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lev
Is Anybody Here?
USA
3 Posts |
 Posted - 07/06/2004 : 6:29:28 PM
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| I first met Tim around 1984-1985 as a fledgling musician and student at University of Virginia, Charlottesville. At the time, I was a pretty hot guitarist for my age (18) and due to round the clock practicing, I had no social life except for fraternity parties with live music. A regular around town was TR3 and my first time was at Sigma Nu, the Dead-type house, who hired the hipper bands. TR3 was Tim's rock outfit -- the first time I saw them play included an instrumental Police tune and Marley. Being young and impressionable, I of course was blown away by Jos (Robert Jospe/drums), Ron (bass), and of course, Tim. I was new to the whole music thing and he was the first guitarist I ever met who was "living the life." As I got into jazz, I began going to PAV IX, the student lounge. It featured a weekly jam session with saxophonist Mike Cogswell (a great player and even more beautiful human being), Tim, Skinny Brown (funky RandB drummer with quite a fro), and Ron (bass). It was common for Tim to play jazz on a little white Strat, have an Egyptian astrology book next to or on his amp, and be wearing sunglasses in the shape of stars. Tim would be the first to admit that he isn't a "jazz" player but damn, he could fake it better than most real jazzers. he played some complex f----up lines on tyhat little strat witha very clean and percussive tone. Over time, I got to know Tim. He used to drive, if memory serves, a beat up old brown SAAB. He might of even lived in that for a bit (I could be wrong!). Beleive it or not, I was told that Tim had served in Nam or something like that and was one of those cats that crawled around tunnels???? Probably all just silly stuff. I took a few lessons off Tim. He charged the whopping price of $10 per hour. He showed me chord melody, walking bass lines like Joe Pass, and gave me his Joe Pass book of jazz lines. I saw Tim at Anna's Pizza #9 with his girlfriend. I used to say to her how great Tim was but he used to say "that's what they tell me". She didn't quite get it but she was still very cool and intellectual. Later, he met Diane at Miller's. She was a very pretty bartender/waitress but also down to earth and a music fan. She got it! Keep in mind, this was all pre-DM. I had a band called Interplay and Boyd Tinsley sat in with us several times. I played "Misty" with him for the first time near his apartment on Rugby Road. Belive me, he was not all muscles like he is now. He used to wear lots of black and was actually tall and skinny. He was nice and always willing to jam. back to Tim -- After I graduated, I moved home to Richmond. I hired Tim (on bass), trumpeter John D'Earth (another big influence on me as I was in UVA big band), and a drummer. They all came to my house and we reherased XMAS tunes for a gig at Virginia Power. We jammed in the Atrium there. Last year when Tim was at the Ram's Head in Annapolis, I walked in after the show (I have a regular THURS night gig) and he recognized me immediately after nearly ten years. Felt great, I have to say. He gave me all the new CDs and I gave him mine. I met Fluffy who is a prince. I leraned from Tim what it means to live the music life with complete dedication. More imprtantly, Tim showed me that music need not have borders. I could see him jamming at a frat party on some Jimi and then seeing him the next night playiong some subtle jazz. One of my last memories and fondest was when I played at Miller's and Tim checked me out and told me I was a "real" jazz player. I take that as a compliment. Tim always appreciated people that studied. Tim was the first and one of the greates guitarist I ever came to know and in this little town where he ws local legend and that was all and seemed to be enough. He was always happy doing his thing. Finally, Once I lent him a tape of Yngwie. He gave it back to me and the next week he had those sweep arpggios going berserk! Music is life itself. |
Rob Levit, Guitarist,www.roblevit.com |
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Erich
Fluffy-Esque
USA
1427 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2004 : 6:36:01 PM
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holy shit dude, thats awesome. i need to read more of this later, but welcome aboard and please stick around, its nice to see musicians on musicians, especialy our beloved tim. cheers  |
~pw'oikr
~( "> |
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lev
Is Anybody Here?
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2004 : 7:34:19 PM
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| Please pardon my horrible spelling, I was typing quick!!! |
Rob Levit, Guitarist,www.roblevit.com |
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lev
Is Anybody Here?
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2004 : 7:52:58 PM
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| Just choking on my own typos -- Tim never said "that's what they tell me" -- hios girlfriend said that, and not in a consdescending way. I don't think I ever heard Tim brag or make a negative remark about anyone, let alone another musician. I think I'll quit while ahead. I read the post below about does Tim teach. Well, I did take lessons with him and what he really did was "show". He didn't write stuff out, but trust me, just checking it out was very valuable! As far as a teaching goes, John McLaughlin just released a three DVD set on his music. It's expensive but worth it. |
Rob Levit, Guitarist,www.roblevit.com |
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Zachmozach
Fluffy-Esque
USA
1534 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2004 : 8:38:32 PM
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| Sweet action! Good to hear from you and the early Tim stories. I really hope you stick around. This reminds me when I went to see Tim when he was here in oregon and after the show I exchanged a few words with some lady that used to go to see him at miller's. She had nothing but good things to say about him. Seems like that's how it is with everyone who knows Tim personally is that they have nothing but good things to say about him. |
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TurnItToLove
Try A Little Harder
USA
97 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2004 : 10:04:33 PM
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| awesome post and even more wicked awesome story :thumbs up: |
-Kaitlyn-
"If I was a locksmith I'd be pimping that out, I'd be like Tell you what I'll trade you a free key duplication"--mitch hedberg |
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Arthen
Alien Abductee
USA
4845 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2004 : 04:31:31 AM
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That's a fantastic story and totally reinforces my belief that Tim is one of the most down to earth muiscian that I've ever heard of.
Thanks for sharing that man. |
Steve Hackett: "I'm my own opening act, you see."
Tim (before "Faceoff"): "Peace, love....and SEX!"
cbenc41@hotmail.com |
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Mave Datthews 85
Try A Little Harder
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2004 : 1:20:43 PM
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damn... i hope i get to tell stories like that some day! awesome story, rob. seriously thanks for sharing. |
y helo thar!¡!¡ |
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CPPJames
Yak Addict
Fyro Macedonia
800 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2004 : 1:58:27 PM
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That's definitely a cool story, one of the more interesting ones I've heard...thanks for posting!
Might wanna repost that image without a local path, Mave  . |
There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those that understand binary, and those that don't. |
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Mave Datthews 85
Try A Little Harder
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2004 : 2:56:37 PM
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oh, fuck you james.
i guess i'm 1 of those 10 people who just don't understand binary. |
y helo thar!¡!¡ |
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Mave Datthews 85
Try A Little Harder
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2004 : 4:07:24 PM
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| yah i thinks i gots it now. |
y helo thar!¡!¡ |
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CPPJames
Yak Addict
Fyro Macedonia
800 Posts |
Posted - 07/07/2004 : 4:09:22 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mave Datthews 85
oh, fuck you james.
i guess i'm 1 of those 10 people who just don't understand binary.
I do what I can =). |
There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those that understand binary, and those that don't. |
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An Apprecation of TR pre-DM Part 1
