Tina Richerson grew up living off the grid (no electricity, no running water) in Snowden, Washington over looking the Columbia River Gorge near the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Although she comes from a deeply musical family she is the only one of her five siblings to pursue music as a lifestyle. Her study of saxophone began at age 11 in public school, much to the dismay of her father. At age 16 she began private lessons at the not so near by University of Idaho, in Moscow. Professor of Saxophone Dr. Robert Miller offered free lessons if she would make the 4oo mile round trip journey twice a month. How could anyone decline an offer like that?
Tina attended the University of Idaho where she graduated with a B.M. in saxophone performance, and completed her Master of Music from the University of Washington, also in saxophone performance. Tina found classical study at the graduate school level deeply sterile so she sought another way.
Her study of jazz saxophone began under the tutelage of Cynthia Mullis and later with Denny Goodhew. Now she is mostly self educated with the help of free saxophone lessons on YouTube.
While in Seattle she co-led jazz quintet “Hard Bop or Naught” with trumpeter Erik Esvelt. She was also a member of Seattle Womens Jazz Orchestra, Mallet Jazz, Love Must Swing, and a regular substitute of the Jazz Police big band and held a two year residency at Serafina.
Two years after graduating from the University of Washington she joined The Tiptons Saxophone Quartet. Amy Denio, Jessica Lurie, and Tobi Stone became her new teachers. Tina has been a member of and composer for the Tiptons sense 2004.
Today Tina lives in Brooklyn New York and leads her self titled Jazz Quartet with Alex Levin, Rene Hart and Andrew Drury.
“Up Against the Rail!” is Tina Richerson’s first album, recorded with Reuben Radding and Andrew Drury. She has recorded 3 albums with the Tiptons (Drive, Laws of Motion, and Strange Flowers), 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.
Tina can be found playing saxophone near Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York.