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Tim Wolfe (Sax):
Tim Wolfe
has been playing the saxophone since the sixth grade.
While his day job as a professor of
sociology and criminal justice at Mount Saint Mary's
University in Emmitsburg, Maryland pays his bills, his first
love is jazz saxophone. He traces his love of
music to the influences of his stepfather and father, both
respected professional musicians. His stepfather,
Jack Wolfe, is one of the most respected horn players in the
Washington D.C. area. Tim's birth father, Durward Potter,
is a bassist who played jazz in the D.C. area for
many years. Currently, Durward plays at the Smokey
Mountain Jamboree in Cherokee, N.C.
Tim's love of music has apparently been handed
down to his children. His oldest son, Tim Wolfe, Jr., the Fire
City Jazz Band's bassist before Lebanon Valley College took him away, is a gifted
up and coming musician. His other sons-Matt, Joe, and
James-are also budding musicians. Tim's lovely wife, Doria, also plays sax and trumpet. The Wolfe family
hopes to one day have their own band.
Gear
Tim currently plays Yamaha saxophones.
He notes that the Yamaha horns are as well made as any in the world.
On tenor Tim usually plays an
Otto Link metal mouthpiece with Hemke reeds. On alto he plays an
SR Technologies Pro metal mouthpiece with either
Rico Plasticover reeds or Fibracell reeds. On soprano he
plays a hard rubber Selmer S80 with either Hemke or Fibracell reeds.
Advice
Tim's advice to young (and not so young) players
is to practice diligently while having fun. He acknowledges
that gear is important, but the most significant
way to improve as a player is to practice, practice, practice.
Time must be spent in the woodshed; there are no
shortcuts. Tim also urges players to listen to the sax
giants, like Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Sonny
Rollins, Zoot Sims, John Coltrane, and, of course, Charlie
"Yardbird" Parker.
Tim teaches saxophone to beginning and intermediate
level students. If you are interested in lessons, please
email him at wolfe@firecityjazzband.com, or
click here!.
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