Home » Jazz Articles » Take Five With... » Take Five With Tim Collins

Take Five With Tim Collins

View Slideshow

By AAJ Staff
January 22, 2011
View read count

Tim Collins is a vibraphonist/drummer originally from NY, now living in Munich, Germany. He's played with

Ingrid Jensen

trumpet
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Ingrid Jensen,

Aaron Parks

drums
b.1983

" data-original-title="" title="">Aaron Parks,

John Ellis

saxophone, tenor
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">John Ellis,

Aaron Goldberg

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Aaron Goldberg,

Charlie Hunter

guitar
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Hunter,

John Hollenbeck

drums
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">John Hollenbeck,

George Porter Jr.

bass
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">George Porter Jr., and

Mike Moreno

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Moreno. His two albums, 'Valcour and Fade received 3 and 4 stars respectively in Downbeat Magazine. Look for a third album in 2011, featuring

Danny Grissett

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Danny Grissett,

Matt Clohesy

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Matt Clohesy, and

Tommy Crane

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Tommy Crane.

Instrument(s):

Vibraphone, drums.

Teachers and/or influences? Gordon Stout,

Steve Brown

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Brown,

Joe Locke

vibraphone
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Locke, John Riley,

Dick Oatts

saxophone, alto
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Dick Oatts,

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Liebman.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when... I was born...

Your sound and approach to music: I just like music—I don't really get too hung up on styles. My theory is simple—if it's something that I don't get sick of hearing, then it must be good. I just want to make good music/

Your teaching approach: I teach little kids from day one how to play with other people. For example, when I teach drum lessons, I play a lot of piano. And when I teach piano lessons I play a lot of drums. It's fun, it's music, it's teamwork, and most importantly kids learn right away that music is fun.

With older/semi professional students, I teach creative practice methods, ear training—all that "scientific" stuff that requires a real desire to learn.

Your dream band:

Too many people to mention, although I would love to work with Bj?rk somehow, someday.

Road story: Your best or worst experience: I once broke three mallets on a gig and had to play the last set with only one mallet. It was a great learning experience on playing simple swinging improvisations for me.

Favorite venue:

Jazz im Sagewerk, Bad Hofgastein, Austria. Everything was amazing—and it's in the middle of the Alps.

Your favorite recording in your discography and why? Honestly, I'm really proud of my newest record, which will be released in 2011.. but I'd be lying if I didn't include Fade, and also a rock album called Hide and Go Seek, which I did with my best friend in a band called Elephantbear. Check it out—it's great...

The first Jazz album I bought was: I'm not sure if it's the first I ever bought, but the first one I was really obsessed with was My Favorite Things, by

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane.

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically? I try to just get the right people and mood and let the music happen naturally. I put a lot of thought into the compositions, but I don't really think too much about my own "contribution," so to speak. I think my overall message that I want to come across when I play and record is fun, fun, fun.

Did you know...

I was a left-handed pitcher when I was younger. I threw a no-hitter—but we still lost. Now I relive my baseball memories by watching reruns of old classic games... Bill Mazeroski anyone?

What is in the near future? Lookout for my new record, Castles and Hilltops, featuring Danny Grissett, Matt Clohesy, and Tommy Crane in 2011.

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a: Radio/TV announcer for the New York Yankees.

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Bird Songs
< Previous

Komeda: The Innocent Sorcerer
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.