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Great Music Site's Featured Artist John Temmerman

The Johnny Griffin classic “Chicago Calling” can also be considered a reference to the suburbs of the Windy City . Skokie, IL native, John Temmerman, influences include tenor titans like Chicago’s Eddie Harris, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter and multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk. His third recording “Live in Evanston – John’s Mixed Bag captures his band in live quartet and quintet performances from 2007 and 2008.

Temmerman’s interest in jazz was piqued as a teenager; he plays tenor, soprano and alto saxophone and clarinet. After years spent earning an advanced degree, establishing a family with his wife Tina and their son Joe and developing his professional business career, he was drawn back into the music world in the early 1990’s, started a trio in 1995 and began performing live.

With his solid, no-nonsense straight ahead approach to music it’s no surprise that he’s inspired by the legends -- and a few unsung heroes as well. He cites the Miles Davis classic Kind of Blue as a major inspiration, but you can immediately hear the influence of the great Long Tall Dexter in his performances. “When I hear the Dexter Gordon album Go and the song ‘Three O’Clock In The Morning, that’s what a tenor saxophone is supposed to sound like. Dexter had a big tone and less is more approach”.

You’re as liable to see Temmerman playing soprano in Chapel on Wednesday morning with the Gospel Choir at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ’s Lutheran Center as on the bandstand of a jazz club. “Playing with the Lutheran Center Gospel Choir is a joy. I enjoy interpreting hymns. ‘Just A Closer Walk With Thee’ (featured on Mixed Bag) is an example. For me, the purpose of music is to glorify God. God gave me a need to perform and teach music. I went along with that, even though I denied it for a while. “ He is firmly grounded in his family, his faith and unapologetically places both above music.  “I have my wife, who suffers from FSH Dystrophy to care for and have to be closer to home than some musicians.”

Chicago has a strong and legendary tenor tradition, from the “Little Giant” Johnny Griffin, Gene “Jug” Ammons, Von & Chico Freeman to Clifford Jordan and numerous unsung talents. Thanks to the airplay and recognition Temmerman has gained with each successive recording, his talent is no longer a well-kept secret of the Windy City .

You can find John Temmerman online at the following websites: 

Official Web Site    Sonicbids Online Press Kit    MySpace    CDBaby    Buy Indie Music    Facebook    Reverbnation