The Tiptons Sax Quartet, previously known as The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet, is a jazzsaxophone quartet from Seattle, Washington. The ensemble consists of five members (the fifth member being the quartet's drummer and percussionist). The Tiptons are an internationally renowned saxophone quartet with drums, celebrating over 30 years as a band. Amy Denio (alto sax, clarinet, voice) is joined by co-leader Jessica Lurie (soprano/alto/tenor sax, voice), Sue Orfield (tenor sax, voice), Tina Richerson (baritone sax, voice) and Robert Kainar (drums, percussion) from Salzburg, Austria. The Tiptons' material ranges from micro-Big Band to Gospel, Bluegrass to Balkan, whimsical Chamber Jazz, and nocturnal Funk to Free Jazz Improvisation using saxophones, clarinet, their voices, drums, and inventive percussion to create a genre-busting ‘world soul’ sound. The band takes its name in honor of Billy Tipton, a 20th century professional saxophonist and transgender man who upon his death was revealed to have been assigned female at birth.[1]
Tiptons
“… More than 30 years along, the Tiptons Saxophone Quartet and Drums are sounding better than ever. Inspired by countless memorable collaborations with musicians from around the world, this group is setting a high bar for arrangements and compositions featuring multiple horns. Their powerful, confident sound combines jazz and classical music with funk and folk music from the broad reach of humanity.”Abe Beeson, KNKX Seattle Public Radio
“... Entrancing beats with luscious tones and harmony stacks big enough to climb.” All About Jazz
"The Tiptons blow up a mess of Balkan, Second Line, and carnivalesque lines, joyful, wry, and well-traveled … a hard blowing, rhythm-driven bunch of reeds." The Seattle Stranger
The Tiptons at Bumbershoot 2008. Left to right: Jessica Lurie, Amy Denio, Sue Orfield, Tina RichersonThe Tiptons, December 2006. Left to right: Jessica Lurie, Amy Denio, Tina Richerson, Tobi Stone, Faith Stankevich
Amy Denio is an original member of the Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet, dating from the band's very first rehearsal at her house in the Fall of 1988. She composed for BTMSQ and organized tours and concerts until Spring, 1996. She took a hiatus from the band until 2002, when she and Jessica Lurie reformed the band, now named Tiptons Sax Quartet.
She is a composer, improviser and recording engineer, and has run her own label, Spoot Music since 1986.[2] She has received composition commissions from The Berkeley Symphony, The Relache Ensemble, Pat Graney Dance Company, David Dorfman Dance, New York Festival of Song, Italian National Radio and many other entities.
Jessica Lurie is a multi-instrumentalist performer, composer, producer and teaching artist based in Brooklyn, NY and Seattle, WA. As well as co-leading the Tiptons since 1995, she leads the Jessica Lurie Ensemble, Living Daylights, Sofie Salonika, FreEthiopiques, and Slingshot with Seattle violist Heather Bentley. Jessica has released over 40 critically acclaimed albums as bandleader, lead composer or collaborator and has worked with international artists such as John Zorn, Devotchka, Taylor Mac, Nikki Glaspie, Nels Cline, Col. Bruce Hampton, Helen Gillet, Fred Frith, Bill Frisell, Shaking Ray Levis, Amy Denio, Mark Ribot, Percussia Ensemble, Frank London, Allison Miller, James Brandon Lewis and Great Small Works. She is a Sundance Composers’ Fellow and Downbeat “Rising Star for Alto Sax” nominee (2016, 2018, 2021). Recent productions Jessica has worked on include Taylor Mac’s “The Hang; “ the Tiptons’ “Mujer o Bruja”; Mars Williams’ Devil’s Whistle in New Orleans and her Shofar Meditations. www.jessicalurie.com
Tina Richerson is based in Beaverton, Oregeon, leads her own trio, plays with Return Flight Band, is the musical director of Never Too Late, Little Big Band and performs as a freelance musician.
Marjorie de Muynck was an original member and co-founder of BTMSQ, playing and touring with BTMSQ from 1988-1995. Marjorie was a recording artist with Sounds True and Sound Universe. Her last CD was "Vibrational Healing Music" in which she composed music in her signature Earth key of Ohm, using field recorded crickets, cicadas, bees, birds, and bats. Her unusual recordings include altered frequencies of each. Her other CD's include "In the Key of Earth", and "There's No Place Like Ohm", Vols 1 & 2. She studied Oriental Medicine for over 25 years, and received her Master in Music from Boston University. She was a pioneer in the field of Sound Healing, developing the Ohm Therapeutics and the Acutonics Sound Healing systems and has written two books on the subject, including an instructional DVD. She resided near Santa Fe, New Mexico for roughly 10 years, where she was working on her Doctor in Oriental Medicine, continuing her passion for field recording animals, musical composition and performing with various groups. Marjorie died on January 25, 2011, at the age of 58. Obituary for Marjorie de Muynck
John Otto, at the time named Babs Helle, is the other co-founder of BTMSQ (along with Majorie de Muynck) and played in the group from 1988-1990, a busy period of 50 performances for the quickly emerging group that established its public identity. John coined the group's name, the Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet, and was known for his rich baritone sound, snappy suits and ties, and for his witty commentary in his MC role at BTMSQ shows, thereby creating much of the public persona of the group. After leaving BTMSQ, John went on to work in the performance production field, including touring with Ani DiFranco. He has since worked professionally as a transgender activist, and currently works as a librarian and as an information specialist after obtaining his Master in Library and Information Science degree from the University of Washington.
Tobi joined the Tiptons in 2002, and retired from her full-time baritone position in spring of 2007. She still sits in and records with the Tiptons. Her other projects include Reptet.
Elizabeth Pupo Walker played and toured with the Tiptons from 2003-2006. She retired when she gave birth to her daughter Maya. She has also played with Peter Buck in Tuatara.
An early member of the quartet and the first person to regularly fill the 2nd Alto Sax slot, Stacy played with BTMSQ from 1989 to 1991 (exact date of departure uncertain).
Discography
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet.
Saxhouse (January 13, 1994) Horn Hut Records, originally published by Knitting Factory Records in 1993.
^Bream, Jon (January 31, 2017). "Review: Cabaret darling McKay sings/tells odd tale of jazz musician Billy Tipton". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
^Upchurch, Michael (April 30, 2010). "Seattle vocalist-musician Amy Denio juggles multiple musical beats". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
August 24, 2023
tiptons, quartet, previously, known, billy, tipton, memorial, saxophone, quartet, jazz, saxophone, quartet, from, seattle, washington, ensemble, consists, five, members, fifth, member, being, quartet, drummer, percussionist, tiptons, internationally, renowned,. The Tiptons Sax Quartet previously known as The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet is a jazz saxophone quartet from Seattle Washington The ensemble consists of five members the fifth member being the quartet s drummer and percussionist The Tiptons are an internationally renowned saxophone quartet with drums celebrating over 30 years as a band Amy Denio alto sax clarinet voice is joined by co leader Jessica Lurie soprano alto tenor sax voice Sue Orfield tenor sax voice Tina Richerson baritone sax voice and Robert Kainar drums percussion from Salzburg Austria The Tiptons material ranges from micro Big Band to Gospel Bluegrass to Balkan whimsical Chamber Jazz and nocturnal Funk to Free Jazz Improvisation using saxophones clarinet their voices drums and inventive percussion to create a genre busting world soul sound The band takes its name in honor of Billy Tipton a 20th century professional saxophonist and transgender man who upon his death was revealed to have been assigned female at birth 1 Tiptons More than 30 years along the Tiptons Saxophone Quartet and Drums are sounding better than ever Inspired by countless memorable collaborations with musicians from around the world this group is setting a high bar for arrangements and compositions featuring multiple horns Their powerful confident sound combines jazz and classical music with funk and folk music from the broad reach of humanity Abe Beeson KNKX Seattle Public Radio Entrancing beats with luscious tones and harmony stacks big enough to climb All About Jazz The Tiptons blow up a mess of Balkan Second Line and carnivalesque lines joyful wry and well traveled a hard blowing rhythm driven bunch of reeds The Seattle Stranger Contents 1 Current members 2 Former members 3 Discography 4 ReferencesCurrent members Edit The Tiptons at Bumbershoot 2008 Left to right Jessica Lurie Amy Denio Sue Orfield Tina Richerson The Tiptons December 2006 Left to right Jessica Lurie Amy Denio Tina Richerson Tobi Stone Faith StankevichAmy Denio alto saxophone voice Amy Denio is an original member of the Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet dating from the band s very first rehearsal at her house in the Fall of 1988 She composed for BTMSQ and organized tours and concerts until Spring 1996 She took a hiatus from the band until 2002 when she and Jessica Lurie reformed the band now named Tiptons Sax Quartet She is a composer improviser and recording engineer and has run her own label Spoot Music since 1986 2 She has received composition commissions from The Berkeley Symphony The Relache Ensemble Pat Graney Dance Company David Dorfman Dance New York Festival of Song Italian National Radio and many other entities Jessica Lurie alto saxophone tenor saxophone voice Jessica Lurie is a multi instrumentalist performer composer producer and teaching artist based in Brooklyn NY and Seattle WA As well as co leading the Tiptons since 1995 she leads the Jessica Lurie Ensemble Living Daylights Sofie Salonika FreEthiopiques and Slingshot with Seattle violist Heather Bentley Jessica has released over 40 critically acclaimed albums as bandleader lead composer or collaborator and has worked with international artists such as John Zorn Devotchka Taylor Mac Nikki Glaspie Nels Cline Col Bruce Hampton Helen Gillet Fred Frith Bill Frisell Shaking Ray Levis Amy Denio Mark Ribot Percussia Ensemble Frank London Allison Miller James Brandon Lewis and Great Small Works She is a Sundance Composers Fellow and Downbeat Rising Star for Alto Sax nominee 2016 2018 2021 Recent productions Jessica has worked on include Taylor Mac s The Hang the Tiptons Mujer o Bruja Mars Williams Devil s Whistle in New Orleans and her Shofar Meditations www jessicalurie com Tina Richerson baritone saxophone voice Tina Richerson is based in Beaverton Oregeon leads her own trio plays with Return Flight Band is the musical director of Never Too Late Little Big Band and performs as a freelance musician Sue Orfield tenor saxophone voice Sue Orfield also performs with The Sue Orfield Band and a variety of other groups Robert Kainar drums Robert is based in Salzburg Austria and also performs with K2 and many other ensembles Former members Edit Billy Tipton Memorial Sax Quartet circa 1989Marjorie de Muynck tenor saxophone soprano saxophoneMarjorie de Muynck was an original member and co founder of BTMSQ playing and touring with BTMSQ from 1988 1995 Marjorie was a recording artist with Sounds True and Sound Universe Her last CD was Vibrational Healing Music in which she composed music in her signature Earth key of Ohm using field recorded crickets cicadas bees birds and bats Her unusual recordings include altered frequencies of each Her other CD s include In the Key of Earth and There s No Place Like Ohm Vols 1 amp 2 She studied Oriental Medicine for over 25 years and received her Master in Music from Boston University She was a pioneer in the field of Sound Healing developing the Ohm Therapeutics and the Acutonics Sound Healing systems and has written two books on the subject including an instructional DVD She resided near Santa Fe New Mexico for roughly 10 years where she was working on her Doctor in Oriental Medicine continuing her passion for field recording animals musical composition and performing with various groups Marjorie died on January 25 2011 at the age of 58 Obituary for Marjorie de MuynckJohn Otto baritone saxophoneJohn Otto at the time named Babs Helle is the other co founder of BTMSQ along with Majorie de Muynck and played in the group from 1988 1990 a busy period of 50 performances for the quickly emerging group that established its public identity John coined the group s name the Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet and was known for his rich baritone sound snappy suits and ties and for his witty commentary in his MC role at BTMSQ shows thereby creating much of the public persona of the group After leaving BTMSQ John went on to work in the performance production field including touring with Ani DiFranco He has since worked professionally as a transgender activist and currently works as a librarian and as an information specialist after obtaining his Master in Library and Information Science degree from the University of Washington Faith Stankevich drumsFaith joined the Tiptons in Spring 2006 and toured with them until Fall 2007 Faith also performs with Barbara Trentalange Tobi Stone baritone saxophoneTobi joined the Tiptons in 2002 and retired from her full time baritone position in spring of 2007 She still sits in and records with the Tiptons Her other projects include Reptet Elizabeth Pupo Walker percussionElizabeth Pupo Walker played and toured with the Tiptons from 2003 2006 She retired when she gave birth to her daughter Maya She has also played with Peter Buck in Tuatara Barbara Marino baritone saxophoneBarbara Marino played and toured with the Tiptons from 1992 2000 She has performed with Herbie Hancock Melissa Etheridge and Blakey St John Pam Barger drumsPam Barger was a member of the Austin band Two Nice Girls and Seattle s Pretty Mary Sunshine A amp M Records Nona Hendryx Michael Blaire and Craig Ross of MCA Records are also among the artists she has recorded with Maya Johnson soprano saxophone and tenor saxophoneMaya Johnson was a member of Bakra Steel Band Annalise Zamula alto saxophoneAnnalise is based in San Francisco California Stacy Loebs alto saxophoneAn early member of the quartet and the first person to regularly fill the 2nd Alto Sax slot Stacy played with BTMSQ from 1989 to 1991 exact date of departure uncertain Discography Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet Saxhouse January 13 1994 Horn Hut Records originally published by Knitting Factory Records in 1993 Women and Their Work 1994 Knitting Factory Records Make it Funky God March 4 1994 Horn Hut Records Box February 29 1996 Horn Hut Records Sunshine Bundtcake March 1 2000 Horn Hut Records Short Cuts March 1 2003 Zipa Spoot Music Tsunami March 1 2004 Zipa Spoot Music and NoMansLand Germany Surrounded by Horns April 1 2004 Stockfisch Records Germany Drive October 1 2005 Zipa Spoot Music Laws of Motion September 1 2008 Zipa Spoot Music Strange Flower October 2010 Zipa Spoot Music Tiny Lower Case 2014 Zipa Spoot Music Sowiesound We Are Happy to Meet Again with Michaelbeuern Benedictine Abbey Stiftschor 2016 Sowiesound Cookbook 2016 Sowiesound Wabi Sabi 2021 Zipa Spoot Music SowiesoundWith Wayne Horvitz Miss Ann Tim Kerr 1993 References Edit Bream Jon January 31 2017 Review Cabaret darling McKay sings tells odd tale of jazz musician Billy Tipton Star Tribune Retrieved March 2 2019 Upchurch Michael April 30 2010 Seattle vocalist musician Amy Denio juggles multiple musical beats The Seattle Times Retrieved March 2 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Tiptons Sax Quartet amp oldid 1144506964, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
