Tim O’Dell

Celebrated saxophonist and composer Tim O’Dell has been called “The composer of Chicago” (Beyond Coltrane) and “A fine, new voice on alto – loose, swinging and broadly expressive” (Cadence). Born in Oregon and raised in the Midwest, Tim relocated to the East Coast in 2001 from the Chicago scene. A thoroughly unique voice with a warm, yet modern, tone, O’Dell sensitively fuses new harmonies and structures with expansive, lyrical melodies, rich, captivating rhythms and striking arrangements. “Quality of music is excellent . . . stunningly beautiful” (All About Jazz/New York

O’Dell is composing and practicing for his current New York City-based project, the Makrokosmos Orchestra. Since 2015, this remarkable, 15-member ensemble has been premiering O’Dell’s, and co-leader Richard Nelson’s, singular compositions in NYC. Tim’s Makrokosmos creations draw upon the vast landscapes of world, classical and American music while featuring the stellar ensembles’ distinct, creative talents. A studio album of O’Dell’s newest Makrokosmos Orchestra works is slated for 2024.

The Makrokosmos Orchestra: Christine Correa (voice), Michel Gentile (flutes), Alan Brady (bass/Bb clarinets), Tim O’Dell (alto/soprano saxes), Adam Kolker (tenor sax/Bb clarinet), Marshall Sealy (horn), John Carlson (trumpet), Jacob Varmus (cornet/trumpet), David Chamberlain (euphonium), Dale Turk (bass trombone), Arcoiris Sandoval (keys/laptop), Richard Nelson (guitar), Ken Filiano (bass), Rob Garcia (drums), Rex Benincasa (percussion)

In Chicago, Tim has performed at the Jazz Showcase, HotHouse, Chicago Cultural Center, Green Mill, Velvet Lounge and the Museum of Contemporary Art – among other venues/festivals – with many of Chicago’s finest musicians. The 2016 album, Fred Anderson Quartet Live, Vol. IV, features the iconic, late tenor saxophonist joined by O’Dell and renowned Chicago stalwarts – bassist Tatsu Aoki and drummer Avreeayl Ra. Tim’s albums on Chicago’s Southport Records label – Dreams of Pangaea (for jazz orchestra conducted by John Rapson, 2009), Ancient Pines (with Aoki and Ryan Shultz, 2005) and Before My Life (for jazz sextet, 2001) – contain all original music by O’Dell and have received glowing, national acclaim. “Unexpectedly grand” (Chicago Sun Times) and “A perfect album” (Beyond Coltrane)

The culmination of nine years of New England performances The Catalyst, released in 2012 by the Tim O’Dell/Matt Langley Quartet, features Matt’s and Tim’s sculpted, interactive compositions. The 2013 album At War’s End combines Tim’s wide-open improvisations with artful interaction by Tatsu Aoki and first-call Boston drummer Luther Gray. O’Dell’s current New England/Boston group, Boundless, also features Luther as well as Tim’s writing. “O’Dell designs hypnotic concepts that capture the imagination” (All About Jazz)

A versatile, published composer, Tim O’Dell’s copious works range from solo piano to voice to diverse chamber works to large jazz ensembles. Tim’s music has been broadcast worldwide and he has been invited to perform in Switzerland, Japan, Portugal and Greece. O’Dell has been awarded project grants by the Maine Arts Commission, the University of Southern Maine, Quad City Arts and Augustana College and has commissioned and premiered such works as Gunther Schuller’s Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano and Andy Laster’s Valori Plastici, which O’Dell premiered in NYC with horn player R.J. Kelley and pianist Mick Rossi. “This is the sound of expanding American art” (All About Jazz)

A boundless saxophonist/improvisor with extensive training, O’Dell has performed throughout the United States in many genres – symphony orchestras, classical chamber ensembles, blues, soul, country, bluegrass, funk, rock (old to new), R&B/hip-hop and Cuban bands, all styles of jazz, as a concert soloist and on NPR’s JazzSet hosted by Branford Marsalis. In addition to Tim’s numerous albums, he has been featured on nationally acclaimed releases by Richard Nelson, Elijah Levi and Tatsu Aoki and appears on dozens of studio recordings. “A thinking man’s player and composer” (Jazz Times)

O’Dell studied composition with Jimmy Giuffre, William Thomas McKinley, Donald Martin Jenni and George Russell and saxophone with Kenneth Radnofsky, Ronald Tyree and George Garzone. Additionally, Tim O’Dell has had the pleasure of performing with Louis Bellson, Tim Hagans, Ed Wilkerson Jr., Kevin Norton, Quinsin Nachoff, Danilo Perez, Steve Grismore, Muhal Richard Abrams, Wycliffe Gordon, Scott Neumann, the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra and The Temptations. “The saxophonist is great” (Cadence)

A creative, empathetic educator, O’Dell teaches an array of music courses in the University of Maine System and maintains a thriving, virtual woodwind, piano and composition studio. From 1993 to 2001, O’Dell was Director of Jazz Studies and saxophone professor at Augustana College in Illinois. Prior to that, Tim was a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Iowa – Jazz Studies and Saxophone, and the New England Conservatory – Founder/Director of the Jazz Composers’ Ensemble. Tim lives in Brunswick, Maine with his wife and son.