Award-winning composer and trumpet player reimagines timeless classics with cinematic soul and a personal signature.
Renowned composer and trumpet player Tim Larkin returns with Setting Standards, his long-awaited debut jazz album. Out August 1 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.
Best known for shaping the sound of legendary game titles such as Portal, Dota 2, and Myst, as well as performing with artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Lou Rawls, Mel Torme, Sheila E, Natalie Cole and James Brown, Larkin brings a unique blend of craftsmanship and soul to each track. 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."
The album opens with "Through the Fire," a cinematic and emotionally charged arrangement that sets the tone for what follows. Fan-favorite single "Heart of Mine" offers a lush, soulful tribute to Bobby Caldwell, while "Pure Imagination" and "Wichita Lineman" balance dreamlike textures with rich melodic phrasing. "Gumshoes," placed early in the tracklist, gives listeners a window into Larkin's original voice as a composer.
The tracklist includes:
Through the Fire
Heart of Mine
Gumshoes
Smile Again
Wichita Lineman
Every Little Thing
Pure Imagination
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.
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, CSGO, Half Life 2 Ep1&2, Team Fortress 2, and HBO's The Rat Pack, with past live performances alongside legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Sheila E, Tony Bennett, Diane Shuur, Huey Lewis and many more. He was part of an Academy Award winning team creating sound design for Best Animated Short at the 75th Academy Awards for his work on The ChubbChubbs!. Setting Standards marks his first full-length jazz project and a return to the music that shaped him.
