Tomin’s debut album, A Willed and Conscious Balance, reinvigorates the jazz tradition with bold compositions and a dynamic septet that bridges the past and future of creative music.
While jazz is often seen as a soloist’s domain, Tomin imagines it as something broader and more collaborative. His six original pieces and two reimagined works by legends Booker Little and Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre highlight lush harmonies, layered textures, and an approach that’s as inviting as it is innovative.
The 27-year-old composer, multi-instrumentalist, and Brooklyn native brings a unique perspective to his music. Tomin’s pedigree includes stints with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra and Standing on the Corner, alongside a DIY ethic honed in Brooklyn’s music scene.
By day, he’s a bioinformatician—a lens that informs his precise, exploratory sound. His earlier EPs featured intimate, layered creations blending horns, synths, and heartfelt covers. This groundwork shines through in A Willed and Conscious Balance, where Tomin combines modern technology with a deep reverence for jazz’s roots.
The septet—an all-star lineup of New York and Chicago musicians—brings Tomin’s vision to life. With emotional weight and a collective spirit, they transform his compositions into immersive, living soundscapes.
Tracks like “Movement” and “Untitled Dirge” capture everything from intricate grooves to mournful beauty, while reimagined pieces like “Love” and “Life” expand from bedroom sketches into fully realized epics.
The band’s interplay, more focused on group synergy than solos, creates a rich tapestry that evokes the communal ideals of Charles Mingus.
The album closes with two stunning covers that reveal Tomin’s influences. Booker Little’s “Man of Words” is reimagined with a sweeping, orchestral sound, while Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre’s “Humility in the Light of the Creator” becomes a transcendent homage, layering clarinets and flute into a radiant finale. Like the originals, both pieces balance freedom and structure, tradition and innovation.
Tomin’s music isn’t just about sound—it’s about connection. His compositions invite listeners into a world that’s both challenging and accessible, personal and universal. In A Willed and Conscious Balance, he’s crafted an album that feels timeless and urgent, a vital contribution to jazz’s ongoing evolution.
Check out A Willed and Conscious Balance by Tomin on Bandcamp here.
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