Stepson of drummer and artist Richard Van Vliet (http://www.rdvanvliet.com), multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Timmy Hogan (or, Tim, The Mighty), originally hails from Colorado, and now plays and performs in the San Francisco Bay Area and Maui. He has over 20 years playing the piano and guitar, then bass and drums, the latter which he picked up from his stepfather, artist Richard Van Vliet. He does multimedia, impromptu comedy improv with a SF troupe, The Hobohemians, as well. Gifted and versatile, Timmy has a background in ethnomusicology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. His musical influences span the world and include jazz greats Pat Metheny, Elvin Jones, Thelonius Monk. He also blends electronica with acoustic, pop with classical, live music with recorded sampling, and much more. Timmy credits his uncle, David Van Vliet, with his piano tutelage. "Davey taught me everything I know on the piano, mainly fingering and phrasing for jazz and real new age sounds." Timmy grew up listening to a wide array of music, from skate punk and ska to classical rock and jazz and now the internet age of electronic, breakbeat, lounge, and everything in between. It is an exciting time for music, and he is inspired by the direction Peter Gabriel took in music since the late 1980's, bringing traditions from around the world, especially North Africa and Central Asia, to the ears of American listeners, all of which has exploded as technology has erased borders to musical fifedoms. In college, Hogan wrote extensively about new musical paradigms for comprehension and sharing based on these "non-Western" modalities. Lately, Timmy, like many west coast musicians, has been influenced by the gypsy jazz tradition of Django Reinhardt. He likes to think of each instrument he plays as a sketchpad, one producing material which might take new form interpreted on the other. He is forever making his practice his play and his play his practice, as he learned from his uncle. His music is also available at http://postyourmusic.com
Lucky stars above you,
Sunshine on your way,
Many friends to love you,
Joy in work and play
Laughter to outweigh each care,
In your heart a song,
And gladness waiting everywhere,
All your whole life long!
