Tim Stevens is an improvising pianist and composer who studied at the Victorian College of the Arts and the University of Melbourne — consecutively, back when a) the VCA actually existed, in any meaningful sense, and b) its association with the Uni was only a matter of 'affiliation' — and graduated from the latter with the PhD in 2000. His doctoral thesis, The Origins, Development and Significance of the Red Onion Jazz Band, 1960-1996 concerned that band's history as well as issues of identity in Australian improvised music.
Between 1995 and 2000 he was a member of the trio Browne - Haywood - Stevens, which released two CDs: King, Dude and Dunce (Newmarket, 1996) and Sudden in a Shaft of Sunlight (ABC Jazz, 1998). Between 2000 and 2001 he led a trio in Sydney that included Mark Lau (bass) and Simon Barker (drums), and this band travelled to Pori Jazz (Finland) and Umbria Jazz (Italy) in 2001 with the support of an International Pathways grant from the Australia Council. Since returning to Melbourne Tim has formed and led yet another trio, with Ben Robertson (bass) and Dave Beck (drums), and the first two albums released by this band — Nine Open Questions (2004) and Three Friends In Winter (2005), both on Rufus Records — met with considerable critical acclaim.
In 2001 Tim was the recipient of an Ian Potter Music Commission, and composed Four Words of Elizabeth Hunter, premiered at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz in 2002. He is also experienced as a solo pianist, and in 2002 the solo album Freehand was released (also on Rufus). He has maintained an interest in classical music, or repertoire, or whatever you want to call it, and during 2006 performed Schubert's Winterreise with bass-baritone, Stephen Grant, and a program including Falla's Siete Canciones Populares and Schumann's Frauenliebe und -leben with mezzo-soprano, Alison Lemoh.
His two all-time favourite lines from television are: 1. 'Best conceal this sticky bun by placing it precariously on the edge of this box' (Dr Carlyle, The Young Ones), and 2. 'Paging Dr Backbone to the bajingo ward' (Dr Kelso, Scrubs). He's a bit loopy about Hitchcock films and the life and work of Patrick White. He is unable to see the point of either Nicole Kidman or Kylie Minogue, and remains convinced that Dimitri Shostakovich, in the words of Coral Browne, 'couldn't write "fuck" on a dusty venetian blind.' Nick Cave is an utter waste of space, and the less said about Catherine Deveny the better.
The trio's third CD, Mickets, was released early last year on Rufus Records, and the trio launched it with a performance at Bennetts Lane. It's received the usual round of critical approval, and will probably soon drop off the radar completely. By and by we'll make another one, all other things being equal.
Recently the trio returned from its year-long hiatus to appear at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz, both on its own and with visiting singer Kendra Shank, on the weekend before Cup Day. The trio is making a further appearance at Bennetts Lane - because the Melbourne Jazz Co-operative has ratified it - on December 8. That'll be it for this year, so strike while the iron, and all that.
Hi Tim just droppin' by to let you know that the new remastered 'Sudden in a Shaft of Sunlight' out on RUFUS has hit my desk. It'll be featured on BayFM99.9 www.bayfm.org Monday 13th June 2-4pm. I missed it first time around. Cheers Helen
I'm really digging your music ... your harmonically-ambiguous-yet-mostly-tonal-often-polytonal-lyrical-thoughtful thing grooves me. As Miles said to Herbie: nice touch.
Hi Tim welcome aboard the jazzxpress caravan, I'm just listening to your new CD Mickets...up to trk 4 and I'm transported. Thank you & thank Oliver for his inspiration, he obviously loves the music too. Cheers & best wishes Helen
Hi Tim! Oh, I see you disable HTML comments. I wonder what that means, but only vaguely, because I'm fairly sure I'm not typing in HTML. It's going well! Several things are happening at once, which is life, and I'm working on composing which is fun and interesting. How's your semester?
Hello there! Well I am in your crazy baby world now - it rocks! Very little sleep though........Did you get my email of pics? Hope so. See you soon! Love to the fam. x
Hey Tim, you are always online! Funny that my little sister is your 'friend'. Now you just need to get Kristy and you'll have the set! (unfortunately that might never happen, she has gone over to the dark side.....yes, facebook!)
Hi there!
Congratulations on becoming an Uncle! - How exciting for Liz. That Michael is really letting down the side now. Love to the fam, its always so fun to see them x
Hey Tim,
So nice to hear from you! Yes the rumours are true! Back in Brissy and loving being home. Still making lots of music. Hope everything is going well with you. Take care!
Lv Vee. Xo.
I'd love to do that. But alas! I have classes all the way from 12 until 4. However those classes finish tomorrow, if you'll be there the same time next week. If not, I'll continue to keep an eye out..
By the way, I'm playing again! At least once a week haha. I got a little bit of work playing for the residents at Rylands retirement village in Kew, which is very classy and new.
Hi Tim!
You seem to be online a lot. Having said that, I seem to be online a lot. Putting off worthwhile pursuits like aural homework...
The problem with this system is that you have to actually leave someone's page to send them a comment. I was enjoying listening to "Must Be".
I have finally started getting out to listen to people and it's great.. I really like Sam Keevers and his playing. Please play again sometime so that I may come and listen!
Hey Tim,
hope you're well... thought of you the other day when I went to one of the jazz festival concerts and saw my favourite monsieur dadon - mr. suave himself.
