Event

The Tiptons

The Tiptons are an all-female saxophone quartet plus drums. Based in New York City and Seattle, the Tiptons perform concerts that cover musical territory from New Orleans "second line" to free jazz, Afro-Cuban to Balkan, Klezmer and beyond. Simply put, they create some of the wildest sounds ever to come out of a sax quartet and they will bring those sounds to the Arcata Playhouse.

The Tiptons have been around in one form or another for nearly 20 years, and their current lineup consists of original members Jessica Lurie on alto and tenor sax, Amy Denio on alto sax and clarinet; and more recent recruits Sue Orfield on tenor sax, and Tina Richerson on baritone sax. All four members also sing, and this tour features dynamic Seattle drummer and long- time friend John Ewing from the Reptet. Their dynamic, playful concerts feature high-energy interaction between members, and a repertoire using sax, voice and drums that touches on soulful music from around the world.
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In concert, the Tiptons are an impressive and cohesive unit (all the more so given that they live in three different states), both musically and in their interactions with each other onstage. Though Lurie and Denio take the bulk of the frontwoman duties, at some point all four will take the lead with the crowd at some point in the performance.
"People from all walks of life come to our concerts," says Denio. Like blue-haired grandmothers next to blue-haired punks, and an instantaneous community is created at each concert. We have taken the free spirit of jazz and are running with it."