Tina Richerson grew up living off the grid (no electricity, no running water) in Snowden, Washington overlooking 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-nearby University of Idaho, in Moscow.  Professor of Saxophone Dr. Robert Miller offered free lessons if she would make the 4oo mile drive twice a month.  How could anyone decline an offer like that?

Tina attended the University of Idaho where she graduated with a bachelor’s of music in saxophone performance and completed her Master of Music from the University of Washington, also in saxophone performance.  Tina found classical study somewhat sterile so she sought another path.

Her study of jazz saxophone began at the University of Idaho with Robert McCurdy and Dan Bukvich.   While in Graduate School she sought out Cynthia Mullis and Denny Goodhew (Cornish College of the Arts).  Both encouraged her to go to New York.

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 with Amy Denio, Jessica Lurie, and Tobi Stone.  Tina has been a member of and composer for the Tiptons since 2004.

Today Tina lives in Brooklyn, New York and leads her self-titled Jazz Quartet with Art Bailey, 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.