Tim Seisser was born in Elgin, Illinois and grew up in Arlington Heights, a suburb of Chicago. He began playing the bass at age 13 and quickly progressed, technically and musically, thru high school. At age 16 he started gigging in the Chicagoland area and appeared on his first recording with progressive rock group “Parallel Mind” for their self titled debut. As a senior in High School he travelled to New York City, with the jazz big band “YJED”, to perform at the 6th Annual Essentially Ellington Festival at Lincoln Center.
In 2004 Tim moved to Chicago and began his career as a full time musician. It did not take long for Tim to become one of the city’s most in demand sideman/bassists. He regularly crosses between genres and has had the opportunity to perform with a wide range of talent. He has worked with many of Chicago’s top jazz artists including Mark Colby, Howard Levy, Corey Wilkes, Makaya McCraven, Greg Spero, Willerm Delisfort and Nicole Mitchell. Tim does not restrict himself musically to just performing jazz and has also worked with Improvised Funk/Dance group BMC, World and Brazilian artists A Cor Do Brasil, Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, Bossa Tres and Luciano Antonio, Rock/Fusion groups The Renegades and Zing!, Rock artists MER, S. Joel Norman and The Illness, Tim Stop and Rob Nicholas Band, Neo Soul artists William Kurk Enterprise and Yaw Agyeman, Smooth Jazz artist Nick Colionne and celebrity entertainers Max Weinberg, Joan Rivers and Charo.
He has performed at many notorius Chicago area venues including Alpine Valley Music Theatre, House of Blues Chicago, Schubas, Hard Rock Cafe Chicago, The Green Mill, Navy Pier, Andy’s Jazz Club, The Velvet Lounge, Green Dolphin Street, and Martyrs. Past notable festival appearances include The Chicago Jazz Festival, The Taste Of Chicago, The Little Apple Jazz Festival, The Cherokee Jazz and Blues Festival, The Blues To Bop Festival in Switzerland and many others. Tim was an artist in residence for the Union League Club of Chicago Civic and Arts Jazz Ensemble in 2008. Tim also boasts an impressive recording resume and has appeared on recordings alongside Bob Minzter, Will Kennedy, Allen Vizzutti and Khari Parker to name a few. Tim has also performed on Chicago area television stations WGN and Comcast Public Access.
In 2008 Tim released his first official album as a leader entitled “Wire and Wood”. It received acclaim from jazz reviewers and has been played on multiple Chicago area jazz stations including WDCB and WNUA. In 2010/2011 Tim simultaneously released two other albums, “That’s Not Jazz” and “T.S.5 Live!”.
He is an alumni of Victor Wooten’s Bass/Nature Camp and has had the chance to study with Victor Wooten, Steve Bailey, Adam Nitti, Chuck Rainey, Jeff Berlin, Jon Paul and Kelly Sill. Tim is also a staff writer for the online publication Bass Musician Magazine. Tim exclusively uses and endorses CB (Cliff Bordwell) Custom Basses.
Tim currently resides in Chicago and is leading his own band and is keeping a very busy schedule as a top call sideman.
“Tim Seisser represents yet another well sculpted voice coming on to the scene. An accomplished musician that shows respect for the instrument in a very musical way, and swings hard to boot. This is someone to keep an eye on.”
Jake Kot–Editor for Bass Musician Magazine
Seisser shows off his virtuosity and improvisational skills on the long solo that opens “Black Tar.” His style is quite different than that of master electric bassists, like Jaco Pastorius and Stanley Clarke––bluesier and more melodic, with an emphasis more on musical expression than on technical prowess. On the opening bars of “Hit and Run” he coaxes flamenco-like notes out of his instrument and on the quieter “Step Two––The Gimme Vibe” he lets his strings vibrate sparsely, not unlike those of a double bass.
Chicago Jazz Magazine
“Young bassist Tim Seisser is an unbelievably talented musician and composer”
Brad Walseth, Jazzchicago.net
“Really nice stuff!”
Chris Tarry, Electric bassist
www.christarry.com
“Jaco Pastorius couldn’t have played it better”.
Victor Wooten upon hearing Tim play a signature line at Vic’s Bass/Nature Camp
“I got the chance to give your cd a listen and I have to honestly say that I am very impressed. It’s some of the nicest sounding bass I have heard recorded in a while. ”
Bassist/Composer Jauqo III-X