Tim's Web Site A Press Sampler
Tim Wiedenkeller
Multi-instrument, Multi-genre, Singer/Composer/Performer
Photo of Tim from his Web site joined with a photo by Bonnie Brock of Pinal Pionner Parkway, February 2005
Tim Wiedenkeller is not just a crowd-pleaser. He is a crowd-exciter. Fans quickly get hooked on this outstanding musician because he takes them so many places.
Tim plays lots of different instruments, and plays them all at the world-class level. He's pictured above with a hybrid instrument that was his own invention. He calls it the Sevan, and it is a 7-string banjo-guitar hybrid. Together, the Sevan and Tim produce some magical sounds.
Tim's other primary instruments are the banjo, guitar, and mandolin. The talent that sets Tim apart from all others is his ability to compose and play classical banjo music. After producing about 100 records, he finally produced his own CD, Milagros, released in December 2004. That CD consists entirely of his classical banjo compositions, eight of them, each very different from the other. The CD has received a lot of airplay on National Public Radio among others, and has been praised to the hilt.
The folks at NPR have only heard, and not seen, Tim playing that classical banjo music. Seeing him play adds tremendously to the experience--the fingers flying as he rapidly changes chords, and the big grin that appears on his face from time to time.
Tim's classical banjo work gets a lot of attention because it is so unusual. He is also adept at playing the banjo for bluegrass (including his original that is a favorite of fans,"Long Tom"), classic country, folk, Western, or Americana music. In a "typical show" he will play guitar at least as much as he banjo, and include a few numbers played on the Sevan. When playing with a group, his mandolin often comes out of its case to accompany other instrumentalists.
Tim sings! He has a beautiful high tenor voice, and the world "soulful" has to be part of its description.
Besides the classical banjo music, Tim also composes vocal songs and even has film scores to his credit.
"Typical show" was in quotes above because there is no really typical Tim Wiedenkeller show. He also includes some element of surprise or special excitement. He might open a show with the stage lights down very low, playing a Native American flute. He might add a song or songs in a totally different genre from his usual, such as Irish ballads.
But then there is no real "usual" genre for Tim, either. He started his career in his teens as a bluegrass musician, and has played some rock music and reggae along the way. There is an article on this site about Tim, referring to him as a "Musical Explorer." He has continued to prove this title is appropriate, year after year, concert after concert. His fans have learned to "expect the unexpected." And they know it's all going to be GOOD!
Tim is currently finishing the recording of his second CD, this one consisting of 12 of his original vocal compositions. The projected released date is August 2006. It cannot possibly be anything less than great.