New Orleans born jazz clarinetist
A native of New Orleans, Tim Laughlin began playing the clarinet at the age of nine. Shortly after, he heard jazz on the radio, focusing his musical journey for the rest of his life. During these formative years, Tim spent as many hours listening to jazz as he did practicing. His first job was on a Mardi Gras float at the age of 15 with schoolmates. After graduating high school, he joined the musicians union where he met some of his mentors that would help shape his playing at “The Conservatory of Bourbon St.” In 1992, Laughlin was a member of The Dukes of Dixieland and performed at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops. Featured in many festivals throughout the world, he has toured over twenty countries including a goodwill US State Department Tour one month after Hurricane Katrina. Tim has a dozen CD’s under his name. In 2003, he recorded “The Isle of Orleans”(Gentilly Records), an award winning CD of his own New Orleans jazz originals. Historically, Laughlin is still the only New Orleans jazz clarinetist to ever release an album of all originals in this genre. Two of his originals can be heard in a recent 2016 major motion picture called “Mr. Church,” starring Eddie Murphy. Many others have been used in television, commercials and movies. In 2014, Tim was asked to perform at The Vatican and was with a distinguished delegation that had a private audience with Pope Francis. At home, Laughlin is very much in demand and has been a local favorite at The French Quarter Festival and N.O Jazz & Heritage Festival and has enjoyed making his living in New Orleans for the past 35 years. He stays busy playing top clubs like Snug Harbor, The Palm Court and The Bombay Club. His newest CD, “The Trio Collection, Vol 2,” will be a continuance of masterfully recorded songs featuring his clarinet along with piano and drums.
Keywords: jazz clarinet, new orleans jazz, traditional jazz