Tim Seisser bringing his quintet to Saturday's Jazz in the Meadows
Back in high school, Tim Seisser used to kick extra points in the football game, before grabbing his instrument, a standup bass, to perform with the marching band during halftime.
“I used to run over to the stands, and my mom would have my instrument,” says Seisser, who graduated from Rolling Meadows High School in 2001, where he also was the star place-kicker. “We'd wheel it out and I'd play with the pit section in the front.”
His dedication to music turned out to be a lifetime pursuit. Seisser is a professional bass player who'll bring his Tim Seisser Quintet back to where he says it all started: the Jazz in the Meadows Festival Saturday at Rolling Meadows High School.
The festival now is in its 26th year and features more than 100 jazz ensembles and combos, both junior high and high school level, competing in different class divisions for the chance to be named the grand champion.
Chris Buti, director of bands at Rolling Meadows, remembers directing Seisser during his junior and senior years.
“He was in our top jazz ensemble and the leader of the combo, as well as an outstanding soloist,” Buti says. “Earlier in the year he came back and performed with the current combo.
“The kids got a great chance to talk with him about the industry and how he got there,” Buti adds. “It's just exciting to have a former Jazz in the Meadows participant coming back.”
Seisser's quintet features a trombone, saxophone, piano, bass and drummer, and includes two other members who also played at Jazz in the Meadows during high school, Matt Nelson who played with Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, and Rich Moore who played with Wheaton Warrenville South High School.
They will perform from noon-1 p.m. in the main gym. The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Dana Hall, will open the grand finale concert at 5 p.m. That concert also features the winners of all four divisions, who will reprise one of their numbers before the grand champion is named.
“Jazz in the Meadows was the catalyst for me,” Seisser says. “I used to go with my dad to see all those big name performers, and then performing in it as a student all four years, I got to see some terrific talent from surrounding schools. It was just always an inspiration.”
Buti describes Seisser as one of Chicago's most in-demand and hardest working sidemen. He has performed with many of Chicago's biggest name jazz artists, including Howard Levy, Paul Wertico, Mark Colby, Corey Wilkes, Nicole Mitchell and Rob Parton to name a few.
Beyond the jazz world, Seisser can be found performing regularly with world music groups, rhythm and blues, as well as dance and rock bands. He has performed at Alpine Valley Music Theater, the Green Mill, the Jazz Showcase, Andy's Jazz Club, Martyr's, Hard Rock Cafe Chicago and House of Blues.
He has also performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival, the Little Apple Jazz Festival, Cherokee Jazz and Blues Festival and the Blues To Bop Festival in Lugano, Switzerland.
Seisser released his first album, “Wire and Wood,” in 2008 to popular acclaim, before recording three more albums independently in the last year through his website: “T. S. 5 Live;” “That's Not Jazz,” and “That's Not Fusion.”
His quintet performs widely throughout Chicago, both at private clubs and last year at Taste of Chicago. They perform mostly contemporary jazz, which he plans to feature during Saturday's performance.
“I wanted these kids to hear something different,” Seisser says. “At the festival, they'll be hearing a lot of the traditional jazz standards. This will give them a chance to hear what else is out there.”