Tim Daisy : Improviser and Composer

Tim has been an avid member of Chicago's thriving music scene since moving there in 1997 and has performed, recorded, and written music for many of the city's creative ensembles.

Tim met saxophonist Dave Rempis soon after moving to the city and began a musical relationship that continues to this day. In 1998 they formed the trio Triage, with Gordon Lewis on bass. Jason Ajemian took over on bass in 2000. Triage has released five records and toured the United States, Canada, and Europe.
continued below »

In 1998, Tim joined a dance company called the 58 group, led by choreographer Ginger Farley and under the musical supervision of multi-reedist and composer Cameron Pfiffner. Here he gained valuable experience exploring the relationship between movement and sound, and gave him a new perspective on improvisation as well as building compositions.

In 2001, Tim was asked to join the Vandermark 5 and has since recorded four albums, a box set of music recorded live in Poland, and a double LP to come out soon on the Polish "Not Two" label. The Vandermark 5 continues to tour and record extensively as it enters its 11th year as an ensemble in 2007—something not seen very often in the world of improvised music.

Tim leads two groups of his own: Festival Quartet with Keefe Jackson on tenor saxophone, Josh Berman on cornet, and Anton Hatwich on bass, and Sky and Lights with Jason Stein on bass clarinet and Anton Hatwich on bass. Each group explores the relationship between thematic material and improvisation with the members of the groups defining the overall character of the music through their respective personalities.

Other groups that Tim currently works with are: The Engines (with Jeb Bishop, Dave Rempis, and Nate McBride), The Rempis Percussion Quartet (with Dave Rempis, Anton Hatwich, and Frank Rosaly), Dragons 1976 (with Aram Shelton and Jason Ajemian), Abranchadaisian (with Jaimie Branch and Jason Ajemian), Klang (with James Falzone, Jason Adasiewicz, and Jason Roebke), Kyle Bruckmann's WRACK (with Jason Stein, Jenn Claire Paulson, and Anton Hatwich), and the Frame Quartet (with Ken Vandermark, Fred Lonberg-Holm, cello and Nate McBride).

Tim's playing has been influened by a wide array of styles and musicians across the globe. Some musicians who have inspired him to further investigate the world of drums include: Ed Blackwell, Elvin Jones, Paul Motian, Rashied Ali, Dennis Charles, Milford Graves, Hamid Drake, Paul Lovens, Paul Lytton, and Han Bennink.

Some musicians and composers who have had a profound impact on helping Tim open up his ears are: The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, Don Cherry, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Conlon Nancarrow, Morton Feldman, John Cage, Earle Brown, and Charles Ives.

Tim Daisy, Improviser and Composer