Tina Marsh

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Tina Marsh


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Background = solo_singer
Born = January 18, 1954
Died =
Origin = Austin, Texas, US
Instrument = singing, scat singing, extended techniques
Voice_type =
Genre = Jazz
Occupation = singer, composer
Years_active = 1979-present
Label = CreOp Muse
Associated_acts = Creative Opportunity Orchestra (CO2)
URL = [http://www.creop.org CreOp.org]

Tina Marsh (b. January 18, 1954cite web |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/AMDB/Profile?oid=oid:115353 |title=Austin Music Database |accessdate=2008-08-19 |work=Austin Chronicle |publisher=Austin Chronicle Corp.] ) 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.cite web|url=http://www.creop.org/about.html|title=About|accessdate=2008-02-27|format=HTML|work=Tina Marsh & the Creative Opportunity Orchestra] cite journal | quotes = no | last = Van Trikt | first = Ludwig | year = 2005 | month = December | title = Tina Marsh interview, January 31, 2005, Austin, TX| journal = Cadence Magazine | volume = 31 | issue = 12 | pages = pp. 12–19 | publisher = Cadnor Ltd. | location = Redwood, NY | issn = 01626973 ] In 2000, the "Austin Chronicle" inducted Marsh into its Texas Music Hall of Fame. [cite web|url=http://www.creop.org/tinamarsh.html|title=Bios|accessdate=2008-02-27|format=HTML|work=Tina Marsh & the Creative Opportunity Orchestra] [cite web|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Awards/MusicPollHallOfFame|title=Austin Chronicle Music Poll Hall of Fame inductees|accessdate=2008-02-27|format=|work=Austin Chronicle] In 2008, the Austin Critics Table inducted Marsh into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame.cite news | first = Robert | last = Faires | title = Austin Arts Hall of Fame: Class of 2008 | url = http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:616088 | format = HTML | work = Austin Chronicle | publisher = Austin Chronicle Corp. | location = Austin, TX|date = 2008-04-25 | accessdate = 2008-08-19 | language = English] 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 [Carla Bley| [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."cite web|url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=5725|title=The Heaven Line / World Wide|accessdate=2008-05-16|last=Bailey|first=C. Michael|date=2000-06-01|format=HTML|work=All About Jazz|language=English]

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

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

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. The ensemble regularly performs at the Laguna Gloria lakeside amphitheater in Austin. Marsh is a participant in the Austin Jazz Workshop.

In 1994, Marsh was diagnosed with, and treated for, breast cancer.cite news | first = Raoul | last = Hernandez | title = CO2's Tina Marsh: The Perils of Jazz | url = http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/vol14/issue40/jazz.marsh.40.html | format = HTML | work = Austin Chronicle | publisher = Austin Chronicle Corp. | location = Austin, TX|date = 1995-06-08 | accessdate = 2008-05-15 | language = English] In February 2008, Marsh learned that the cancer had returned and metastasized; as of August 2008, Marsh continues to record and perform.cite news | first = Austin | last = Powell | title = Off the Record | url = http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid:586587 | format = HTML | work = Austin Chronicle | publisher = Austin Chronicle Corp. | location = Austin, TX | date = 2008-02-01 | accessdate = 2008-05-15 | language = English]

References