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 1988, they have toured frequently in North America and Europe, collaborated with Pat Graney Dance Company, taught workshops on improvisation and composition, and have recorded seven CDs.
Current members
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 Stankevich
- Amy Denio is an original member of the Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet (but not a co-founder, as is mistakenly, frequently reported). 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 records and performs with Jessica Lurie Ensemble. She has performed with Wayne Horvitz, George Addams and Carlo Actis Dato.
- Tina Richerson is based in New York City, and is a member of the Circus Amok Orchestra and other groups.
- Sue Orfield also performs with The Sue Orfield Band and a variety of other groups.
- Faith also performs with Barbara Trentalange.
Former Members
- Marjorie de Muynck is a co-founder of the Tiptons (along with John Otto, formerly Babs Helle), playing and touring with the Tiptons from 1987-1995. Marjorie is a recording artist with Sounds True; her latest CD is "In the Key of Earth". She has studied Oriental Medicine for over 25 years and is 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. She currently resides near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
- 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 1987-1990, a busy period of 50 performances for the quickly emerging group that established it's 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. He now works professionally as a transgender activist.
- 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.
- 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 was a member of the Austin band Two Nice Girls and Seattle's 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 was a member of Bakra Steel Band.
- Annalise is based in San Francisco, California.
- 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
- 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
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