THE TIPTONS Sax Quartet (formerly BTMSQ) is based in New York and Seattle. The group features original members & composers Jessica Lurie and Amy Denio.
Since 1991, their unforgettable performances have graced festivals throughout North America and Europe. They have also taught workshops on group music composition and improvisation, saxophone and voice technique - and have given presentations on Women In Jazz, and Music & Dance from various cultures. Their 'Bus Horn Concerto' was premiered in Seattle with 3 METRO busses, and they were an integral part of Pat Graney Dance Company's exhilarating piece 'Saxhouse.'
After a brief hiatus in 2000, they reformed - and the band has been ever lovelier and livelier, incorporating voice into their unique lush sound.
Following their 2004 Zipa!/Spoot self-release of TSUNAMI, they were interviewed on "The Next Big Thing" (National Public Radio), while busking in the subway of New York.
In September 2005, while Hurricane Katrina was razing New Orleans, they were creating their own windstorm at Jupiter Studios in Seattle, recording DRIVE. Produced by Martin Feveyear, it's a dynamic and lush example of their very original compositions and arrangements. Self-produced on their own Zipa!/Spoot label, it inludes‘Gemini Rising’(made famous by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band), featuring special guest Artis the Spoonman.
In March, 2006 they premiered 'Shop of Wild Dreams' in collaboration with artist and videographer Aric Mayer and phenomenal Croatian graphic artist Danijel Zezelj at Consolidated Works in Seattle. In succinct chapters, one experiences 10 video poems from greater New York city, live painting (think of it as slow-motion graphic animation) and moody yet optimistic original scores for sax quartet, voice, clarinet, accordion, bass and drums. THE TIPTONS often perform while Zezelj paints his fantastical urban landscapes. They would be happy to bring this amazing performance to your town!
TIPTONS in concert. Innsbruck Austria, March 2007.
Photos by Damon Locks of The Eternals.
BTMSQ was originally founded in 1988, named in honor of big band saxophonist and pianist Billy Tipton, following the post-mortem revelation that Tipton was actually a woman who lived as a man for more than 50 years. Many believe that this allowed Tipton to pursue a career in the male-dominated world of jazz
Not to be bound by convention, the Tiptons similarly do their own thing. With a repertoire that ranges from New Orleans second - line to jazz, Afro-Cuban to Balkan, klezmer and beyond, the Tiptons create some of the wildest sounds ever to come out of a sax quartet. Their dynamic, playful concerts feature high-energy interaction between members, and a repertoire that touches on soulful music from around the world.
THE TIPTONS have appeared at venues and music festivals worldwide including: The North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands); du Maurier Jazz Festival (Canada); MIMI Festival (France); Bumbershoot Music Festival (USA); The Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival (USA); Horfest (Austria); Klinkende Munt Music Festival (Belgium); 1994 NYC Gay Games (USA); Michigan Women's Music Festival (USA); Women in Movement Festival (USA); Earshot Jazz Festival (USA); Crossroads Music Festival (Italy); Teatro in Campo (Italy), Jazzmiele Festival (Italy); Hallovino Festival (Switzerland); Festival Belleville (Italy); and Now Is The Time Festival (Italy).
They will play festivals in Europe in September, tour the U.S. Northwest in October, 2007, and in April/May, 2008 they will teach workshops & play throughout Europe .
All offers will be considered!
CONTACT:
Jessica Lurie : 206.856.7170, zipa@earthlink.net, www.jessicalurie.com/tiptons
Amy Denio: 206.323.9215, mydenio@earthlink.net, www.tiptonssaxquartet.com
DISCOGRAPHY: Saxhouse (Knitting Factory, 1993)
Make It Funky, God (Horn Hut Records, 1994)
Box (New World Records, 1996)
Pollo d'Oro (No Man's Land Records, 1998)
Sunshine Bundtcake (Horn Hut Records, 2000)
Surrounded By Horns (Stockfish Records, 2004)
Tsunami (Zipa/Spoot, 2004)
DRIVE (Zipa/Spoot,2005)
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…shrink me down again