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Tim Collins

Tim Collins has been called a “world-class vibes player” (CJSR-FM), “a distinctive vibraphone voice” (Radio One FM), a “musician of fire” (Washington Post) and “nothing less than exemplary” (Downbeat Magazine). His original music has been described as “thoughtful, probing composition” (Downbeat), “universal and vibrant" (Blogcritics.org), "stunning sophisticated jazz" (PBS Australia). Tim has released two albums as a leader and has travelled the world with his own group and as a sideman. He has performed and recorded with Donny McCaslin, Antonio Sanchez, Sam Barsh, George Porter Jr., John Ellis, Thomas Barber, Aaron Parks, Ingrid Jensen and Charlie Hunter.

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Album Review

Mulo Francel: Mountain Melody

Read "Mountain Melody" reviewed by Geno Thackara


Mulo Francel turned out to be somewhat ahead of his time. He didn't need to wait for a pandemic to send everyone into isolation; he already had a habit of making music in the middle of nowhere for several years before the 2020 outbreak. His fascination with mountains (natural enough for someone who grew up in the shadow of the Alps) had him making climbs throughout Europe and Asia to find some of the most exotic recording locations imaginable— ultimately ...

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Album Review

Tim Collins: Castles and Hilltops

Read "Castles and Hilltops" reviewed by William Grim


This is an excellent album by one of the finest vibraphonists on the scene today. Tim Collins combines the harmonic adventurousness of Gary Burton with a swinging style reminiscent of Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson. Castles and Hilltops consists largely of original compositions that run a wide gamut of styles and expressive content. “Army Brat," a straight-ahead swinger, is reminiscent of the Modern Jazz Quartet, when Milt Jackson's vibes would seemingly explode in contrast to John Lewis' ...

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Interview

Tim Collins: Mixing It Up

Read "Tim Collins: Mixing It Up" reviewed by Alan Bryson


Tim Collins likes to mix it up. It starts at home; the vibraphonist is married to a successful concert violinist and is intimately connected to the world of classical music. Recording with pianist Matthias Bublath, Collins has also worked with guitarist Charlie Hunter, who produced his second album, mixing rock, jazz, and string quartets. He seeks melodies and inspiration without regard to genre, covering songs by artists a disparate as Tom Petty and Björk on Castles and Hilltops (Nineteen-Eight Records, ...

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Take Five With...

Take Five With Tim Collins

Read "Take Five With Tim Collins" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Tim Collins is a vibraphonist/drummer originally from NY, now living in Munich, Germany. He's played with Ingrid Jensen, Aaron Parks, John Ellis, Aaron Goldberg, Charlie Hunter, John Hollenbeck, George Porter, and 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, Matt Clohesy, and Tommy Crane.Instrument(s):Vibraphone, drums.Teachers and/or influences? Gordon Stout, Steve Brown, Joe Locke, John Riley, ...

140
Album Review

The Tim Collins Quartet: Live In Concert

Read "Live In Concert" reviewed by Russell Moon


Tim Collins is a young vibraphonist from New York City, and Live In Concert documents his March 24, 2002 graduation recital at the Manhattan School of Music.

Collins frequently gigs in the New York area (often as a duet) with pianist Ayako Shirasaki. Bassist Miles Brown and drummer Obed Calvaire are his preferred accompanists when available. Each musician plays well here, but the compositions – all by Collins – are what provide the album's strength.

"Buzzy ...

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126

Interview

Vibraphonist Tim Collins Interviewed at All About Jazz!

Vibraphonist Tim Collins Interviewed at All About Jazz!

Source: All About Jazz

Tim Collins likes to mix it up. It starts at home; the vibraphonist is married to a successful concert violinist and is intimately connected to the world of classical music. Recording with pianist Matthias Bublath, Collins has also worked with guitarist Charlie Hunter, who produced his second album, mixing rock, jazz, and string quartets. He seeks melodies and inspiration without regard to genre, covering songs by artists a disparate as Tom Petty and Björk on Castles and Hilltops (Nineteen-Eight Records, ...

139

Recording

Tim Collins - Castles and Hilltops (2011)

Tim Collins - Castles and Hilltops (2011)

Source: Something Else!

As a musician, Collins is the complete package: performer, composer, bandleader. This we know from his 2007 debut Valcour, when he was largely introduced to the world as a vibraphonist with great range and inventiveness in the manner of Bobby Hutcherson. On that record, he led a sextet of equally hungry young players over a dynamic set of songs. But there has always been more to this master's degree graduate from Manhattan School of Music than just jazz. Around the ...

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Contest

Enter the Arabesque Jazz TEN CD Giveaway Contest

Enter the Arabesque Jazz TEN CD Giveaway Contest

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Arabesque Jazz TEN CD giveaway contest starting today. We'll select THREE lucky winners at the conclusion of the contest on March 2nd.

Click here to enter the contest

(Following Tim Collins at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)

The Steve Wiest Big Band - Excalibur - AJ0180 Tim Collins - Valcour - AJ0181 Radam Schwartz - Magic Tales - AJ0182 Norberto Tamburrino - Prisoner ...

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Recording

Arabesque Jazz Releases "Tim Collins: Valcour"

Arabesque Jazz Releases "Tim Collins: Valcour"

Source: All About Jazz

Arabesque Recordings announces the release of vibraphonist Tim Collins' recording, Valcour.

Tim Collins breathes new life into the jazz genre with his modern approach to the percussionist-fronted ensemble. He easily justifies his efforts to push the vibraphone to the forefront of jazz with his creation of this expressive and well-crafted disc. His intensity is matched only by his technical skills and the emotional depth he brings to his uniquely crafted compositions. Tim Collins is just beginning his ascent to the ...

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Performance / Tour

Tim Collins group at FAT CAT 12/7

Tim Collins group at FAT CAT 12/7

Source: All About Jazz

Vibraphonist Tim Collins will be performing at FAT CAT jazz club in New York City on Wednesday, December 7th. The group will feature Joel Frahm (tenor), Matt Blostein (alto), Aaron Parks (piano), Matt Clohesy (bass), and Simon Lott (drums). The show starts at 10pm and cover charge is $10. Tim has recently recorded his second album as a leader entitled “Valcour", soon to be released on Fresh Sound Records. His first release, a self-produced album titled “Live In Concert" received ...

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Performance / Tour

Vibraphonist Tim Collins to perform at Blues Alley in DC 2/28

Vibraphonist Tim Collins to perform at Blues Alley in DC 2/28

Source: All About Jazz

Vibraphonist Tim Collins will be performing at Blues Alley in Washington, DC on Monday, February 28th. Showtimes will be 8pm and 10pm. Joining Tim will be Matt Blostein (alto sax), Matthias Bublath (piano/organ), Eric Harper (bass), Simon Lott (drums). The group will be completing an mini east coast tour with the performance at Blues Alley. Other stops on the tour include: Thursday 2/24 - 2pm Clinic at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Music

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Event

Tim Collins Quartet to perform at Niagara

Tim Collins Quartet to perform at Niagara

Source: All About Jazz


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Performance / Tour

Vibraphonist Tim Collins at the Greenwich Village Bistro

Vibraphonist Tim Collins at the Greenwich Village Bistro

Source: All About Jazz

This coming Sunday, January 25th, at 7:30pm, vibraphonist Tim Collins is bringing a trio to the Greenwich Village Bistro, located at 13 Carmine Street in Manhattan (212-206-9777). There is no cover charge! Collins, who has been described by the Washington Post as a “musician of fire and finesse", has received rave reviews from All About Jazz and CDBaby for his debut record Tim Collins Quartet - Live In Concert.

Collins's trio will be rounded out by two of NYC's finest ...

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Performance / Tour

Vibraphonist Tim Collins To Appear At 20/20

Vibraphonist Tim Collins To Appear At 20/20

Source: All About Jazz

Vibraphonist Tim Collins brings his trio to 20/20 in Manhattan on Wednesday, March 5th from 8-10pm. There is a $5 cover charge.

Collins has been actively performing in NYC since moving here two years ago to attend Manhattan School of Music. He also leads a quartet, and works frequently as a duo with the talented pianist Ayako Shirasaki. Bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Chris Higginbottom are two of the city's finest young musicians, with Morgan having played with Joey Baron ...

"Collins' music doesn't behave. In fact, it seems to make up it's own rules. 'Fade' contains jazz, minimalism, funk, pop, and rock music. It shatters stereotypes of what the vibraphone can do. The amazing thing is that it all makes perfect sense." —Mark Saleski

This is one of the best vibraphonists that I've heard in years. Tim's musical creativity really shines through, not to mention Tim and the group having brought a refreshing new sound to the table for us to partake of." —Leon Reyes, KVMR 89.5 FM Nevada City/Sacramento CA

"Collins' vibraphone style, which is pleasant, mature, and full bodied..

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Mountain Melody

Fine Music
2021

buy

Castles and Hilltops

Nineteen-Eight Records
2011

buy

Fade

Ropeadope Digital
2008

buy

Valcour

Arabesque Jazz
2007

buy

Live In Concert

Tim Collins Music
2003

buy

Gone With The Piggies

Consolidated Artists Productions
2002

buy

Pond

From: Castles and Hilltops
By Tim Collins

Videos

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