Tim O'Dell, saxophone/jazz studies
Saxophonist/Composer/Educator Dr. Tim O’Dell teaches studio jazz
and classical saxophone, Introduction to Jazz, Music Appreciation and History
and coaches chamber ensembles at the University of Southern Maine. O'Dell holds
a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Saxophone Performance and Pedagogy from the
University of Iowa (1999), a Master of Music degree with Honors in Jazz Studies
from the New England Conservatory of Music (1992) and a Bachelor of Music degree
with Honors in Saxophone Performance with a Jazz Emphasis from the University of
Iowa (1990). At Iowa Tim studied saxophone with Ronald Tyree and Paul Scea and
composition with Donald Martin Jenni. At NEC he studied composition with Jimmy
Giuffre, William Thomas McKinley and George Russell and saxophone with Kenneth
Radnofsky and George Garzone.
Dr. O’Dell moved to Maine in 2001 from the Chicago scene where he performed at
such premier venues as the Jazz Showcase, the Chicago Cultural Center and the
Hot House with some of the city's finest musicians and recently released his
third album as a leader for Chicago's Southport record label. As a Southport
recording artist, O'Dell has received glowing, national acclaim (see Reviews)
and his recordings have been broadcast on radio stations around the world. His
2005 Ancient Pines CD, featuring Tim’s composing and improvising with
Chicago musicians Tatsu Aoki and Ryan Shultz, has been widely acclaimed
critically as was Tim’s 2001 Southport release, Before My Life, which
features ten of O'Dell's diverse compositions for jazz sextet. In 1998, he was
the saxophonist on the popular Southport CD, Finally Elijah, featuring
vocalist Elijah Levi and in that year Tim also released Live in Iowa City
with the Chicago-based Red Fire Ant Trio. Dr. O'Dell's latest Southport CD, Dreams of Pangaea, an
entire album devoted to Tim’s large jazz ensemble compositions, was released in
2009.
An exceptionally versatile saxophonist with extensive
training in both classical and jazz idioms, Tim has performed professionally in
myriad genres - from symphony orchestras to Cuban bands to urban funk bands to
classical chamber ensembles to (many) jazz bands - and has done so in
New York, Miami, Boston, Chicago, throughout the Midwest and greater New
England. O'Dell has had the pleasure of performing with many renowned musicians
such as Danilo Perez, Tim Hagans, George Garzone, Cuong Vu, Louis Bellson,
Wycliffe Gordon, David Berkman, John Carlson, Gunther Schuller, Mick Rossi,
Willie Pickens, Muhal Richard Abrams, the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, Bill McHenry,
Tatsu Aoki, George Russell and The Temptations.
Dr. O’Dell is currently very active as a freelance
saxophonist and composer performing and recording with many ensembles. An
upcoming CD, At War’s End, features Tim's unique saxophone improvisations
with the creative gifts of Chicago bassist Tatsu Aoki and Boston drummer Luther
Gray. The Matt Langley/Tim O’Dell Quartet, a New England group that performs all
original compositions by O’Dell and Langley, is soon to release their debut
recording The Catalyst. Tim also works with guitarist and composer
Richard Nelson who recently released the album Origin Story featuring Tim
on alto saxophone. Dr. Nelson and Dr. O'Dell are currently laying plans for
STRATA - a New York large ensemble dedicated to performing their forthcoming
compositions while featuring O'Dell and Nelson as performers.
A highly versatile, published composer, O'Dell’s many dozen compositions cover genres ranging from string quartets to commissions for trombone ensemble to jazz chamber music to contemporary big band. Dr. O'Dell has received more than $10,000 in arts grants by the Maine Arts Commission, Augustana College Research Foundation and Quad City Arts for his various projects. Tim has also commissioned and premiered many new works himself including Gunther Schuller's Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano, Bob Washut’s Online for big band (which Tim’s college students recorded on their 1999 CD Decoupage) and Andy Laster's Valori Plastici for alto saxophone, French horn and piano, which Tim premiered in New York City.
From 1993-2001 Dr. O'Dell was Director of Jazz Studies and Professor of Saxophone at Augustana College in Illinois. Prior to Augustana, O'Dell held graduate teaching assistantships at the New England Conservatory (Founder/Director of the Jazz Composer's Ensemble) and at the University of Iowa (Jazz Studies and Saxophone). In addition to his current duties at USM, Tim is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator and maintains a thriving saxophone and composition studio out of his home in Brunswick, Maine where he lives with his wife and two sons.
Reviews
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"Pleasing set . . . The saxophonist is great . . . no wasted
notes . . . Compelling music . . . This is fine, satisfying stuff."
"Agile minds . . . O'Dell is an open, lyrical player who can
unfurl a wide range of ideas at a dizzying pace . . . appealing atmosphere . . .
flows beautifully . . . O'Dell designs hypnotic concepts that capture the
imagination . . . indelible spirit."
"This recording confirms the hopes we had placed on [O'Dell] . .
. Probing excursions . . . On soprano, [O'Dell] skillfully avoids the saccharine
tone that mars too many saxophonists . . . fiery dialogues . . . contemplative
and lyrical communions . . . seamless and breezy . . . solid outing."
"Lovely chamber jazz . . . They swing, experiment, solo
comfortably, swing some more and interpret with creative passion . . . O'Dell
soars lyrically with alto and soprano melodic sketches. Carrying a blues
foundation and providing plenty of room for spontaneity, the program connects
intuitively
with the audience . . . exotic flavors . . . They create impressions
that let their audience travel through time and space."
"Quality of music is excellent . . . "Rise and Fall" is a
beautiful ballad that displays both Tim O'Dell's wonderful tone on soprano sax
and Aoki's big, fat bass notes . . . unhurried duo musical communication . . .
good soloing by the horns and swinging bass lines . . . "Old Growth" is
stunningly beautiful."
"Unusual and well crafted . . . memorable . . . O'Dell and Aoki
in top-notch form . . . creative sounds . . . remarkable . . . smooth, mellow
approach which is enjoyable. . . "Ancient Pines Suite" is intense in scope and
presentation, and there is much good to say about it, and its thematic
structure. [Ancient Pines Suite] is a strong entry for anywhere and anytime . .
. Wide base of appeal . . . a fine example of what can be creatively expressed .
. . wide range and a wide scope, and it entertains . . . straight-ahead stylings
add to its brilliance. Highly recommended jazz fusion!"
"O'Dell has a rich timbre and consistent vision . . . compelling
terrain."
"A young, new master of the saxophone has arrived, and his name
is Tim O'Dell . . . Before My Life is what contemporary jazz is all about
and is a showcase of perfect performances."
" . . . Unexpectedly grand . . ."
"Elton Dean. Tim Berne. Tim O'Dell. Welcome to the exclusive club
of outstanding sax players/composers/improvisers . . . a perfect album . . .
This disc is a great blend of composition and improvisation and it swings! . . .
Before My Life has a uniqueness of vision. O'Dell is the composer of
Chicago."
" . . . A thinking man's player and composer . . ."
"This is a really fine recording, generous in terms of playing,
with considered compositions and a ton of spirit."
" . . . Meditating on alto, Tim sounds like 'Trane did on
Central Park West . . ."
"This is the sound of . . . expanding American art."
" . . . A fine new voice on alto . . . loose and swinging and
broadly expressive . . ." O'Dell is a conscientious
craftsman, a disciplined player with a strong sense of construction in his solos
. . ."
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Visit Tim O'Dell's comprehensive Web site at http://www.TimODellMusic.com
USM School of Music
Faculty List
Contact:
Tim O'Dell
University of Southern Maine School
of Music
37 College Avenue
Gorham, ME 04038
207-780-5265
songz@suscom-maine.net
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