Tim Koss
Jazz Bassist and Composer; Piano Tuner
Seattle-Everett bassist, singer, composer, and recording artist Tim Koss has performed since the early 70’s with a variety of jazz, rock and classical groups. He specializes in the classic jazz styles of the 50’s and 60’s.
Koss has had the honor of performing with Ray Charles, Ernestine Anderson, Diane Schuur, The Ventures, The Fleetwoods, Tony Monte (accompanist and arranger for Judy Garland, Johnny Hartman, Steve Allen, Tony Bennett), and many Northwest musicians.
Originally from Seattle, he moved to Everett, Washington in 1981 and has been performing with local jazz musicians at many Seattle and Everett locations. Since 1985 Koss has been a performing member of the Everett Symphony Orchestra. He also performs with jazz groups in the Seattle-Everett area, from concert halls to formal receptions to coffee houses. According to Koss, "When I came to Everett, I had no idea of the depth of talent in this area. I feel lucky to have been associated with many talented and fun musicians and friends."
Koss has composed over 100 pieces for jazz performance. In 1998 he released his first CD, Home Run, a collection of thirteen original tunes representing a variety of standard jazz styles. Featured guest artists include the legendary British jazz/rock keyboardist Brian Auger and LA studio drummer Ralph Penland. “Home Run” has received airplay on radio stations nationwide, satellite radio broadcasts, television programs, and movies.
Koss’ second CD released in 2001, Daddyo's Double Play, contains 12 more original tunes and 3 jazz standards. The tunes range in style from Latin-jazz, to sultry ballads, to 50's bebop.
In addition to his CD's, Koss' music can be heard on the soundtracks of Judd Nelson's film "Sex and Bullets" released in 2001 and Eric Robert’s film “Killer Weekend” released in 2004.
Koss regularly performs and records with his own small jazz groups, with the Everett Symphony Orchestra, as the bassist for Seattle’s popular piano man, Victor Janusz (www.victorjanusz.com), and for Mount Rainier’s resident piano man, Carl Amberson.
No heroes, just influences:
JAZZ COMPOSERS
Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Thelonius Monk, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver, Freddy Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Bill Evans, Benny Golson, Wayne Shorter
POPULAR COMPOSERS
Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Hoagy Carmichael, Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Lennon and McCartney
JAZZ BASS
Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Charles Mingus, Oscar Pettiford, Scott LaFaro, Eddie Gomez, Niels Henning Orsted Pederson, Stanley Clarke, Jaco Pastorius
CLASSICAL
Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Debussy, Stravinsky
BLUES
Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Little Walter Jacobs, Howlin Wolf, Junior Wells, BB King, Freddie King, Albert King, T-Bone Walker, Chuck Berry, John Lee Hooker, Charles Brown, John Mayall, Paul Butterfield
ROCK
60’s Soul and R&B, 60’s British, 60’s San Francisco, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa
VOCAL
Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Louie Jordan, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Jon Hendricks, Chet Baker, Johnny Hartman, Mose Allison, Jimmy Witherspoon, Lou Rawls, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Bobby Blue Bland
"The songs of our children may be in keys we’ve never tried. The melody of each generation emerges from all that’s gone before. Each one of us contributes in some unique way to the composition of life."
- Mister Rogers
"Jazz is for people who are determined to feel good in spite of all that's bad."
- Gary Owens
"The music business is a cruel and shallow trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men lie like dogs. There is also a negative side." - Hunter S. Thompson
23rd PSALM FOR JAZZ BASSISTS
The Lord is my drummer, I shall not rush.
He maketh me to lay out in tasteful places.
He leadeth me beside cool meter changes.
He restoreth my "one."
Yeah man, though I read through the trickiest charts, I will fear no train wrecks.
For you are with it.
Your ride and your snare, they comfort me.
You setteth up a solo for me
In the presence of mine guitarists.
You annointeth my lines with drive.
My groove overflows.
Surely good feel and swing will follow me
Through all the tunes of each set.
And I will dwell in the pocket
The whole gig long.
- author unknown
SOFT LIGHTS
Warm nights Soft Lights in Blue
Falling into a dream
Lost days cool rays of blue
The scent of a blooming forest
Washes the evening breeze
The sands of a thousand years
Blow by
In one short breath
Today next week last year
What was there left to do
Run fast walk slow renew
Finding a path tomorrow
Connected to yesterday
Nothing is what it seems
Soft Lights in Blue.
- Tim Koss
OTHER INTERESTS
Philosophy, Science, Environmental Planning, Demographics, Yoga, Science Fiction, Theater and Film, Reading, Sports, Government, Volunteer Service, The Four Agreements, Time Travel, Life After Death, Mother, Wife, Daughter, Grandson
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