Tom Fischer was born in Chicago and moved to New Orleans in 1989. He received his formal training at Indiana University and his informal training in the jazz clubs of Chicago and New Orleans. Tom’s clarinet playing reflects his love for the great New Orleans clarinet tradition. He has performed everywhere from Preservation Hall to Carnegie Hall, Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East, India, Pakistan, Australia and has toured Japan with John Brunious and Wendell Brunious many times.
Tom has been a featured performer at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, French Quarter Festival, Satchmo SummerFest, and many jazz festivals throughout the world. Tom has appeared on many recordings on the Jazzology and Stomp Off labels and has recorded with many New Orleans artists including Al Hirt, John Brunious and Don Vappie. Tom teaches jazz clarinet at the University of New Orleans. Jazz Times Magazine called Tom “one of the best”.