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About Tim Deal Upon graduating high school in 1999, Tim decided to try something new and challenging: he signed up to serve four years in the U. S. Marine Corps. After completing basic training, Tim was stationed with the III MEF Band in Okinawa, Japan. The island of Okinawa became Tim's home away from home during this period. Tim's Marine Corps duties included playing in a variety of musical ensembles. Among those ensembles were the Marine Corps marching field band, Concert Band, Jazz Orchestra, Combo and Dixieland Band.
While fulfilling his duties as a Marine, Tim also played in groups during off-duty hours, finding time to start a Latin Jazz ensemble which performed throughout Okinawa. Tim participated in festivals throughout Japan, and toured extensively throughout Southeast Asia during his Military tenure. Among those countries abroad that Tim has been privileged to visit thus far are Australia, South Korea, mainland Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Italy and Guam. After returning home to Champaign, Illinois in late 2003, Tim began to get involved in the local music scene, aligning with some of Champaign-Urbana's finest musicians to form a jazz ensemble. Contact Tim here. Band Members Tom is a veteran among the Champaign-Urbana music scene, having played in the band of John Garvey, a local legendary big band conductor. While in Mr. Garvey's band, Tom traveled to the U.S.S.R., where several of his compostitions were performed. He also plays with several different ensembles throughout Champaign, including Ear Doctor, Jazz Mayhem, and Desafinado. He plays at various events for the University of Illinois, teaches piano lessons to students in the area and hosts a Monday night radio show on Champaign's community radio station, WEFT 90.1. Ben grew up in Aurora, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and graduated high school from West Aurora High School in 1994. He migrated to Champaign to study Industrial Design at the University of Illinois, and became involved in the local music scene. He has been actively playing in various ensembles around town since 2000. Ben has played with several of C-U's finest, including Lamonte Parsons and Don Heitler. He also plays in the band, Ear Doctor, with Tom Paynter. Mark graduated from Douglas Anderson High School of the
Performing Arts in 1996. He then received a four year musical
scholarship allowing him to attain a Bachelor of Arts in Music at the
University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida in the year
2000. Mark has also completed his Masters of Music Degree in
Jazz Studies at Florida State University in Tallahassee,
Florida. Mark currently resides in Urbana, Illinois, and performs as a member of several ensembles throughout Central Illinois, and is often called to perform in various jazz festivals and events throughout the USA. Peter Deal is the youngest Deal brother, and at the age of 17 years old he already has lots of musical experiences under his belt. Along with being in the Deal Brothers Jazz Band, he plays in the school jazz combo, big band and concert band. Peter made the all district concert band and jazz band this year. He was also instrumental in starting a jazz combo at his school, made up entirely of high school students, that plays in various venues throughout Champaign. He also plays the conch shell, a shell from Hawaii that has a hole drilled in it, and can be played like a brass instrument. Peter certainly has a lot of drive and ambition for being such a young man. We are proud to have him in the band so that he can continue to learn and grow musically. Peter enjoys listening to artists such as J.J. Johnson, Herbie Hancock and Steve Turre.
As a "preacher's kid," the church paved the way for Tim to develop his talent. Tim sang his first solo in church at the age of 5, under the direction of his mother, who was the church choir director. This ignited the spark to pursue a life in music. At the age of 11, he took up the saxophone. Tim learned to play jazz through private lessons, diligent practice habits, and listening to and emulating the great saxophone players.
A musician of the highest caliber, Tom is sought-after in Central Illinois. Tom holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Illinois in music and a Ph.D. in Music Composition from the University of Chicago. He has composed extensively, and many of his compositions are played by the Tim Deal Jazz Band, as well as by other bands of which Tom has been a part of.
Along with being an accomplished bassist, Ben also runs his own music studio, Bassology Records, specializing in on-site recording. As a man of many talents, Ben is also a freelance graphic designer. Ben is a great asset to the Tim Deal Jazz Band, as well as every other endeavor he is a part of.
Mr. McKnight has played with many world renown Jazz Greats, including Benny Golson, Tito Puente, Dave Brubeck,
Ellis and
Wynton Marsalis, Pieces of a Dream, Phil Morrison, Marla Gibbs,
Nicholas Payton,
Kenny Drew, Jr., Bunky Green, Charlotte Mabry and Teddy Washington. He
has
also written and directed several educational musical performances, for the purpose of introducing
music students, whose access to the arts is limited, to programs such as
ARTLIFE
and the Harlem Renaissance, by performing at several libraries. Mark
McKnight was
also a featured artist at a Jacksonville Super Bowl sanctioned Event
honoring Bob
Hayes and The World of Nations Celebration. Mark McKnight is an individual with a bright
and
promising future, whose plans include the pursuance of international opportunities.
Peter recently was accepted into the University of Illinois music school, a very prestigious program. He will be graduating high school this May and will start at UIUC beginning next Fall 2008.
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