Quick Facts
Biography
Thomas "Tom" Fischer is an American clarinetist and saxophonist of Dixieland and Traditional Jazz in New Orleans.
Fischer grew up in Chicago and studied clarinet at Indiana University with classical clarinetist Bernard Portnoy. In 1989, he entered the New Orleans jazz scene as part of Banu Gibson's band. He regularly performs in New Orleans (including the Preservation Hall, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, French Quarter Festival) and has toured regularly in Europe, Asia, and Australia, including in Japan since 1998.
In 1992, he performed in a State Department tour with Eddie Bayard (New Orleans Classic Jazz Orchestra) in India, Pakistan, and the Middle East. Over the years, he has recorded with Lucien Barbarin, Jack Maheu, Duke Heitger (Steamboat Stompers), Lars Edegran, Ernie Carson, Kermit Ruffins, the singer Daryl Sherman, Don Vappie, Fritzel's Jazz Band (named after Fritzel's European Jazz Pub in Bourbon Street, where he also plays regularly) and Tim Laughlin. With Laughlin, he also toured Germany in the 1990s.
Fischer teaches jazz clarinet at the University of New Orleans.