Tina Marsh

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Tina Marsh
Origin Austin, Texas, US
Genre(s) Jazz
Occupation(s) singer, composer
Instrument(s) singing, scat singing, extended techniques
Years active 1979-present
Label(s) CreOp Muse
Associated acts Creative Opportunity Orchestra (CO2)
Website CreOp.org

Tina Marsh is a jazz vocalist and composer based in Austin, Texas. Marsh is the creative director of the Creative Opportunity Orchestra (or CO2), a large jazz ensemble which she founded in 1980.[1][2] In 2000, the Austin Chronicle inducted Marsh into its Texas Music Hall of Fame.[3][4] C. Michael Bailey of All About Jazz has described Marsh's music as "progressive big band, a kind of marriage between the avant-garde and postmodern classical. Marsh, like Bley, favors low brass in assembly and solos. She uses her voice in a creative Meredith Monk sort of way that is not unattractive."[5]

During the late-1970s, Marsh had worked as an actor in musical theatre in and around New York City and Philadelphia.[2] While living in New York, she began forming ideas about jazz singing. After moving to Austin, Marsh attended concerts by Anthony Braxton and Sam Rivers at Armadillo World Headquarters.[2] These performances inspired her to form her first professional group, New Visions Ensemble, with Alex Coke, Rock Savage, Booka Michel and Horatio Rodriguez.[2]

In 1980, at the suggestion of Charlie Haden, Marsh studied at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, New York.[2] Upon returning to Austin, she formed the Creative Opportunity Orchestra with the members of New Visions Ensemble at its core.[2] CO2 began as a cooperative organization, similar to the AACM, though Marsh gradually assumed a managerial role and became the group's director.[2]

Marsh and CO2 have gone on to perform with artists such as Carla Bley, Hamiett Bluiett, Vinny Golia, Dennis González, Billy Hart, Roscoe Mitchell, Steve Swallow, and Kenny Wheeler.[1][2] The ensemble regularly performs at the Laguna Gloria lakeside amphitheater in Austin.[2] Marsh is a participant in the Austin Jazz Workshop.

In 1994, Marsh was diagnosed with, and treated for, breast cancer.[6] In February 2008, Marsh learned that the cancer had returned and metastasized.[7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b About (HTML). Tina Marsh & the Creative Opportunity Orchestra. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Van Trikt, Ludwig (December 2005). Tina Marsh interview, January 31, 2005, Austin, TX. Cadence Magazine 31 (12): pp. 12–19. Redwood, NY: Cadnor Ltd.. ISSN 01626973. 
  3. ^ Bios (HTML). Tina Marsh & the Creative Opportunity Orchestra. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
  4. ^ Austin Chronicle Music Poll Hall of Fame inductees. Austin Chronicle. Retrieved on 2008-02-27.
  5. ^ Bailey, C. Michael (2000-06-01). The Heaven Line / World Wide (HTML) (English). All About Jazz. Retrieved on 2008-05-16.
  6. ^ Hernandez, Raoul. "CO2's Tina Marsh: The Perils of Jazz" (HTML), Austin Chronicle, Austin, TX: Austin Chronicle Corp., 1995-06-08. Retrieved on 2008-05-15. (English) 
  7. ^ Powell, Austin. "Off the Record" (HTML), Austin Chronicle, Austin, TX: Austin Chronicle Corp., 2008-02-01. Retrieved on 2008-05-15. (English)