Department of Music

Ed Tomassi is a professor at Berklee College of Music since 1976, teaching jazz improvisation, performance, harmony, and history. He graduated from Berklee summa cum laude, with a major in composition. He is also a teaching associate at Brown University.

Ed has presented clinics for the Dave Liebman International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ), among others. His mentors include Dave Liebman, Charlie Mariano, George Coleman, Joe Viola, Charlie Banacos, and Jerry Bergonzi.

Ed Tomassi created an instructional DVD called Jazz Improvisation: Starting Out with Motivic Development. Ed is the author and instructor of a Berklee Online course titled "Basic Improvisation."

Some of Ed's former students include: Branford Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Anat Cohen, Avishai Cohen, Mokoto Ozone, Kirk Rosenwinkel, Donny McCaslin, Antonio Sanchez, Greg Osby, Danilo Perez, Grace Kelly, Bob Reynolds, Elliot Mason, Seamus Blake, Jacky Terrasson, Dave Kikoski, Leo Genovese, Miguel Zenon and Dana Stevens.

He has performed with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, Carl Fontana, Hal Galper, Nick Brignola, Bob Mover, the Four Tops, and the Temptations. Edward Tomassi is an active performer and bandleader, playing saxophone, piano, clarinet, and flute.