On Saturday Nov 10th, a memorial service, including a funeral processional, will be held for multi-instrumentalist Tim Eyermann as part of the Cape May Jazz Festival. Eyermann passed away May 1, after a battle with lung cancer that was complicated by pneumonia. A great favorite at the festival, Eyermann opened up the first one in April '94, and appeared there on many subsequent occasions, until his last performance in November 2006. Tim played flute and saxophones with the Cape May All Stars who have included vocalist Jeannie Brooks, Aaron Graves, piano, trumpeters Vaughn Nark and Winston Byrd, Charles Fambrough, bass, Keith Killgo, drums and the late Brian Trainor on piano. On hand to perform for the memorial service will be Brooks, Nark, Byrd, Fambrough, Killgo and guest artists Aaron Graves on piano and Jesse Andrus, tenor saxophone.
Eyermann was well-known on the east coast. Indeed, the band he formed in the Washington DC area in 1974, after many years with the Air Force Men of Note, was called the East Coast Offering. The group's most recent recording was the 1999 release Karla's Fire which showcases the bands hard-driving, jazz/funk fusion, with Eyermann soloing compellingly on a variety of horns--at one time or another he featured alto, soprano and tenor saxophones, C flute, alto and bass flutes, piccolo, clarinet and oboe. On his tour-de- force concert piece, Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Manha de Carnaval," he played all nine of his woodwinds.
Eyermann and the East Coast Offering headlined at DC area clubs for years, toured the East Coast, made about 10 albums, and was nominated for two Grammy Awards, without ever quite finding breakthrough national success. In between these dates, Eyermann was busy as a studio musician, working with artists as varied as Count Basie, Maynard Ferguson, Julie Andrews, the Spinners, and Anita Baker.
For the last few years Eyermann had been living in Miami, Florida, where he continued with his performing and teaching schedule until his recent illness. Well-liked by everyone who knew him and worked with him, he was known for his professionalism and his positive mental attitude. Always on time and full of energy, Mr. Eyermann was known for his "zest and optimism," according to Vaughn Nark, who worked with Eyermann in the Airmen of Note. "He performed every gig as if it was his last--he lived music 24 hours a day."
Tim Eyermann is survived by a daughter and two sisters. His memorial service, as well as the 28th Cape May Festival itself, will be well worth visiting. For details see: www.capemayjazz.org.
See also www.timeyermann.com
A review of Karla's Fire can be seen at: www.jazzreview.com/cdreview.cfm? ID=682
JazzReview.com
