Jason O'Mara
Musician • Composer • Arranger
Jason O'Mara is a versatile and accomplished saxophonist, woodwind doubler and educator. Having studied saxophone, flute, clarinet and oboe classically and commercially, Jason performs and records in a wide variety of musical contexts including jazz combos, big bands, orchestras, musical theater productions, salsa bands, and pop/rock/soul bands. He has backed up a wide range of notable performers including Natalie Cole, Frankie Valli, Dick Oatts, Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, James Moody, 10,000 Maniacs, Father Jon Misty, Wayne Newton, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Teddy Pendergrass, The O’Jays, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, the Temptations, Andy Montanez, among many others.
Jason has performed with the Bay-Atlantic Symphony, the Lancaster Symphony, and the Trenton Symphony. He has performed at countless jazz festivals and concert venues throughout the region. He is a founding member of the Lars Halle Jazz Orchestra, the Philly Big Band, Nik Greeley & The Operators, and the New Jersey Saxophone Quartet, with whom he has performed throughout the tri-state area, in Europe, and Carnegie Hall. He has performed and/or recorded with The Jack Saint Clair Orchestra, Owen Stewart Band, Devin Greenwood, The Earl Phillips Big Band, Elvis Bonilla Y Su Orquesta, Nik Greeley & the Operators, The Midtown Men, Package, Dave Mattock Trio, New Pony, IQRAM, The Eleventet, Ellipsis, Fresh Cut Orchestra, Puzzlebox, Hybrid, and Aerial Photography. Jason can be seen on "Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia", a live DVD concert of Philadelphia’s most notable R&B performers produced by PBS and Sony records.
Having served on faculty of the Temple University Community Music Scholars Program for 20 years and founded the CMSP Jazz Orchestra, Jason now splits his time as a freelance musician and co-founder of MusicAtlas.
When Jason is not performing as a sideman, he can be found leading The Jason O'Mara Group throughout the Philadelphia area.