By Pete Ellman
The 2nd Annual Naperville Big Band Jazz Festival is slated for Sat., April 23 at Wentz Concert Hall and Madden Theatre in the Fine Arts Center at North Central College.
Tim Coffman, one of Chicago’s most in-demand trombone players, will be one of six clinicians at the second annual Naperville Big Band Jazz Festival.
He has performed with Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Andy Williams, Natalie Cole, Lou Rawls, The Temptations, Louie Bellson, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Frank Wess, Bassist Ron Carter, Johnny Griffin, Kurt Elling, Von Freeman, Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, Tom Harrell, Johnny Mathis, Paul Anka, Al Jarreau, Henry Mancini, Stevie Wonder, Diane Schur, Jimmy Heath, Randy Brecker, Benny Golson, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Joe Lovano, Lennie Niehaus, Slide Hampton and more.
Coffman also performed in the pit for the world premiere of “The Producers,” and with the Chicago Symphony in the Duke Ellington “Nutcracker.” He performed on the recording of “Porgy and Bess” featuring Clark Terry and the CJO. This recording was nominated for Jazz Album of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association.
Tickets are available at the North Central College Box office 630-637-(SHOW) 7469.
Getting to know Tim Coffman
1) How did you get started as a trombone player?
I started playing the trombone in 4th grade in Dallas, Texas. I came home from school one day and had been told I could join the band. I told my mom and she asked me what instrument I wanted to play. I told her I had no idea and she suggested the trombone. I had no idea what a trombone was and she pulled one out of a closet at our house. She had played the trombone and was even a music major in college for a while. I really liked the trombone right away.
2) Why did you choose jazz over some other idiom, say classical, or…do you play more than one style of music?
I always liked playing jazz over classical though I still do some classical performing. At Indiana University, where I attended college, there were many incredible classical trombonists and not nearly as many jazz trombonists, so it was an easy choice to make. I also play more contemporary horn section type of gigs, R&B, etc. I enjoy the variety, but I still much prefer jazz.
3) Which jazz artist had the most influence on you and your playing?
My two main trombone heroes are JJ Johnson and Carl Fontana, though there are many others I really like as well. There are many jazz artists I really like that don’t play the trombone. They include Freddie Hubbard, Tom Harrell, Cannonball Adderley, Hank Mobley, Dexter Gordon and many others. As far as JJ Johnson and Carl Fontana, my style is similar to theirs, though I’m not as good, of course! They play with such clarity and have beautiful sounds. The way they play is so logical and swinging. They are both virtuosos on the trombone.
4) Which non-jazz artist had the most influence on you and your playing?
My trombone professor at Indiana, the legendary Keith Brown was a huge influence on me and my playing. He developed my technique on the trombone and taught me a great deal about music. He had been in the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy. He was an amazing musician and trombonist. I was in awe every time he played at my lessons.
5) If students come away from the Jazz Fest with one message or idea, what would you like it to be?
That jazz is worth pursuing! It doesn’t have to be a hobby or something that is secondary to them. I hope it becomes a priority in their lives. Something they enjoy working on every day.
