Honoring Legends, Championing New

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Tobi (she/they) grew up in Washington State. With a grandmother who sang, played & taught piano; aunts who sang & played flute; and a mother who sang & played cello, Tobi enjoyed music from an early age. Hearing classical guitar from her father inspired Tobi to start learning guitar at the tender age of 6. She joined elementary school band on clarinet age 10. Tobi's uncle, a professional trombonist and public school music educator often visited, introducing Tobi to jazz music. One fateful day, Tobi heard a professional tenor saxophonist up close during her 8th grade band class. Falling in love with the sound, Tobi asked the jazz performer for lessons. By the end of high school Tobi had become serious about studying and pursuing music. Blessed to have family, community and scholarship support, Tobi graduated in 2000 with a Bachelors in Music Performance in Jazz Studies from University of Washington.

Tobi's mentors include multi-reed players Darren Motamedy, Jordan Ruwe, Jay Thomas, Don Lanphere, Bert Wilson, Nancy Curtis, Bob Reynolds, Rob Scheps, vocalist Nancy King, alto flutist Cheryl Alex, pianist/author Randy Halberstadt, school band directors Paul Harshman, Alan Paxton, classical clarinetist Mike Gergich, UW  Prof. Michael Brockman (saxophone/arranging), UW Prof. Bill Smith (jazz clarinet/composition) aka UW Prof. Bill McCall (orchestral clarinet), UW Prof. Marc Seales (jazz piano/jazz history), UW Prof. Roy Cummings (Jazz band), UW Prof. Timothy Salzman (wind ensemble, breathwork). 

Tobi currently plays and teaches Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute & Piano

Tobi's performance career has encompassed 28 years of jazz & jazz adjacent genres. Putting together her first jazz quartet with local luminaries Dawn Clement on piano, Evan Flory Barnes on bass, and D'vonne Lewis on drums (2001), Tobi started the jazz artist's path. In subsequent years, Tobi toured and recorded with The Tiptons Saxophone Quartet and Drums across Europe and the US (2002-2007) and with Reptet Jazz Septet in the US (2001-2008). Of note, Tobi joined The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra from 2012-2015 as the first female member. Tobi has performed with the pit orchestra at 5th Avenue Theatre, Issaquah Village Theatre, Spectrum Dance Studio Theatre, as well as for live radio and TV broadcasts for KEXP, KPLU, Seattle Joe TV, and KING 5 TV. 

Tobi has appeared with international jazz greats, Dave Brubeck, Kristen Chenoweth, Branford Marsalis, Anat Cohen, Meshiya Lake, Wycliffe Gordon, as well as local legends Don Lanphere, Nancy King, and Bert Wilson. While in the Tiptons, the band opened for jazz piano legend McCoy Tyner. Tobi has performed in several Pops concerts with The Seattle Symphony Orchestra Pops (2014-2015 and 2021-2024), and with the The Tacoma Symphony Orchestra (2000-2002).

Other bands Tobi has performed and recorded with are Clave Gringa, Tim Carey Septet , Picoso, Choro Loco, Big World Breaks, Zubatto Syndicate, Yellow Hat Band, Cataldo, Kissing Potion, Publish The Quest, Thione Diop's Afro Groove, The Jefferson Rose Band, B'shnorkestra, Ann Reynolds Jazz Duo, Alex Guilbert’s Stampede Seven, Swing 3-PO, Susan Palmer Jazz Duo, Ambiance and Night and Day Jazz Trio. 

Currently, Tobi performs with The Tobi Stone Jazz Quartet, The Ann Reynolds Quintet, Jean Lenke 's Red Rose Jazz Project, Café Impromptu, The Jumpin J's, Gamma Rays, Lulu Swing Band and Midnight Starlight.

Seattle Pioneer Square Jazz Walk

Anacortes Jazz Walk

North Bend Jazz Walk

Edmonds Jazz Walk

Jackson Street Jazz Walk

Juan De Fuca Music Festival

Sammish Island Arts Festival

Sequim Lavendar Festival

Bainbridge Is Pride Festival

Edmonds Pride Festival

Djangofest, WICA, Whidbey 

Jazz on J Street, Tacoma

Black Box Theater, Olympia

Bumbershoot, Seattle

Honkfest Northwest, Seattle

Umbria Jazz Festival, Italy 

Coleman Hawkins Jazz Fest, Topeka, KS

Public Radio Show, Bremen, Germany

Miles Smiles, Vienna Austria

Area Sismica, Trieste, Italy

The Stubnitz, Dunkerque, France

Benaroya Hall

Kikland Performance Center

Royal Room

Seattle Jazz Fellowship

North City Bistro

Egan's Ballard Jam House

Nectar Lounge

Jazz Alley

Langston Hughes

Seattle Town Hall

Seattle Jazz Vespers

Field Events Hall, Port Angeles

Stage 7 Pianos

Sorrento Hotel

Artic Hotel

Seamonster Lounge

Owl & Thistle

Latona Pub

The Tasting Room

Ott & Hunter

S/T Hooligan's

Salty's Restaurant

South Park Hall

Lowdown Ballroom

Orion Bar

Everett Public Library

Langley Public Library

Tula's Jazz Restaraunt

New Orleans Jazz Club

Serafina Restaurant

Barca Lounge

Camaraderie Vineyards

First Sunday Concerts, Bainbridge Is

The Manor House Concerts, Bainbridge Is