Tina Marsh

Tina Marsh (January 18, 1954,[1] – June 16, 2009)[2] was a jazz vocalist and composer based in Austin, Texas. She was the creative director of the Creative Opportunity Orchestra, a large jazz ensemble which she founded in 1980.[3][4]

Tina Marsh
Birth nameKristin Conway Marsh
Born(1954-01-18)January 18, 1954
Annapolis, Maryland, U. S.
DiedJune 16, 2009(2009-06-16) (aged 55)
Austin, Texas
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1979–2009
LabelsCreOp Muse
Associated actsCreative Opportunity Orchestra

Marsh was born in Annapolis, Maryland.[2] During the late-1970s, she worked as an actor in musical theatre in and around New York City and Philadelphia.[4] 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.[4] These performances inspired her to form her first professional group, New Visions Ensemble, with Alex Coke, Rock Savage, Booka Michel, and Horatio Rodriguez.[4]

In 1980, at the suggestion of Charlie Haden, Marsh studied at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, New York.[4] Upon returning to Austin, she formed the Creative Opportunity Orchestra with the members of New Visions Ensemble at its core.[4] CO2 began as a cooperative organization, similar to the AACM, though Marsh gradually assumed a managerial role and became the group's director.[4]

Marsh went on to perform with Carla Bley, Hamiett Bluiett, Vinny Golia, Dennis González, Billy Hart, Roscoe Mitchell, Steve Swallow, and Kenny Wheeler.[3][4] Marsh and the ensemble performed at the Laguna Gloria amphitheater in Austin.[4] She was a participant in the Austin Jazz Workshop.

In 1994, Marsh was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer.[5] In February 2008, she learned that the cancer had returned and metastasized, though she continued to record and perform later in the year.[1][6] Marsh died on June 16, 2009.[2] She continued to perform up to two months before her death.[7]

Awards and honors

In 2000, the Austin Chronicle inducted Marsh into its Texas Music Hall of Fame.[8][9] In 2008, the Austin Critics Table inducted Marsh into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame.[10]

The Austin History Center maintains a collection of Marsh's papers.[11]

C. Michael Bailey of All About Jazz described Marsh's music as "progressive big band, a kind of marriage between the avant-garde and postmodern classical. Marsh, like [Carla] Bley, favors low brass in assembly and solos. She uses her voice in a creative Meredith Monk sort of way that is not unattractive."[12]

References
  1. Rosenblatt, Josh. "Tina Marsh". Austin Music Database. Austin Chronicle Corp. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  2. Buchholz, Brad (June 17, 2009). "Creativity poured out of her like the scent of honeysuckle". Austin American-Statesman.
  3. "About". Tina Marsh & the Creative Opportunity Orchestra. Archived from the original on 2008-05-05. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  4. Van Trikt, Ludwig (December 2005). "Tina Marsh interview, January 31, 2005, Austin, TX". Cadence Magazine. Vol. 31 no. 12. Redwood, New York: Cadnor. pp. 12–19. ISSN 0162-6973.
  5. Hernandez, Raoul (June 8, 1995). "CO2's Tina Marsh: The Perils of Jazz". Austin Chronicle. Austin, TX: Austin Chronicle Corp. Retrieved May 15, 2008.
  6. Powell, Austin (1 February 2008). "Off the Record". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  7. Brad, Buchholz (5 September 2009). "Once more, for Tina". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, TX. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  8. "Bios". Tina Marsh & the Creative Opportunity Orchestra. Archived from the original on 2010-01-12. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
  9. "Austin Chronicle Music Poll Hall of Fame inductees". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
  10. Faires, Robert (April 25, 2008). "Austin Arts Hall of Fame: Class of 2008". Austin Chronicle. Austin, Texas. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
  11. "Tina Marsh Papers: An Inventory of the Collection". Texas Archival Resources Online. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  12. Bailey, C. Michael (1 June 2000). "Tina Marsh and the Creative Opportunity Orchestra (CO2): The Heaven Line/World Wide". All About Jazz. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
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