Review Text
Tim O'Dell - composer/soprano and alto saxophones Tatsu Aoki - bass Ryan Shultz - bass trumpet CRITICAL ACCLAIM for ANCIENT PINES: "Pleasing set . . . The saxophonist is great . . . no wasted notes . . . Compelling music . . . This is fine, satisfying stuff." Jason Bivins-Cadence "Agile minds . . . O'Dell is an open, lyrical player who can unfurl a wide range of ideas at a dizzying pace . . . appealing atmosphere . . . flows beautifully . . . O'Dell designs hypnotic concepts that capture the imagination . . . indelible spirit." Jerry D'Souza--All About Jazz "This recording confirms the hopes we had placed on [O'Dell] . . . Probing excursions . . . On soprano, [O'Dell] skillfully avoids the saccharine tone that mars too many saxophonists . . . fiery dialogues . . . contemplative and lyrical communions . . . seamless and breezy . . . solid outing." Alain Drouot--Chicago Jazz Institute "Lovely chamber jazz . . . They swing, experiment, solo comfortably, swing some more and interpret with creative passion . . . O'Dell soars lyrically with alto and soprano melodic sketches. Carrying a blues foundation and providing plenty of room for spontaneity, the program connects intuitively with the audience . . . exotic flavors . . . They create impressions that let their audience travel through time and space." Jim Santella --All About Jazz "Quality of music is excellent . . . 'Rise and Fall' is a beautiful ballad that displays both Tim O'Dell's wonderful tone on soprano sax and Aoki's big, fat bass notes . . . unhurried duo musical communication . . . good soloing by the horns and swinging bass lines . . . 'Old Growth' is stunningly beautiful." Francis Lo Kee--All About Jazz New York "Unusual and well crafted . . . memorable . . . O'Dell and Aoki in top-notch form . . . creative sounds . . . remarkable . . . smooth, mellow approach which is enjoyable. . .'Ancient Pines Suite' is intense in scope and presentation, and there is much good to say about it, and it's thematic structure. [Ancient Pines Suite] is a strong entry for anywhere and anytime . . . Wide base of appeal . . . a fine example of what can be creatively expressed . . . wide range and a wide scope, and it entertains . . . straight-ahead styling's add to it's brilliance. Highly recommended jazz fusion!" Lee Prosser--Jazz Review.com "O'Dell has a rich timbre and consistent vision . . . compelling terrain." Marc Masters-Jazz Times TIM O'DELL'S BIOGRAPHY: Composer/Saxophonist/Educator Tim O'Dell was born in Oregon in 1966 and moved to the east coast in 2001 from the Chicago scene. In Chicago, O'Dell has performed at such premier venues as the Jazz Showcase, the Hot House and the Bop Shop with some of the city's finest musicians. As a leader for Chicago's Southport record label, Tim has released several albums including his latest nationally acclaimed CD, Ancient Pines. Tim O'Dell is currently very active as a composer, bandleader and freelance saxophonist performing and recording with many ensembles and in different genres. In 2007 Tim recorded a trio CD with Chicago bassist Tatsu Aoki and Boston drummer Luther Gray, as well as an entire album of his large jazz ensemble compositions in the Midwest. The Matt Langley/Tim O'Dell Quartet, a New England group featuring Luther Gray, James Lyden and all original compositions, is soon to release it's debut recording The Catalyst. Additionally, O'Dell currently performs with half a dozen other New England and Chicago-based groups/artists including Richard Nelson (who recently released Origin Story featuring Tim on alto saxophone). As a recording artist for Southport Records, O'Dell has received glowing, national acclaim (see Reviews). His latest CD, Ancient Pines, featuring Tim's writing and improvising with Chicago musicians Tatsu Aoki and Ryan Shultz, has received wide, critical acclaim as has O'Dell's previous Southport release, Before My Life, which features ten of Tim's diverse compositions for jazz sextet. Another popular Southport al
