The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet
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The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet (now known as The Tiptons Sax Quartet) is an all-female, jazz saxophone quartet from Seattle, Washington. They actually consist of five members (the fifth member being the quartet's drummer and percussionist). The name of the quartet was inspired by Billy Tipton, a jazz saxophonist, who upon his death was revealed to be anatomically female. Formed in 1987, they have toured frequently in North America and Europe, collaborated with Pat Graney Dance Company, taught workshops on improvisation and composition, and have recorded 7 CDs.
[edit] Current Members
- Amy Denio is, with Marjorie de Muynck, the co-founder of the Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet. She is a composer, improviser and recording engineer, and has run her own label, Spoot Music since 1986. She has received composition commissions from The Berkeley Symphony, The Relache Ensemble, Pat Graney Dance Company, David Dorfman Dance, New York Festival of Song, and many other entities.
- Jessica Lurie also performs with the Seattle band, Living Daylights. She has performed with Wayne Horvitz, George Addams and Carlo Actis Dato.
- Tina Richerson - tenor saxophone, voice
- Tina Richerson also performs with SWOJO and Hard Bop or Naught.
- Tobi Stone - baritone saxophone, voice
- Tobi Stone also performs with SWOJO and Reptet.
- Faith Stankevich - drums
- Faith also performs with Marmelade and other Seattle based groups.
[edit] Former Members
- Elizabeth Pupo Walker - percussion
- 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.
- Marjorie de Muynck - tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
- Marjorie de Muynck is the co-founder of the Tiptons, playing and touring with the Tiptons from 1987-1994. She now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Barbara Marino - baritone saxophone
- Barbara Marino played and toured with the Tiptons from 1992-2000. She has performed with Herbie Hancock, Melissa Etheridge, and Blakey St. John.
- Pam Barger - drums
- Pam Barger was a member of the Seattle bands Two Nice Girls and Pretty Mary Sunshine (A&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 saxophone
- Maya Johnson was a member of Bakra Steel Band.
- Annalise Zamula - alto saxophone
- Annalise is based in San Francisco, California.
[edit] Discography
- Saxhouse (January 13, 1994) Horn Hut 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 / NoMansLand, Germany
- Surrounded by Horns (April 1, 2004) Stockfisch Records, Germany
- Drive (October 1, 2005) Zipa! Spoot Music