Album Notes

The Tiptons:
Amy Denio - alto sax, clarinet, voice
Jessica Lurie – alto & tenor sax, voice
Sue Orfield – tenor sax, voice
Tina Richerson – baritone sax, voice
Chris Stromquist - drums & percussion

Recorded at Terrarium Studios, Minneapolis by fabulous engineers Jason Orris & Rob Osterlin on April 23, 2008, and mixed in NYC with Beck Henderer- Peña at Gramercy Post, NYC. Artwork by Danijel Zezelj.

THE TIPTONS are an all-women sax quartet (who sing!) with drums, 10 CDs under our belt, touring & playing festivals in Europe and the US for the last 15 years. Our music is a high energy blend of "twisted folk" with world music, second line, funk, jazz, and eastern european influences thrown into the mix of mainly original material. We are comfortable playing in any venue, including squats, jazz and rock clubs, universities and prisons.

The group features Jessica Lurie and Amy Denio, original members and lead composers of the internationally renowned Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet (BTMSQ), along with Sue Orfield, Tina Richerson and special guest drummer Chris Stromquist (Slavic Soul Party, Kultur Shock).

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: TAKTLOS Festival (Switzerland); The North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands); Clifford Brown Jazz Festival (USA); 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); Jazz Festival Goerlitz (Germany); 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). Since 1992, the Tiptons have taught workshops (internationally) on group composition and improvisation, saxophone and voice technique - and have given presentations on Women In Jazz, and Music & Dance from various cultures.

For booking information:
Jessica Lurie: zipa@earthlink.net
Amy Denio: amy@amydenio.com