This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring trumpet performer, composer and sound designer Tim Larkin, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass. This episode also appears as a video episode on our YouTube channel, you can find it here: "Tim Larkin trumpet interview"

 

About Tim Larkin:

Tim Larkin is a composer, trumpet player, and sound designer whose work spans decades across the gaming, jazz, and film industries.

His credits include Portal, Dota 2, Team Fortress 2, and HBO’s The Rat Pack, with past live performances alongside legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Sheila E., and Huey Lewis.

Tim won an Academy Award creating sound design for Best Animated Short at the 75th Academy Awards for his work on The ChubbChubbs!

Setting Standards is his long-awaited debut jazz album, and was released on August 1, 2025 on all major platforms.

The album is a curated collection of reimagined classics and one original composition that captures the emotional breadth, musical depth, and cinematic storytelling that have defined Larkin’s career across jazz, film, and video games.

Setting Standards includes interpretations of songs by Bobby Caldwell, David Foster, Jimmy Webb, and more anchored by his own original composition, “Gumshoes.”

“This album isn’t about chasing trends,” says Larkin. “It’s about honoring the songs that stuck with me and reimagining them in a way that feels honest keeping the soul intact but letting them breathe in a new space.”

Setting Standards blends cinematic jazz, soulful arrangements, and live instrumentation into a cohesive listening experience that’s both nostalgic and forward thinking. With contributions from longtime collaborators including John Paris (Earth, Wind & Fire) and renowned arrangers Maurizio Metalli, Lennie Moore and Joris Hoogsteder, the album is a modern take on the classic jazz experience.

 

Episode Links:

• Tim Larkin profile on IMDB
• Setting Standards streaming links
• Video of Tim conducting the orchestra at the Dota 2 International Championships in 2023, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle
• The Dota 2 2025 International Grand Championships Opening Ceremony

 

Upcoming Events:

• Virtuosity Musical Instruments Boston, October 17 & 18
• Greg Black Mouthpieces, November 7 & 8
• North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference, November 9 & 10

 

Podcast Credits:

• “A Room with a View“ - composed and performed by Howie Shear
• Podcast Host - John Snell
• Cover Photo Credit - Tim Larkin
• Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg