This Thursday, March 17th, The Jazz Gallery is proud to welcome violinist Tomoko Omura to our stage for the first time as a leader. Since coming to the United States from Japan in 2004 to study at the Berklee College of Music, Omura has established herself as a versatile collaborator and leader with a unique improvisational voice. She's earned the respect of established violinists like Christian Howes (he calls her "...both informed and boldly creative), and has performed with the likes of pianist Fabian Almazan (on his Rhizome project) and the clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera.In 2015, Omura released her first album on Greg Osby's Inner Circle Music label—Roots. Featuring a band of talented peers, including pianist Glenn Zaleski, Roots explores popular and folk songs from Japan through Omura's cosmopolitan style. This Thursday, Omura and her quintet will be presenting music from this record, along with new compositions and arrangements that push the project in new directions. Check out one of these new arrangements in the video below, and be sure to come out for more on Thursday. The Tomoko Omura Roots Quintet plays The Jazz Gallery on Thursday, March 17th, 2016. The group features Ms. Omura on violin and compositions, Jeff Miles on guitar, Glenn Zaleski on piano, Noah Garabedian on bass, and Jay Sawyer on drums. Sets are at 7:30 and 9:30 P.M. $15 general admission (FREE for members) for each set. Purchase tickets here.