About Tim “Sully” Sullivan
Tim Sullivan is an active music performer, teaching artist, writer, researcher, and curriculum and program developer. He worked extensively with Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Apollo Theater in NYC for over a decade, before returning to his former residence of New Orleans during the pandemic. Currently, he is a member of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, directs the NOJO Youth Orchestra, and serves as Director of Education for Second Line Arts Collective.
EXTENDED bioGRAPHY
Tim “Sully” Sullivan was born and raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he took an early interest in jazz and improvisation. Beginning piano at age five, he expanded his focus to alto saxophone in the fifth grade, followed soon after by baritone and tenor saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet, and flute. By his senior year of high school, he was selected to the Wisconsin All-State Honors Jazz Ensemble and received numerous awards around the country, including at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Festival.
Following high school, he attended the Chicago College of Performing Arts for jazz performance (B.M.), where he closely apprenticed saxophonist Mike Smith. Outside of school, Tim was fortunate to perform with Aretha Franklin, Cab Calloway Orchestra, Umphrey’s McGee, The Official Blues Brothers Revival Show co-produced by Dan Aykroyd and Judy Belushi, Curtis Fuller, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Dave Liebman, Ron Miles, George Lewis, and more.
Tim was then awarded a full scholarship to attend the University of New Orleans (M.M.), where he was a graduate assistant and member of the school’s flagship ensemble, the Louis Armstrong Quintet. In New Orleans, he was fortunate to perform with Ellis, Delfeayo, and Jason Marsalis; Irma Thomas, George Porter Jr., Johnny Vidacovich, Stanton Moore, Herlin Riley, Alfred 'Uganda' Roberts, Bill Summers, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s Roger Lewis, Kirk Joseph, Terrence Higgins, and more.
In 2009, Tim relocated to New York City to teach at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Working across the full spectrum of JALC Education programs, he was a teaching artist for Swing University, Middle School Jazz Academy, Essentially Ellington High School Festival, and more. He also contributed significantly to the curriculum, pedagogy, and program development of JALC’s award-winning family program, WeBop.
In 2012, he was invited to attend Teachers College, Columbia University (Ed.M.), where he served as a Community Music Fellow and pursued doctoral research in popular music learning, teaching artistry, and curriculum reform. The following year, he was hired by the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem as a lead teaching artist and staff curriculum writer.
Over the course of his career, Tim has performed, recorded, toured, and taught throughout the U.S. and overseas with artists including Clark Terry, Candido Camero, Jimmy Cobb, Paquito D’Rivera, Fred Wesley, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra directed by Adonis Rose, Jazzmeia Horn, Matt Wilson, Dion Parson, Winard Harper, Justin Vernon and Sean Carey of Bon Iver, members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Travis Sullivan’s Bjorkestra, Eric Krasno, Robert Walter, Chali 2na, Sue Mingus with members of the Mingus Big Band, and many more.
What people are saying
”One of the baddest sax players in the world.” – Funk Legend Fred Wesley (James Brown, Parliament Funkadelic)
“Tim Sullivan steps forward with powerful statements.” – Downbeat Magazine
“Sullivan embraced what is unique and special about New Orleans music… He is studious, serious, and a complete team player.” – Delfeayo Marsalis
“It’s hard to avoid the rousing celebrations offered by the WeBop band of Jazz at Lincoln Center, whose educational programs introduce this vibrant American music to the youngest of potential fans." - The New York Times
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background photos by Tim Sullivan
home page mural art: "The World's Most Economical Taxi" by Rouge-One
site pages mural art: "New Wynd" by Recoat and Ali Wyllie