A protean artist, performer and set designer, Tim Duffy grew up in Providence, Rhode Island, in the intoxicating orbit of the Newport Jazz Festival. He studied sculpture and film at the Rhode Island School of Design, which led to a series of improvisational, artistic explorations. In the early ’70s, Tim migrated to Colorado, where he pioneered experimental workshops around the state, evolving into his funk-gospel-jazz “cosmic pageant,” Orchestra of Clouds. His design and art direction for film, television, commercials and concerts (including U2’s immortal 1983 show at Red Rocks) took him around the world before he returned to Colorado in the early ’90s, composing, recording and performing countless works of original music. His active, adventurous blend of jazz, funk and humor was executed by various ensembles including the Rocky Mountain All Stars, the All Stars Soul Revue and Jazz Explorers. In 2002, he suffered a debilitating stroke, followed by another. He now resides in Washington State, where he continues his sculpting career with the use of one hand and makes occasional recording pilgrimages to Colorado.
Tim Duffy has recruited Colorado’s finest musicians to share the studio and stage, including:
Larry Thompson, Randy Chavez, Eric Gunnison, Larry Wilkins, Kim Stone, Fred Gowdy, Chris Engleman, Marguerite Juenemann, Mark Oblinger, Bob Rebholz, Coco Brown, Gary Wilson, Fly McClard, Robben Ford, Sam Broussard, Jason McDaniel, Kent McLagan, Dawn Kramer, Winston Ford, Esmé Patterson, Genevieve Patterson, Carl Carlwell, Christian Teele, Pete Sommers, Charles Lee, Bijou Barbosa, Rashid Collins, Reed McRoberts, Lee Trees, Darren Kramer, John Armstrong, Eric Deutsch, Orvin Thompson, Fatima, Jane Simms, George Cables, Carmen Lundy, Linda Lawson, Jeff Jenkins, Mike Marlier, Brad Goode, John Gunther, Nelson Hinds, Mitch Chmara, Paul Romaine, Zach Littlefield, Tony Selvage, Aaron Stone, Christopher Thomas, Patty Greer, Buddy Red Bow, Frank Serafine, Jac Murphy, Terry James, Mike Miller, Paul Vastola, Bernard Grant, Suzi Nelson, Sue Garmany, Mende Stirling, Tom Howard, Alan Westrop, Gene Rush, Julie Churchill, Gabrielle Silva, Don Gorder, Chuck Schneider, Dick McGee, Gene Rueff, Joe Farrell, Robbie Chamberlin, Al Campbell, Blake Teach, Steve Strzepek, Jim Oates, Bob Funk, Bob Burnham, Walt Fowler, Steve Fowler, Al Wing and Ernie Carlson.
Time Code
Tim talks with G. Brown about sneaking into the Newport Jazz Festival as a youngster (1:15), hijinks at the Rhode Island School of Design (3:45), tracking down Captain Beefheart in California (5:02), making the move to Colorado (7:05), producing a show attached to Disneyland’s Space Mountain and running into George Lucas while in California (15:30), helming pyrotechnics for U2’s Under a Blood Red Sky concert at Red Rocks (20:28) and launching a myriad of projects as a bandleader (22:55).