ABOUT
Born into a musical family in Staunton, Virginia, Tim Stuart is a distinguished American saxophonist who began his career performing with R&B, Soul, and Funk bands across Virginia at just 16 years old. This early exposure to diverse musical styles provided him with invaluable "on the job" training, shaping his sonic and professional trajectory. The fusion of fiery rock tones, soulful grooves, and dynamic musical interplay developed during these formative years has propelled Tim into a successful career as a sought-after musician for military bands and civilian recording artists worldwide.
Tim’s versatility spans beyond the saxophone to include piano and synthesizer, gracing the stage with an impressive array of artists such as Craig Morgan, Fred Wesley, Michael Lington, and the Rebirth Brass Band. His extensive collaborations also include performances with Vince Lewis, Jan Nielsen, Nick Black, Marc Breitfelder, Hod O'Brian, Bob McChesney, the Artie Shaw Big Band, the US Army Blues, and as a member and featured soloist in the NATO Jazz Orchestra. As an Army Musical Team Leader & civilian musical director, Tim's groups have opened for touring stars like Daughtry, Jay Leno, George Wallace, Miranda Lambert, Collective Soul, Sam Hunt, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Snarky Puppy, and Midnight Spaghetti and the Chocolate G Strings.
Tim’s extensive performance history includes appearances on US, European, and Middle Eastern television and radio, participating in high-profile events like the Grand Ole Opry, NASCAR's Talladega 500, the Rex Parade (NOLA), NFL Pro Bowl Beach Party, and the Kentucky Derby as well as prominent international jazz festivals at Wigan (EN), Bansko (BG), & Tournai (BE). As a composer and arranger, his works have been featured in military and civilian recordings, live productions, and mass media, including major projects for the US Department of Defense, Department of State, and NATO.
Now based near Montgomery, AL, Tim is a senior leader and instructor-qualified musician in the 313th U.S. Army Band (Huntsville, AL), where he serves as a Musical Performance Team Leader and acting First Sergeant. Outside of his military role, he is the founder and bandleader of the jazz-fusion-funk project Half Step Revolution, as well as the co-founder, musical & marketing director, and pianist for the Montgomery Jazz Alliance. He is also a saxophonist with the blues rock experience Aaron Bostic & The Greater Good and a featured guest performer and clinician with the high-energy Gumptown Brass Band. Tim performs saxophone, piano, and percussion with the Virginia-based roots-rock band John Paul Douglas & The Bitter Trades (formerly Who Shot John), appearing prominently on their 2024 album Cut No Switch. Now in his third season as a dueling pianist, he collaborates with performers such as Nathan Sangsland, Brian Lee, and Tonya Scott. A versatile freelance artist, he performs at weddings, corporate events, and festivals throughout the Southeastern U.S. and appears as a solo act under the moniker Solo Sax Live!, blending live performance with custom studio-produced backing tracks.
As an educator, Tim operates a vibrant private studio where he teaches saxophone, piano, jazz, and commercial music theory, along with improvisation and production techniques. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Magna Cum Laude) in Music with a focus on Pre-K-12 Education from Bridgewater College, a Graduate Certificate in Business from Liberty University, and has completed advanced courses at the United States Navy School of Music and the United States Army School of Music, earning instructor qualifications in both saxophone and piano. Tim has received numerous civilian and military awards, most notably the Finley R. Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award, the Benjamin Harrison Medal, and the Nelson T. Huffman Award. He is also the proud receipient of both the U.S. Dept. of Defense Joint Commendation & Achievement Medals as well as the Army Commendation Medal (4) & Army Achievement (10) Medals for exceptional musical performance and leadership excellence.
Tim Stuart is an endorsed saxophone artist for Warburton Musical Products modular saxophone necks and exclusively plays Keilwerth SX90R (soprano, alto tenor), Cannonball Raven (alto), and Antigua Winds "Powerbell" (tenor & baritone) saxophones. He uses Alexander Superial & Harry Hartmann Carbon Fiber saxophone reeds, Selmer Paris, Vandoren, & Barkley mouthpieces, Pro Tec saxophone cases, and Francois Louis & Vandoren ligatures. His setup also includes Westone IEMs, AKG, Telefunken, and sE Electronics microphones, SSL Interfaces, as well as Roland & Studiologic keyboards and the Akai EWI 4000s wind synth.