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Timothy Orr

Timothy Orr was born in Hartford, Connecticut on June 22, 1967 and began playing the drums in 1976. After playing in several rock bands in the early 80’s, he studied with Edward Blackwell from 1985-89 at Wesleyan University where he earned a BA in English, with a concentration in Medieval and Renaissance literature. In retrospect, he should have studied Ethnomusicology.

During this period, Tim played in several rock, punk and grunge bands, warming up for emerging talents like Helmet, Fugazi, Band of Susans and Soul Asylum. He also worked in college musical theater productions, played for dancers, film soundtracks, and worked on several thesis performances. Upon graduation in 1989, Tim started to perform in several roots music bands in the New England region, performing Cajun, zydeco, bluegrass, post-war Chicago blues, and original music as well.

In addition to his performance schedule, Tim cultivated a career in the music industry, holding positions in alternative radio promotion and classical marketing at Virgin Records, publicity at MCA, retail sales at HMV and warehouse and operations management at TVT Records in New York City. After moving to San Francisco in 1992, Tim hooked up with the Cajun/zydeco scene in the Bay Area, and began to play 100+ nights a year with various people and groups, such as Andre Thierry, Zydeco Slim, Tete Rouge, Danny Poullard, Andrew Carriere, Gerard Landry, Kenny Menard, and many others.

From 1997 to 2002, Tim was VP of Sales and the Marketing Director for the Arkadia Jazz label, and was Associate Director of the Brubeck Institute at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California from 2003 to 2005. Since the early 90s, he has been a journalist for DRUM! and Traps Magazine and has been on the Board of Directors of Oakland’s Jazz In Flight since 2002. He now is the Marketing Associate for the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Tim was pulled into the East Bay creative improviser scene when he met Josh Allen in 1997 at San Francisco’s Radical House Studios in a project called Sax vs. Guitar, an octet that featured three saxophones, three guitars and rhythm section. Even though the project was unreleased, Tim and Josh decided to play together, forming a trio with acoustic bassist Randy Hunt. They got a regular gig at Oakland’s Manhattan Club, and performed at San Francisco’s Club Cocodrie several times, playing free-bop and standards. However, the group broke up by the end of the year. In 2002, Tim and Josh met up again in Oakland by chance. After several months of practicing with no specific agenda, they recorded several unreleased CD's of improvised material. Tim, Josh and bassist Damon Smith also played in the Marco Eneidi Quartet, on the last of Eneidi’s US performances before he moved to Vienna in November 2004, performing at Scott Looney’s 8th St. Performance Space in Oakland, and at Jazz In Flight’s final presentation at the Oakland Metro. Tim and Josh have also played at the Expressions Center, George Kaye’s (both with Damon Smith) and the 509 Cultural Center in San Francisco.

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"Very edgy Bay Area trio with a wide-ranging but unified sound. Not all about noise, though they certainly have that in spades. They have a strong group personality, brash and full of spirit, diving in and going for it without taking themselves too seriously. And they get fine results." -- kzsu, Palo Alto, CA

"The members of this free-jazz trio advertise themselves as a form of aural assault, but their new album is surprisingly enjoyable. "Broken" begins with a long, bracing saxophone solo that might befit a blues tune. Even the swooshy chromatics have a sense of emotional purpose. In fact, none of the ten improvisations on this album

Primary Instrument

Drums

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Be willing to learn.

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Itkuja Suite,...

Edgetone Records
2023

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The New Neighbors

Edgetone Records
2020

buy

Manala

Edgetone Records
2020

buy

side three: New Work

Edgetone Records
2019

buy

Drudgery

Edgetone Records
2011

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