Since the publication of this interview, Tim has sadly passed away, leaving behind him a legacy of enriching the lives of so many with not only his playing, but also his passion for the music and generosity towards his fellow musicians.
In this interview, Tim shares his unique insights on the following topics:
- How to truly digest the playing of the saxophone masters and learn to incorporate their approach to playing the horn
- How to develop an enhanced sensitivity to phrasing, articulation, and dynamics
- How to develop your power and projection using a challenging long tone exercise (download sheet music below)
- An unusual and fun long tone exercise that you can create yourself
Right-click here to download the interview
(Once you right-click, in order to download, select “Save Target As…” or “Save Link As” or something along those lines, depending on which web browser you’re using. You’ll be downloading an mp3 file that you can listen to on your smart phone, tablet, or computer.)
…Or, listen right here using the audio player below.
Intro and outro music for the interviews comes courtesy of Ricky Sweum. The song is “Earth Squid” taken from the album More than Imagineable. More info at RickySweum.com.
Rick-click here to download long tone exercise #1
Rick-click here to download long tone exercise #2
Tim Price Bio
In the last few years, Tim Price has had the extreme good fortune to have bands of his own featuring world class stellar players like Lew Tabackin, Rachel Z, Allison Miller, and Scott Lee. His stature at the North Sea Jazz Festival couldn’t have been more prestigous with a backup band of Bennie Green on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Carl Allen on drums. Tim’s special guest that night at the end of his set was Dutch superstar tenor titan Hans Dulfer. As a clinician Tim has instigated a “Tribute To Oliver Nelson” in Saint Paul, MN as well as been a favorite as a clinician and artist at the prestigious Cape May Jazz Festival.
Tim’s travels have also taken him to New Orleans in September 2004 for a very special “Coltrane Tribute” with Tony Dagradi, and superstar drummer extrodinaire Stanton Moore from the jam band “Galactic”. Also, on the bandstand was New Orleans finest on bass, Chris Severen, and from “Los Hombres Calientes” pianist Victor Atkins. The Coltrane event as well as the club “Snug Harbor” was SRO. As was gigs that Tim played in the Pennsylvania area with one of his bands featuring Rachel Z. At this point in time Tim’s career couldn’t be more positive. With a CD release on the way with sax legend Sue Terry and two releases under his own name this year, things are moving in a very positive way.
Tim Price is a Selmer saxophone clinician, and a demanded performer and educator worldwide. Tim, a Berklee College of Music graduate, is one of the country’s foremost woodwind artists.
His extensive studies have taken him into one on one learning with jazz masters like Sal Nistico, Charlie Banacos, Fred Lipsius, Sonny Stitt, James Moody, Ray Pizzi and Lenny Pickett.
He has played with musicians like Bennie Green, Hans Dulfer, Lew Tabackin, Ray Drummond, Jon Mayer, Greg Bandy, James Gadson, Don Patterson, Billy James, Major Holly, Alan Dawson, Bill Doggett, Jack Mc Duff, Cecil Payne, Richie Cole, Ernie Watts, Charlie Watts from the Rolling Stones, Gary Burton, Doc Severinson, Dr. John, Phil Woods, Charlie Mariano, Shirly Scott, Trudy Pitts, Sonny Stitt and Ernie Krivda, Rachel Z, Sue Terry, and John LaPorta. To name but a few!
He’s spent years in the trenches with the big bands of Tommy Dorsey under both Murray McEachern and later Buddy Morrow, Glenn Miller under Buddy DeFranco, Cab Calloway and Harry James. He’s also been part of Ernie Krivda’s Fat Tuesday big band. Tim’s bassoon has been a part of the Lawrence “Butch” Morris Orchestra at the 2004 “Vision Festival” in New York City as well as Rome and other destinations.
In addition, he’s done various soul and rock gigs with folks like Billy Paul, The 5th Dimension, Lou Christie, Milt Trenier, Four Tops, Felix Cavelerie, Al Kooper and many many others from that idiom.
Another dimension of Tim’s talents are liner notes! Tim has written over 40 sets of liner notes for historic jazz records like “Front End” by Jerry Bergonzi, plus CD liner notes for folks like David S. Ware, Ray Pizzi, Tab Smith, Michael Marcus, Bert Wilson and dozens of other great saxophone players. If you need liner notes, feel free to contact Tim, he loves listening to other people’s music. Some people might find this facet interesting considering that when Tim left Berklee he went on the road playing the jazz organ bar circuit. Tim has played with every major organ player except Jimmy Smith. Tim feels that was a great proving ground for a young saxophone player and something that is really missing today- Those neighborhood jazz bars in major cities and small industrial cities scattered through the United States.
Mr. Price’s writing on jazz and the saxophone appears regularly in the Saxophone Journal, he has been a featured writer for that publication for over 18 years.
In addition to being the recipient of a Pennsylvania Council on the arts fellowship jazz grant four times!! He currently has 2 arrangements in the Count Basie band book. His books are published through Hal Leonard and soon to come, a new improv. opus through Sarzin-Gerard publishing.
He has authored three books on sax playing and has one of the most innovative sax web sights for teaching on the planet. http://www.saxontheweb.net/Price/
His SAX ON THE WEB LESSONS are respected world wide and used by students and pros every where.
His original tunes have been recorded by Houston Person and Supersax tenor player Jay Migliori.
Tim played the NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL in Holland in July 2002, as well as many radio shows and clubs with Dutch tenor sax player Hans Dulfer. Other festivals include Berks Jazz Festival and Cape May Jazz Festival to name but a few.
Tim lives in Reading Pennsylvania, and performs and does clinics throughout the world. He teaches in New York City and from his home studio in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Professor Price teaches jazz saxophone at the New School University in New York City, one of the best jazz schools in the world. He teaches at Michiko Studios in New York City as well.
One of the Selmer Company’s most requested clinicians, Mr. Price travels worldwide performing with and teaching student and professional jazz ensembles.