taylor Ho Bynum, Matana Roberts, Steve Lehman, Andrew Bemkey, Neil Podgurski, Timo Shanko, Lawrence Clark, and Danton Boller. His current activities as a co-leader include duos with Taylor Ho Bynum (True Events, 2007) and James Mahone (Duets, 2005).
(Cadence Magazine)
With "a quiet energy that propels" (All About Jazz) and a style that is "both volatile and watchful" (New York Times), Tomas has worked as a sideman with a broad spectrum of artists in a wide range of styles and settings. His current projects include: Taylor Ho Bynum Trio and Sextet (The Middle Picture, 2007), Matana Roberts' Mississippi Moonchile, Coin Coin, and Quartet (The Calling, 2006), Greg Tate's Burnt Sugar, Soo Jung Kae Trio (Soo's Collage, 2006), Kwaku Kwakyee Obeng Group, Nate Wooley Quartet, Josh Sinton's Ideal Bread, Nick Demopolous' Exegesis, Jeremy Wilms' Aji No Moto, and Terence Murren's Eternal Now. He has performed at venues across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, France, Ireland, England, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Korea, and Japan and has appeared on over a dozen recordings to date.
In 1999, Tomas joined the cast of the Off Broadway hit STOMP. After touring North America, Europe, and Asia for three years, he joined STOMP's New York Company at the Orpheum Theatre. He is a composer of original music for theatre including "Stray Cats" by Tony Award winning playwright Warren Leight. He has also performed with Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Ken Roberson, Mary Testa, and Everett Bradley among others.
As a teacher, Tomas has taught workshops, master classes, and drum clinics throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia as well as private instruction for over 10 years.
Other sideman credits include Anthony Braxton, David Murray, Makanda Ken McIntyre, Ravi Coltrane, Arnie Lawrence, Joe Chambers, Butch Morris, William Parker, Roy Campbell, Daniel Carter, Warren Smith, Joe Daley, Vernon Reid, Junior Mance, Jimmy Owens, and Mike Longo.
