Tobias’ music is rooted in a deep appreciation for the artistry of a lineage of jazz trumpeters including Clifford Brown, Booker Little, Freddie Hubbard, and Nicholas Payton. It was his early exploration and study of the work of these trumpeters that allowed Tobias to later carve a name for himself in the world of music. Building upon a deep foundation rooted in the jazz lineage, Tobias has ventured into many modern musical genres as an improvising trumpeter. Currently based in Chicago, Tobias performs regularly with his neosoul collective, tko, as well as with a plethora of jazz, neosoul, Afro-Latin, hip-hop, folk, and experimental groups in Chicago and around the Midwest. Tobias has earned widespread recognition as a young artist, including being selected as one of ten trumpeters from around the world to perform as a semifinalist in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition in Los Angeles. Tobias was also named “Best Jazz Soloist” at the college level in DownBeat Magazine and has performed as a finalist in the International Trumpet Guild’s International Jazz Trumpet Competition. Tobias has been honored to perform all over the world, with a great variety of innovative artists and projects. While he has been a guest artist on numerous albums over the years, Like a Lotus represents his first full-length release under his own name. Tobias strives to approach music in the spirit of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings which are central to his life – particularly those teachings on joy, compassion, egolessness, and non-attachment. The Lotus, which is said to represent a state that is “blissful yet free from attachment,” is a fitting analogy for this particular approach to playing music, celebrating people, and enjoying life.