Home » Member Page

John Temmerman

His audiences go home happy and his students play better and enjoy music more

About Me

Temmerman’s interest in jazz was piqued as a teenager; he plays tenor soprano and alto saxophone and clarinet. After years spent earning an advanced degree, establishing a family with his wife Tina and their son Joe and developing his professional business career, he was drawn back into the music world in the early 1980’s, started a trio in 1995 and began performing live.

With his solid, no-nonsense straight ahead approach to music it’s no surprise that he’s inspired by the legends -- and a few unsung heroes as well. He cites the Miles Davis classic Kind of Blue as a major inspiration, but you can immediately hear the influence of the great Long Tall Dexter in his performances. “When I hear the Dexter Gordon album Go and the song ‘Three O’Clock In The Morning,“ that’s what a tenor saxophone is supposed to sound like. Dexter had a big tone and less is more approach.

“Dexter is my main guy on tenor, says Temmerman, “But I've listened to many mainstream players: John Coltrane, Stanley Turrentine, Coleman Hawkins, Eddie Harris, Zoot Sims on both tenor and soprano, Wayne Shorter, Yusef Lateef, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and lots of others, including some lesser known players like Bootsie Barnes, Buck Hill and Tina Brooks. I've also enjoyed the versatility and power of crossover players, like King Curtis, Grover Washington, Tom Scott and Wilton Felder from the Crusaders.”

You’re as liable to see Temmerman playing soprano in Chapel on Wednesday morning with the Gospel Choir at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Lutheran Center as on the bandstand of a jazz club. “Playing with the Lutheran Center Gospel Choir is a joy. I enjoy interpreting hymns. ‘Just A Closer Walk With Thee’ (featured on Mixed Bag) is an example. For me, the purpose of music is to glorify God. God gave me a need to perform and teach music. I went along with that, even though I denied it for a while. “ He is firmly grounded in his family, his faith and unapologetically places both above music. “I have my wife, who suffers from FSH Dystrophy to care for and have to be closer to home than some musicians.”

Temmerman currently teaches students in his home; he’s been known to assign some of the more avant garde recordings of Eric Dolphy as required listening. His sage advice to young musicians? “Find a way to do what you love. I have a non-music career and what that does is give me a means to perform music on my own terms. So, even if the career direction isn't music, don't stop playing. Don't stop creating.”

Chicago has a strong and legendary tenor tradition, from the “Little Giant” Johnny Griffin, “Jug” Gene Ammons, Von & Chico Freeman to Clifford Jordan and numerous unsung talents. Thanks to the airplay and recognition Temmerson has gained with each successive recording, his talent is no longer a well-kept secret of the Windy City.