Saxophone

Music has always been taking Tim Caskin to interesting places. In 1997, Tim was part of an opening act for Marylin Manson during the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall. He was also 15 years old when he first heard saxophonist Dale Underwood play, and knew he had to study with him. He did so at George Mason University, earning his Bachelor of Music degree (2005). His achievements included being a featured soloist on soprano saxophone with the university’s top wind ensemble and being selected to perform at the United States Navy Band’s 27th International Saxophone Symposium as part of a masterclass taught by Jean Pierre-Baraglioli. Upon graduating, he went back to his roots to begin his teaching career on Long Island, New York in 2006. After several years of directing high school concert bands, jazz bands, and pit orchestras, Tim furthered his education, receiving a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University (2011). Inspired by the world-class scholars, teachers, and musicians he studied with at Northwestern, Tim felt compelled to continue his education. He was accepted into the PhD in Music Education program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he excelled at teaching undergraduate courses. In the Fall of 2014 and Spring 2015 semesters, Tim was ranked in the top 10% among faculty in student evaluations. In 2016, he presented projects at the Illinois Music Educators Conference and the NAfME National Conference in Atlanta. After experiencing a seismic change of heart he left school and moved to Colorado in 2018. He spent a brief time as a band director in the Roaring Fork School District, and now works as a freelance musician and teacher. He plays saxophone in The Sunlight Lab, The Jazzmonauts, and the electronic-infused Beep Bop Boop. Coming soon is his latest project which includes original songs fusing spirited rap lyrics with feel-good beats and catchy saxophone lines. He is on faculty with the Jazz Aspen Snowmass In-Schools program, he teaches guitar classes through the Aspen Music Festival and School, and he teaches private lessons in his studio in Carbondale.

GUITAR

TJ started playing guitar at 13 years old and soon fell in love with jazz. In his senior year of high school, TJ founded his school's first ever jazz band. After graduation, TJ took his love for the genre and composition to upstate New York, where he studied jazz and performing arts at Skidmore College. After a decade-long hiatus from musical study and performance to pursue professional athletics, TJ picked his guitar back up during the pandemic and soon began performing in various musical configurations throughout the valley. In 2023, TJ founded the Roaring Fork Valley Jazz Jam at Steve’s Guitars.

BASS

Matthew Trinidad is a lifelong musician who took a brief hiatus from music to pursue what Robert Frost might describe as “the path (more) traveled.” In other words, he quit music and went to law school. His music career began in earnest at CU. There, he studied theory and performance, and played in the #2 big band and various combos. Though he later switched academic focus, Matthew stayed active in music, did session work, and played two services every Sunday for several years in the house band for a mega church (he now spends his Sundays skiing and watching football), performed in several other bands, and played on and produced an album with Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Katie Herzig. He retired from music in the mid 2000’s but recently decided to resurrect his music career.  

DRUMS

Becoming aware that music (in particular, rhythm) could be a career, Chad pursued his classical music degree in NYC. The reality of dwindling orchestral vacancies and hours spent counting measures only to play one triangle note inspired him to dive back into his drum set playing.

Fast forward to today, Chad is a staple in various different musical groups throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, including The Confluents and Party Party. He plays drums for Theatre Aspen and Aspen Community Theatre, as well as participates in hand drumming and world music events. Chad is on the faculty of JAS In-School Education and works with students throughout the area.