Tim Willcox Quartet featuring Chuck Israels

Sunday, September 3rd, 2023, 5PM – Portland Metro Arts – Tickets $5-30 – LIVESTREAM

Tim Willcox’s saxophone “sings and, at times, broods passionately and inventively” into the original works of his ensemble of local heavyweights.

Tasting notes: singular, potable, modern

Portland saxophonist Tim Willcox was born in Eugene, OR. Taking up saxophone at the age of eleven, Tim quickly fell in love with jazz music. He was exposed to great jazz recordings by two very inspirational teachers, Carl Woideck and Joe Ingram. Moving to New Jersey in 1994 to attend the internationally acclaimed William Paterson University, Willcox got the chance to study with jazz greats Kenny Burrell, Harold Mabern, Vic Juris, Rufus Reid, Steve Wilson, and John Riley, as well as taking lessons outside of school from Rick Margitza, Lee Konitz, and the NY Philharmonic’s David Demsey. After graduating in 1998, Willcox moved to New York City where he played with Marc Copland, Jeff Hirschfield, Vic Juris, Reid Anderson, Ben Monder, Matt Penman, Sunna Sunnlaugs, Scott McLemore, John Hebert, Michael Kanan, and Allison Miller.

Chuck Israels is a composer, arranger, and bassist who has worked with Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, J.J. Johnson, and John Coltrane. He is best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio from 1961 through 1966 and for his pioneering accomplishments in Jazz Repertory as Director of the National Jazz Ensemble from 1973 to 1981. Among Chuck’s many recordings as a bassist are Coltrane Time, with John Coltrane; My Point of View, with Herbie Hancock; Getz au Go-Go, with Stan Getz; and many recordings with the Bill Evans Trio, including The Town Hall Concert; The Second Trio; Trio ’65; Live at the Trident; Time Remembered; and Live at Shelley’s Manne Hole. Recently retired from directing the jazz studies program at Western Washington University, Chuck has moved to Portland, OR to work in its vibrant jazz community and participate in his favorite Northwest city’s cultural life.

Lineup: Tim Willcox, saxophone; Chuck Israels, bass; Bryn Roberts, piano; George Colligan, drums

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