Audio: ‘BIG OPEN’ – by Tina Richerson
Tina plays like she has angles and demons whispering to her at the same time. The result is always surprising and enlightening
Daniel Barry
Tina Richerson plays saxophone M.M. is an internationally touring musician, freelance saxophonist, composer, woodwind clinician, jazz instructor and has been teaching privately for over 25 years.
Tina Lives in Kidder, Missouri, just one hour north of Kansas city. As a saxophonist, educator, composer and author, Tina’s joy in life is to connect, share, and create.
It is in the moment of connecting with and helping others that we can become our truest, best self.
Tina Richerson
Tina’s first love was music. At the age of 11 she began playing saxophone in the school band. She began private study at age 16 with Dr. Robert Miller of the University of Idaho, in Moscow, ID., 200 miles from her home town, Wenatchee, WA.* It was her grandmother who shared with her the joy of jazz, listening to recordings of the Big Band Era and her favorite vocalist Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.
Tina attended the University of Idaho where she received her Baccalaureate of Music in Saxophone performance. After gaining her Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from the University of Washington in Seattle, her music flourished. Tina co-lead the jazz quintet ‘Hard Bop or Naught’ with trumpeter Erik Esvelt, held a weekly jazz brunch residency, was a member of the Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra and worked as a freelance musician and private music instructor.
In 2004 Tina joined the Tiptons Sax Quartet & Drums with Amy Denio, Jessica Lurie and Sue Orfield. In 2006 she moved to New York City to live and work as a freelance musician and band leader. While living in New York she studied with George Garzone, Ronnie Cuber and performed with artist such as Kenny Wollesen, Pam Fleming, Viva DeConcini, Eva Novoa, Michael Bates and Rob Garcia and lead her own self titled trio with Ruben Radding and Andrew Drury and the Circus Amok band. Tina played with a wide spectrum of ensembles ranging from klezmer, jazz, afro cuban, peruvian, latin, contemporary jazz and rock and roll. While she wasn’t performing, to make ends meet she worked at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music as a music partner teaching in public schools and worked as a bicycle courier.
In 2016 due to health issues Tina returned home to the Pacific Northwest and landed in Portland, Oregon. She coached woodwinds sections and Jazz Band’s in public and private schools, launched Ensemble Jazz Experience; jazz combo classes for amateure adult musicians and performed with her trio (Chris Higgins/Bass and Todd Bishop /Drums), the Quadrophonnes and the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble the Cabin Project, Ezra Weiss Big Band and the blues queen of Portland, Ellen Whythe and toured with with singer songwriter and musical composer Erin McKeown.
After the start of the 2020 Pandemic Tina moved to Kidder, Missouri to build a home and live near her Father and Sweet Step Mom. She is currently living in her self built 12 x 30 small home.
It is in the moment of connecting with and helping others that we can become our truest, best self.
Tina Richerson
“Up Against the Rail!” is Tina Richerson’s only album to date, recorded with Reuben Radding and Andrew Drury. She has recorded 8 albums with the Tiptons, with Electric Viva, Geo Wyeth, Emma and others. She also recorded the music track to the Television Show “This Old House” which aired in April of 2009.
to check out her music go to the music page